Patent ID: 7430669
Filing Date: 2008-09-30
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus which is connected to an external device via a communication unit, comprising: a storage unit configured to store identification information for specifying the image forming apparatus; a program storage unit configured to store a plurality of program modules for realizing a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; a launching program identification unit configured to store launching program information for specifying a program module to be executed upon launching among the plurality of program modules stored in said program storage unit; a program management unit configured to execute a program module corresponding to the launching program information in a case where the image forming apparatus is activated on the basis of the launching program information stored in said launching program identification unit; an acquisition unit configured to acquire, from the external device via the communication unit, license information containing launching program information for specifying identification information of the image forming apparatus, the launching program module and count data for defining an executable count of the program module; and an updating unit configured to update the launching program information stored in said launching program identification unit, on the basis of the license information acquired by said acquisition unit, wherein launching of the program module corresponding to the launching program defined by the license information is prohibited, in a case where a count in which the program module has been executed is not less than the executable count, and wherein in a case where the identification information of the license information acquired by said acquisition unit coincides with the identification information stored in said storage unit, said updating unit updates, as the launching program information, identification information of the program module corresponding to the launching program information contained in the license information.