Patent ID: 8654389
Filing Date: 2014-02-18
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a processing unit coupled to a memory, the processing unit configured to control: a detection unit configured to detect connection of an external storage device; a request unit configured to send a request for, if the external storage device whose connection is detected by the detection unit contains application data and device data including apparatus identification information identifying an image forming apparatus in which the application is installed and application identification information identifying the application installed in the image forming apparatus, license data on the application data identified based on the application identification information to the image forming apparatus identified by the apparatus identification information; a management unit configured to install the application data stored in the external storage device by using the license data if the license data is successfully acquired from the image forming apparatus identified by the apparatus identification information in response to the request by the request unit; a storage unit configured to store external storage device identification information identifying the external storage device and the application identification information identifying the application in a storage device in association with each other after the application stored in the external storage device is installed; and a save unit configured to store device data including apparatus identification information identifying the image forming apparatus and the application identification information in the external storage device.