Patent ID: 8384921
Filing Date: 2013-02-26
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control program commonly used by a plurality of applications respectively corresponding to a plurality of processes that constitute a job performed by the image forming apparatus; a mode program registration section configured to output an instruction to acquire the operation mode information set to the job and configured to acquire the operation mode information that is defined in an abstract form so that the control program is permitted to handle the operation mode information, wherein the mode program registration section confines a mode program function of a concretization application within an application framework, as a process common to the applications, in a manner such that the operation mode information defined in an abstract form is stored and retrieved; an operation mode acquisition section configured to send a request to a software part corresponding to said job to acquire said operation mode information, configured to acquire the operation mode information of a predetermined type, which is a return value output from the software part, and configured to output to said mode program registration section; and a mode program information management section configured to create mode program information including the operation mode information acquired by said mode program registration section and identification information of said mode program, and configured to store the mode program information in a mode program information retaining section, wherein the operation mode acquisition section and the mode program information management section are contained in the control program.