Patent ID: 8873070

Claim:
An image processing apparatus having a plurality of functions comprising: a processor; a memory; a storage unit configured to store a plurality of split programs that are each individually bootable, wherein each of the plurality of split programs corresponds to each of the plurality of functions included in the image processing apparatus, and wherein by enabling the processor to execute one of the plurality of split programs loaded from the storage unit to the memory, a function corresponding to the loaded program becomes available; a selection unit configured to, when power of the image processing apparatus is turned on or when operation of the image processing apparatus is resumed from a low-power standby state, select a function in accordance with a command issued by a user; and a control unit configured to perform control such that a program corresponding to the function selected by the selection unit is first loaded, in advance of the other programs from the plurality of split programs, from the storage unit to the memory and then the other programs from the plurality of split programs are loaded from the storage unit to the memory, wherein by the control performed by the control unit, the loaded program corresponding to the function selected by the selection unit is first executed based on immediate need as dictated by the selected function, by the processor in advance to the other programs and the function selected by the selection unit becomes available in advance to the other functions, wherein a user of the image processing apparatus is not required to input data into the image processing apparatus for setting a desired priority operation mode with respect to a preferred function.