Patent ID: 7038798

Claim:
A multi-function apparatus, comprising: a plurality of image forming apparatuses, each comprising its own dedicated controller including a program memory for storing a program used by each of said plurality of image forming apparatuses, respectively; a buffer memory; a data transmission mechanism, connected to said buffer memory, configured to connect plural of said plurality of image forming apparatuses to each other so as to allow a data transmission therebetween; and a connector configured to connect an external storage to said the buffer memory so as to allow a data transmission from said external storage to said buffer memory, said external storage storing data of programs to be respectively used by said plurality of image forming apparatuses, wherein, when said external storage is connected to said connector, said data of said programs stored in said external storage are transmitted to said buffer memory through said connector and are downloaded into said program memory included in said dedicated controller of each of said plurality of image forming apparatuses, respectively, through a data transmission using said data transmission mechanism.