Electronic apparatus, method for adding function, and non-transitory recording medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10452457-B2
Application number	US-201715850160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2017
Priority date	Dec 26, 2016
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

An electronic apparatus includes a memory and circuitry. The memory stores a plurality of programs, and program registration information including identification information of the plurality of programs each of which is permitted to be executed in the electronic apparatus. The circuitry executes a first program of the plurality of programs stored in the memory. The circuitry executes a second program according to a determination that the identification information of the program registration information includes identification information of the second program stored in an external memory connectable to the electronic apparatus. The circuitry causes the first program and the second program, which are executed, to be communicable with each other to newly add a function to the electronic apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
a memory configured to store a plurality of programs, and program registration information including identification information of the plurality of programs each of which is permitted to be executed in the electronic apparatus, the plurality of programs including a first program having a function configured to obtain setting data set in the electronic apparatus; and
circuitry configured to,
determine whether the program registration information includes identification information of a second program stored in an external memory connectable to the electronic apparatus,
execute the second program to call the function included in the first program to obtain the setting data, in response to determining that the program registration information includes the identification information of the second program, and
export the setting data as exported setting data to one of the external memory and a server such that the exported setting data is subsequently importable from one of the external memory and the server into another electronic apparatus.

2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to determine whether the program registration information includes the identification information of the second program in response to the identification information of the second program being same as identification information of a process program that is used before but not after shipment of the electronic apparatus.

3. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an interface configured to call a first function of the first program under control of a third program stored in the memory of the electronic apparatus, and wherein
the function is a second function, and
the second program communicates with the first program to call the second function of the first program to obtain the setting data from the first program, the second function being different form the first function.

4. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to execute the second program to,
display the setting data obtainable from the electronic apparatus,
receive selection of the setting data from the setting data displayed, and
request the first program to obtain the setting data.

5. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit the setting data obtained with the second program to the server.

6. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to copy the second program from the external memory to the memory of the electronic apparatus as a third program such that the third program operates in a same memory space as the first program and the second program.

7. The electronic apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the circuitry is configured to execute the second program the same memory space to call the function included in the first program to obtain the setting data.

8. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second program is configured to call functions within the first program including the first function that are not directly callable by a user of the electronic apparatus.

9. A method for adding a function to an electronic apparatus, comprising:
storing, in a memory of the electronic apparatus, a plurality of programs and program registration information including identification information of the plurality of programs each of which is permitted to be executed in the electronic apparatus, the plurality of programs including a first program having a function configured to obtain setting data set in the electronic apparatus;
determining whether the program registration information includes identification information of a second program stored in an external memory connectable to the electronic apparatus;
executing the second program to call the function included in the first program to obtain the setting data, in response to determining that the program registration information includes the identification information of the second program; and
exporting the setting data as exported setting data to one of the external memory and a server such that the exported setting data is subsequently importable from one of the external memory and the server into another electronic apparatus.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the identification information of the second program is same as identification information of a process program that is used before but not after shipment of the electronic apparatus, and
wherein the program registration information includes the identification information of the process program.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
calling a first function of the first program with a third program stored in the memory of the electronic apparatus, the third program providing an interface for the first function, wherein the function is a second function; and
calling, via the second program, the second function to obtain the setting data from the first program, the second function being different form the first function.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
displaying the setting data obtainable from the electronic apparatus,
receiving selected setting data from the setting data displayed, and
requesting the first program to obtain the selected setting data.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
transmitting the setting data obtained with the second program to the server.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
copying the second program from the external memory to the memory of the electronic apparatus such that the second program operates in a same memory space as the first program and the second program.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the executing the second program comprises:
executing the second program in the same memory space to call the function included in the first program to obtain the setting data.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second program is configured to call functions within the first program including the first function that are not directly callable by a user of the electronic apparatus.

17. A non-transitory recording medium storing a plurality of instructions which, in response to execution by one or more processors of an electronic apparatus, cause the processors to perform a method, comprising:
storing, in a memory, a plurality of programs and program registration information including identification information of the plurality of programs each of which is permitted to be executed in the electronic apparatus, the plurality of programs including a first program having a function configured to obtain setting data set in the electronic apparatus;
determining whether the program registration information includes identification information of a second program stored in an external memory connectable to the electronic apparatus,
executing the second program to call the function included in the first program to obtain the setting data, in response to determining that the program registration information includes the identification information of the second program; and
exporting the setting data as exported setting data to one of the external memory and a server such that the exported setting data is subsequently importable from one of the external memory and the server into another electronic apparatus.

18. The non-transitory recording medium of claim 17 , wherein the identification information of the second program is same as identification information of a process program that is used be

Assignees

• Yamawaki Taku
• Yokoyama Kayo
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yamawaki Taku
• Yokoyama Kayo

Classifications

• G06F9/44521

  Dynamic linking or loading; Link editing at or after load time, e.g. Java class loading · CPC title

• G06F9/44505

  Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files · CPC title

• H04N1/00278 Primary

  with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer · CPC title

• H04N1/00938 Primary

  Software related arrangements, e.g. loading applications (program loading in general G06F9/445) · CPC title

• G06F21/16

  Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking · CPC title