Abstract: An apparatus includes an editing area display unit configured to display a screen including an editing area that enables a user to edit a document, a temporary storage area display unit configured to display a temporary storage area which differs from the editing area and temporarily displays a list of reduced images of editing materials, and a layout editing unit configured to edit the document by adding a material selected from the editing materials displayed in the temporary storage area. When a currently edited document is transferred to a file, a control unit stores a path of a material displayed in the temporary storage area in relation to the document transferred to the file. When a document file stored in relation to the path of a material area is newly opened, the control unit determines whether the newly opened document file is related to the material in the temporary storage area.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an editing area display unit configured to display a screen including an editing area that enables a user to edit a document, a temporary storage area display unit configured to display a temporary storage area which differs from the editing area and temporarily displays a list of reduced images of editing materials, and a layout editing unit configured to edit the document by adding a material selected from the editing materials displayed in the temporary storage area. When a currently edited document is transferred to a file, a control unit stores a path of a material displayed in the temporary storage area in relation to the document transferred to the file. When a document file stored in relation to the path of a material area is newly opened, the control unit determines whether the newly opened document file is related to the material in the temporary storage area.

Abstract: A multi-functional apparatus of all-in-one type has a plurality of functions and comprises a plurality of devices having respective functions, a designation device for designating one of the functions, where each function utilizes at least one of the plurality of devices, and a controller for controlling at least one of the plurality of devices for execution of the designated one function. A management device manages information that specifies an external apparatus from which an extension program is to be acquired for execution of the designated one function, and an acquisition device acquires the extension program from the specified external apparatus based on the managed information for extension of the functions of the multi-functional apparatus.

Abstract: A compound peripheral device which is connected to a computer and executes different function processes comprises a plurality of function processing means for executing predetermined different function processes, a communication unit for communicating through a telephone line with a server computer in which a plurality of closed application programs have previously been stored, a memory such as internal or external memory medium for down loading each of the closed application programs stored in the server computer by the communication unit and for storing, an instructing unit for instructing the selection and execution of either one of the application programs stored in the memory, a program executing unit for executing either one of the application programs read out from the memory on the basis of the selection execution instruction by the instructing unit, an application selecting unit for selecting and instructing either one of the application programs to be down loaded from the server computer, and a tran

Abstract: A multi-function peripheral is connected to a computer and has a plurality of devices with respective functions, the plurality of devices including a printing unit. A designation means of the peripheral designates one of the functions of the peripheral, and a sending means of the peripheral sends a request to download, from the computer to the peripheral, a program for controlling at least one of the devices. A memory means of the peripheral stores a plurality of programs downloaded from the computer, an instruction means selects and executes one of the stored programs, and a control means controls the functioning of a device of the peripheral by executing the selected program in the peripheral in response to an instruction received from the instruction means.

Abstract: A compound peripheral device which is connected to a computer and executes different function processes comprises a plurality of function processing means for executing predetermined different function processes, a communication unit for communicating through a telephone line with a server computer in which a plurality of closed application programs have previously been stored, a memory such as internal or external memory medium for down loading each of the closed application programs stored in the server computer by the communication unit and for storing, an instructing unit for instructing the selection and execution of either one of the application programs stored in the memory, a program executing unit for executing either one of the application programs read out from the memory on the basis of the selection execution instruction by the instructing unit, an application selecting unit for selecting and instructing either one of the application programs to be down loaded from the server computer, and a tran

Abstract: In order to automatically renew data using a modem which can simultaneously transmit/receive audio and data signal, there is disclosed an apparatus having a modem which can simultaneously transmit/receive audio and data signal (4 in FIG. 2), a discrimination circuit (flow chart in FIG. 5B) for discriminating if a communication partner is a specific partner, and a control CPU (flow charts in FIGS. 4A and 4B) for controlling the modem to perform a predetermined data communication together with an audio call on the basis of the discrimination result of the discrimination circuit.

Abstract: It is made possible to maintain the security of one electronic device to which a plurality of other electronic devices are capable of being connected. To accomplish this, a notebook-type personal computer has an internal ROM storing ID information specific to this personal computer. The notebook-type personal computer is folded up and inserted into a docking station through an insertion port so as to be electrically connected to the docking station and rendered capable of executing processing that utilizes the resources of the docking station. The docking station has an internal non-volatile memory storing the IDs of notebook-type personal computers that are allowed to use the docking station. When a notebook-type personal computer is inserted into and connected with the docking station, use of the docking station is not allowed if the ID of this notebook-type personal computer has not been stored in the docking station.

Abstract: An operating system is constructed, and optimized in a given environment, for use in an image processing system that includes a first electronic device capable of operating independently and having a standard input/output unit, and a second electronic device which, when the first electronic device has been connected thereto, extends the functionality of the first electronic device and is capable of being used instead of the standard input/output unit to perform operations. To accomplish this, a foldable notebook-type personal computer is folded up and inserted into a docking station through an insertion port so as to be electrically connected to the docking station. The notebook-type personal computer has a CPU for sensing the resources of the personal computer and the resources of the docking station and starting up the operating system upon selecting the optimum resources sensed.

Abstract: In order to automatically renew data using a modem which can simultaneously transmit/receive audio and data signal, there is disclosed an apparatus having a modem which can simultaneously transmit/receive audio and data signal (4 in FIG. 2), a discrimination circuit (flow chart in FIG. 5B) for discriminating if a communication partner is a specific partner, and a control CPU (flow charts in FIGS. 4A and 4B) for controlling the modem to perform a predetermined data communication together with an audio call on the basis of the discrimination result of the discrimination circuit.