Abstract: The first controller of the image forming apparatus transmits first apparatus state information of the own image forming apparatus to the other image forming apparatus, and when second apparatus state information of the other image forming apparatus is received, stores the second apparatus state information in the storage device. The second controller of the information processing apparatus transmits an information collecting request to the image forming apparatus. When the information collecting request is received, the first controller transmits the first and second apparatus state information to the information processing apparatus. When the first and second apparatus state information are received, the second controller displays positions, functions, and power on states or off states of the own image forming apparatus and the other image forming apparatus indicated by the first and second apparatus state information on the display device.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus having a control circuit. The control circuit includes a standard application execution circuit, an apparatus control platform, and a standard application control circuit. The standard application execution circuit has the standard application execution service that executes a standard application. The apparatus control platform includes control service, apparatus control execution service, and an apparatus control management service. The control service controls hardware on an operating system. The apparatus control execution service executes the control service with an interface that is an executing procedure of the control service. The apparatus control management service instructs a call of the control service to the apparatus control execution service. The standard application control circuit manages a state of the standard application and provides an interface for using the hardware resources of the standard application execution service.

Abstract: Provided is an image formation device with which expanded is easy and the development cost can be reduced. A device control platform manages hardware resource in an operating system. A standard application service interface unit provides an interface for utilizing a standard application function from outside of a standard application execution unit. A platform service interface unit provides an interface for utilizing hardware resource from the outside of the device control platform. A standard function service enables the use of the standard application functions corresponding to the standard application service interface unit. An expanded function service enables the use of the hardware resource corresponding to the platform service interface unit. An expanded application management unit manages and executes expanded applications capable of calling the standard function service and the expanded function service.

Abstract: Provided is an image formation device with which expanded is easy and the development cost can be reduced. A device control platform manages hardware resource in an operating system. A standard application service interface unit provides an interface for utilizing a standard application function from outside of a standard application execution unit. A platform service interface unit provides an interface for utilizing hardware resource from the outside of the device control platform. A standard function service enables the use of the standard application functions corresponding to the standard application service interface unit. An expanded function service enables the use of the hardware resource corresponding to the platform service interface unit. An expanded application management unit manages and executes expanded applications capable of calling the standard function service and the expanded function service.

Abstract: Provided is the image forming apparatus, image formation method, and recording medium, which make unnecessary a change of the function in the side of a whole apparatus control platform, when the addition (extension) of the function of application is needed. Image processing service I/F, device operation service I/F, and network communication service I/F of a platform service I/F part are independent, without cooperating, respectively. Then, image processing service, device operation service, and network communication service of each part controlling service are called. That is calling a control service providing part of each part controlling service corresponding to the request from the standard application, directly, by each control service call part.

Abstract: An application package includes a device driver group including a plurality of different device drivers, each of the device drivers being programmed by a native code in correspondence with each of hardware environments, each of the hardware environments being different for each of electronic apparatuses, each of the device drivers being operated on an operating system of each of the electronic apparatuses, and a bytecode that is operated on a virtual environment of the electronic apparatus. The bytecode includes a first program code that causes a processor of the electronic apparatus to acquire information on the hardware environment, a second program code that causes the processor to search for a device driver corresponding to the acquired hardware environment out of the device driver group, and a third program code that causes the processor to install the retrieved device driver in the operating system.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming device includes a control circuit having (1) a device control platform managing a hardware resource on an operating system, (2) a standard application execution part executing a standard application utilizing the hardware resource under the control of the device control platform, (3) an extended application platform with a standard function service that allows for a utilization of a function of the standard application executed by the standard application execution part, and (4) an install service adding, without having to change a configuration of a standard firmware, an interface in order to cope with a function that is not available and allowing for utilization thereof.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus generates a workflow for processing data with a plurality of functions in combination. The electronic apparatus includes a function accepting unit and a workflow generating unit. The functions accepted include an edit function that edits data based on settings and an execution result notification function that indicates an execution result obtained from the functions executed before the execution result notification function in the workflow. The execution result notification function indicates that it can accept a return instruction, and upon acceptance of the return instruction, the execution result notification function returns the execution position to the function specified by the accepted return instruction. After the execution position is returned in response to the return instruction, the settings of at least one of the edit functions located between the function specified by the return instruction and the execution result notification function in the workflow can be changed.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus having a control circuit. The control circuit includes a standard application execution circuit, an apparatus control platform, and a standard application control circuit. The standard application execution circuit has the standard application execution service that executes a standard application. The apparatus control platform includes control service, apparatus control execution service, and an apparatus control management service. The control service controls hardware on an operating system. The apparatus control execution service executes the control service with an interface that is an executing procedure of the control service. The apparatus control management service instructs a call of the control service to the apparatus control execution service. The standard application control circuit manages a state of the standard application and provides an interface for using the hardware resources of the standard application execution service.

Abstract: Provided is the image forming apparatus, image formation method, and recording medium, which make unnecessary a change of the function in the side of a whole apparatus control platform, when the addition (extension) of the function of application is needed. Image processing service I/F, device operation service I/F, and network communication service I/F of a platform service I/F part are independent, without cooperating, respectively. Then, image processing service, device operation service, and network communication service of each part controlling service are called. That is calling a control service providing part of each part controlling service corresponding to the request from the standard application, directly, by each control service call part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a control circuit. The apparatus control platform where the control circuit manages the hardware resources on an operating system. The standard-application executing part executes the standard application using the managed hardware resources. The extended application platform makes the function of the standard application executed use, and makes the hardware resources use, and it has a standard application service interface part that provides the common interface corresponding to the function of the standard application as an interface for using the function of the standard application. The standard function service searches presence or absence of the standard application, and when the standard application does not present, cancels use of the standard function service from the extended application.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming device includes a control circuit having (1) a device control platform managing a hardware resource on an operating system, (2) a standard application execution part executing a standard application utilizing the hardware resource under the control of the device control platform, (3) an extended application platform with a standard function service that allows for a utilization of a function of the standard application executed by the standard application execution part, and (4) an install service adding, without having to change a configuration of a standard firmware, an interface in order to cope with a function that is not available and allowing for utilization thereof.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus generates a workflow for processing data with a plurality of functions in combination. The electronic apparatus includes a function accepting unit and a workflow generating unit. The functions accepted include an edit function that edits data based on settings and an execution result notification function that indicates an execution result obtained from the functions executed before the execution result notification function in the workflow. The execution result notification function indicates that it can accept a return instruction, and upon acceptance of the return instruction, the execution result notification function returns the execution position to the function specified by the accepted return instruction. After the execution position is returned in response to the return instruction, the settings of at least one of the edit functions located between the function specified by the return instruction and the execution result notification function in the workflow can be changed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control unit, a login information storage, a login information receiver, a login authenticator, a target function setter, an authorization information storage, an alternative function information storage and a target function changer. The target function changer sets a user alternative function matching a user authorized function related to an authenticated user as a target function out of functions alternative to a user prohibited function and determined by alternative function information instead of the user prohibited function different from the user authorized function related to the authenticated user out of target functions when the authenticated user is set in a login state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control unit, a login information storage, a login information receiver, a login authenticator, a target function setter, an authorization information storage, an alternative function information storage and a target function changer. The target function changer sets a user alternative function matching a user authorized function related to an authenticated user as a target function out of functions alternative to a user prohibited function and determined by alternative function information instead of the user prohibited function different from the user authorized function related to the authenticated user out of target functions when the authenticated user is set in a login state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a display unit, a login information storage unit, a login information reception unit, a login authentication unit, an authorization limitation information storage unit, an execution instruction reception unit, a control unit and an execution permission determination unit. The authorization limitation information storage unit stores functions permitted to be executed by the logged-in user and a default user, who is a non-logged-in user. The control unit executes a function in accordance with an execution instruction received by the execution instruction reception unit. The execution permission determination unit determines whether the function indicated in the received execution instruction is a default function that is permitted to be executed by the default user, causes the control unit to execute the function if the function is the default function, and displays the login screen on the display unit if the function is not the default function.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a display unit, a login information storage unit, a login information reception unit, a login authentication unit, an authorization limitation information storage unit, an execution instruction reception unit, a control unit and an execution permission determination unit. The authorization limitation information storage unit stores functions permitted to be executed by the logged-in user and a default user, who is a non-logged-in user. The control unit executes a function in accordance with an execution instruction received by the execution instruction reception unit. The execution permission determination unit determines whether the function indicated in the received execution instruction is a default function that is permitted to be executed by the default user, causes the control unit to execute the function if the function is the default function, and displays the login screen on the display unit if the function is not the default function.