License Target Identification for Image Forming Apparatus Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Providing licenses for applications constituted by multiple program modules requires extensive license checking, leading to increased activation time, exceeding allowable limits.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus and method that generates and stores license target identification information to determine which program modules require license management, allowing for efficient license checking only for identified targets, thereby reducing activation time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If license checking is performed for each program module, then license management precision is improved, but activation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the application into multiple program modules, each with its own license management. License target identification information is generated for each module, allowing selective license checking only for modules that require licensing, rather than checking all modules uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing license checking only for program modules that are identified as license targets, rather than checking all program modules. This reduces the number of license checks performed while maintaining proper license management for required modules.
2Adaptability or versatility
If licenses are provided in units of program modules, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by generating license target identification information in advance during application installation. This identification information is stored and reused during activation, avoiding the need to re-analyze which modules require licensing during each activation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by storing license target identification information in a database after initial analysis. This copied information is then referenced during activation to quickly determine which modules require license checking, avoiding repeated complex analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus for executing an application constituted by one or more program modules, includes a license target identification information generating unit configured to generate license target identification information used for identifying which of the program modules are targets of license management, and to store the license target identification information in a storage device, wherein the license target identification information is generated based on one or more program module information items each being associated with one of the program modules to indicate whether the corresponding program module is a target of license management; and a license determination unit configured to determine, in response to an input of a usage request to use the application, whether a license is present, wherein the determination is made only for one or more of the program modules identified as being the targets of license management based on the license target identification information.