Image processing apparatus using a license, license management system, and control method therefor

摘要

According to the present invention, it is possible to execute a process by an image processing apparatus while a user does not need to pay attention to a license necessary for executing application software for every image processing apparatus. In accordance with a description content of a statement of job and a function (application software) which the image processing apparatus is provided with, such a scheme is provided that a license necessary for executing the process is obtained from a license management server. An image processing apparatus executes a determined process, thus making it possible to effectively utilize the license.

主权项

1. An image processing apparatus having an application mounted thereto, requesting license issuance to a license management server apparatus when the application is used, and using the application by obtaining the license, comprising:
a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and having instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
determining if the application is necessary for executing a process of a job by analyzing a statement of job, wherein the statement of the job comprises a series of a plurality of processes to be executed for performing the job;determining whether the license is necessary for using the application after the application is determined to be necessary for executing the process of the job;making a request of license issuance to the license management server apparatus when the license is determined necessary;executing the job in accordance with the statement of the job when the license is obtained based on the request of the license issuance;executing the job by executing the series of the plurality of processes of the statement of the job just before the process requiring the license for executing the application and temporarily interrupting the executed job and saving a job status describing the processes executed if the license is not obtained based on the request of the license issuance;reorganizing the statement of the job described in the statement based on the processes executed and processes not yet executed based on the temporarily interrupted job; andobtaining the reorganized statement of the job after a predetermined time elapses since the license is not obtained,wherein executing the job comprises executing the job in accordance with the reorganized statement of the job.