Image forming apparatus, license server, terminal apparatus, method for installing application, and method for providing application file

摘要

An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes: a communication interface which receives an application file containing an activation key, an installation unit which installs the received application file in the image forming apparatus, an authentication unit which authenticates a license of application corresponding to the application file using the activation key contained in the application file and apparatus information of the image forming apparatus, and a controller which, if the license is authenticated, activates the installed application, wherein the activation key is an encryption key that is generated using the apparatus information of the image forming apparatus.