There is provided a printing apparatus including an update unit. In a case where a setting to enable an automatic update function is received, the update unit automatically updates a predetermined program on the basis that a version of the predetermined program is not a latest version and that a predetermined state where the printing apparatus does not perform a predetermined function continues for a predetermined time. In a case where a setting to disable the automatic update function is received, the update unit does not automatically update the predetermined program.

An image forming apparatus may include a memory storing computer-executable instructions and a processor. The processor is to execute the computer-executable instructions to execute a service program management module of an application framework layer, according to a request of a user-defined service program having application service rights of an application layer, register a service provided by the user-defined service program in the service program management module, request an operation of a system service requiring system service rights of an operating system layer, and manage the registered service.

A setting system for setting an operation screen in an electronic device has layout management information that manages a layout of the operation screen of the electronic device in association with information on the electronic device, and, according to a request for the layout by the electronic device, specifies the layout to be transmitted to the electronic device on the basis of the layout management information and transmits the layout to the electronic device.

To ensure efficiency of software update operations while maintaining reliability of an entire network during the software update operations. A software update management apparatus 1 includes a storage unit 12 adapted to divide a network into one or more blocks and store block management information 100 indicating whether each of network devices belonging to each of the resulting blocks is an active device or a standby device; an update instruction receiving unit 101 adapted to receive software update instructions; a software update information generating unit 102 adapted to generate software update information 200; a software updating unit 103 adapted to perform software update processes after transferring traffic to standby devices in same blocks as respective active devices when it is determined that the network devices are active devices according to the software update information 200 and thereby perform the software update processes for active devices or standby devices in different blocks in parallel.

The present disclosure relates to a printer consumable chip upgrade system and method, and a consumable container. The printer consumable chip upgrade system includes an interface module (34) and a consumable chip (104), wherein the interface module (34) is used for receiving connection information and/or an upgrade instruction and transmitting the connection information and/or the upgrade instruction to the consumable chip (104); and the consumable chip (104) is used for establishing a wireless connection between the consumable chip (104) and an external upgrade device (106) on the basis of the connection information, and/or executing an upgrade operation on the basis of the upgrade instruction.

A downloaded app controls a device to recognize whether a connected card reader is an unsupported card reader or whether an unsupported card is supplied to the connected card reader. The app automatically generates support for the unsupported card reader or unsupported card by reading the identifying information from the unsupported card reader or unsupported card, modifying an existing driver support file by adding the identifying information to the existing driver support file to create a modified driver support file, and testing the unsupported card reader or unsupported card using the modified driver support file. If the tests are successful, the app then supplies the modified driver support file to other devices separate from the printer.

An information processing server includes circuitry; and a memory storing computer-executable instructions that cause the circuitry to execute disabling use of a function provided by firmware, in response to acquiring a report indicating that the firmware is installed in an information processing apparatus; and enabling use of the function, in response to acquiring a report indicating that an application configured to use the function is installed in the information processing apparatus.

An image forming apparatus capable of preventing a phenomenon that printing by a schedule setting will not be started due to display of a confirmation screen is provided. The image forming apparatus comprising a display unit, a registering unit configured to register an object associated with a print timing condition and a printing setting designated by a user, and a printing unit configured to print an image on a paper sheet. When the object displayed on the display unit is selected, the display unit displays a confirmation screen. According to accepting of a predetermined operation in a state that the confirmation screen is displayed, the printing unit prints an image on a paper sheet based on the printing setting. By satisfying the print timing condition, the display unit does not display the confirmation screen, and the printing unit prints the image on the paper sheet based on the printing setting.

An information processing apparatus includes a processor and memory. The memory stores information on multiple image forming apparatuses capable of making an image forming request. The processor is configured to: install license-managed software; select an image forming apparatus serving as a license management server of the software from the multiple image forming apparatuses; and set the selected image forming apparatus as a license management server.

A consumable can be used to securely send data to devices. A security platform can produce a consumable, for example an ink cartridge, with data to be uploaded onto a device, such as a printer. If the consumable and device can perform a successful authentication, broadcast data can be delivered to the device via the consumable. Such techniques can help ensure that authentic consumables are being used in authentic devise. Further, such techniques can enable a licensing model where different consumables can be configured with different data to enable or disable different features of the device.