A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer-readable instructions that are executable by a processor of a first terminal device compatible with a first platform. The instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the first terminal device to accept selection of an image processing apparatus from among one or more devices connected with the first terminal device, obtain setting information from the selected image processing apparatus, install, into the first terminal device, a first program compatible with the image processing apparatus and the first platform, display access information on a display of the first terminal device, the access information being based on an address of a web page representing a site of a supply source for a second program that is compatible with the image processing apparatus and a second platform, and display the setting information on the display.

Information apparatus and application software supporting printing over air or network are herein disclosed and enabled. The information apparatus may include one or more software components that include (1) a discovery component to discover a supported printer in a local area network (LAN) and to receive device information related to the printer (e.g., capability, language or format supported, identification) from the printer, and (2) a printing component to generate or obtain print data based on the device information received and to transmit the print data to the discovered printer. After establishing the connection to the LAN, application software (e.g., Internet browser, email, photos, documents) in the information apparatus may print digital content by using the discovery component to discover the printer in the LAN, and may use the printing component to obtain and transmit print data in a form that is acceptable to the printer for printing the digital content.

An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to specify information to be incorporated into a first apparatus by referring to information incorporated into a second apparatus that differs from the first apparatus and that is disposed within a predetermined region around a location of the first apparatus.

An image forming device to which an external device is detachably attached, including an interface that is able to attach to the external device, a storage that stores multi-tier architecture software, and a computer that executes the multi-tier architecture software. The multi-tier architecture software includes a lower layer that includes an operating system that manages the external device, an upper layer that includes an application program that accesses the external device via the lower layer, and an intervening abstraction layer that hides implementation of the lower layer from the upper layer. The upper layer includes an access control program that is able to save path information to access the external device to the storage, and relays access from the application program to the external device by accessing the lower layer without going through the abstraction layer and accessing the external device using the path information.

An apparatus includes a control unit configured to switch a power state among a first power state, a second power state, and a third power state, the first power state being a state where a device driver is loaded and a device is usable, the second power state being a state where the device driver is unloaded and the device is unusable, the third power state being a state where the device driver is unloaded and the device is unusable, power consumption in the third power state being less than power consumption in the second power state. Based on reception of a predetermined signal in a case where the information processing apparatus is in the third power state, the control unit causes the power state to transition from the third power state to the second power state.

An information processing system configured to perform setting for an image processing apparatus based on setting edited by an application configured to operate on an information processing apparatus, wherein the system includes a startup unit that acquires a status of the image processing apparatus, downloads setting information for the image processing apparatus, determines whether or not to start up the application, and controls the startup of the application based on results of the determination, wherein the determination is performed based on the status before the setting information download has begun.

An information processing apparatus from which communication with one or multiple apparatuses held by a user is not allowed to be started includes: a processor configured to: in response to application for use of a service from the user, extract the multiple apparatuses held by the user, by referring to held-apparatus information in which the user is associated with the multiple apparatuses held by the user; register use start information in a storage area provided for each of the multiple extracted apparatuses, the use start information including at least apparatus registration information; and after recognizing that one of the apparatuses refers to the apparatus registration information, register an identification of the apparatus that refers to the apparatus registration information, the identification being registered in a memory storing an apparatus permitted the use of the service, the identification being registered in relation to an identification of the service.

An information processing apparatus includes a memory and a processor configured to allow software to be installed onto the information processing apparatus even if a requirement is determined to be unsatisfied and to provide presentation so as to indicate that the software that has been installed is unavailable. The requirement is defined to run after installation the software to be installed.

An information processing system, a service providing device, and an information processing method. The information processing system receives a request for downloading a client program to a client terminal from a user operating the client terminal, determines at least one client program from one or more client programs according to the login method of the user, and control to send the determined client program to the client terminal.

An example billing management method with respect to a solution installed in an image forming apparatus includes detecting a solution newly installed in or removed from the image forming apparatus, based on a solution list indicating solutions installed in the image forming apparatus, verifying whether the detected solution is included in a solution subscription list corresponding to an account in which the image forming apparatus is registered, and processing billing with respect to the detected solution according to a verification result.