The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 16, 2008
Filed:
Jan. 10, 2003
Katsuya Sakai, Tokyo, JP;
Tomoaki Endoh, Chiba, JP;
Katsuya Sakai, Tokyo, JP;
Tomoaki Endoh, Chiba, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus in which programs for controlling processes that are provided by the image forming apparatus are installed. The image forming apparatus includes means for managing the use amount of each program by use of a counter, means for recognizing the counter which corresponds to the identification information of the program and can manage the use amount of the program, means for correlating the program with the counter recognized by the recognizing means to manage the counter, means which can set an upper limit on the use amount of each program for the use amount managing means, and means for controlling the process by the image forming apparatus based on the upper limit of the use amount set by the setting means for each of the types of the programs.