JP2002331724A - Function extension type system and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a function extension type system which can impart many information by a user by displaying another information from a main panel, by utilizing a panel not used by an extension when an external unit is connected to the apparatus and which realizes an easily usable operability. SOLUTION: The function extension type system comprises a second operation panel for operating the entire equipment after the extension in the equipment having the first operation panel which can extend the function by connecting the external unit. The system can display the state or operate from the first panel separately from the state display or the operation of the entire equipment by the second panel.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a function expansion type system and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a function expansion type system for expanding a user interface for a certain apparatus when the function is expanded for the apparatus. And an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various devices have become highly functional and multifunctional.
With the progress of miniaturization and networking (construction of LAN),
The function configuration can be dynamically changed depending on the option configuration, such as multi-function digital copiers (copy function, fax function, printer function, network scanner function, file server function, etc.) and printer copy function expansion options. Printers / copiers that can be operated from a personal computer or the like via a network have been commercialized.

[0003] Further, as a technique for enabling operation of an extended device by using an operation panel of the device when the device for expansion is attached to the device, for example, JP-A-5-35423, There are JP-A-9-52408 and JP-A-10-244733.

[0004]

However, in the case of the above configuration, especially when the printer is extended from a printer to a copier, the panel of the printer is not used and a large-screen panel for the extended copy function is usually used. Used, the panel for the printer became unusable or was available only when used as a printer.

In particular, recently, an extensible multifunction peripheral that provides various user services such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile has appeared, so that when the multifunction peripheral is provided with a plurality of display panels, user operability is complicated. There is a problem of becoming.

[0006] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art by connecting an external device to an apparatus.
To provide a function expansion type system that can give more information to the user by displaying different information from the main panel on the panel that is no longer used by the extension, and realizes easy-to-use operability. Aim.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems The above-mentioned problems are solved,
In order to achieve the object, a function expansion type system according to claim 1 of the present invention is a device having a first operation panel whose function can be expanded by connecting an external device, for operating the entire device after expansion. 2 The operation panel is provided in the external device, and the status display and operation can be performed from the first operation panel separately from the status display and operation of the entire device by the second operation panel.

A function expansion type system according to a second aspect of the present invention is a function expansion type that can be expanded as a multifunction device by expanding hardware and software to a single function device. In the system,
A first operation panel for operating the device that is the basis of the function expansion, a device to be connected for performing the function expansion, and a first operation panel for operating the entire device after the function expansion attached to the connected device. And a software for controlling the entire device after the function is extended to the connected device. When the software is executed in accordance with an instruction from the second operation panel, the second operation panel And providing information other than the information to the first operation panel to the first operation panel.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the function expansion system according to the second aspect, the software uses a first operation panel for a function of a device on which the expansion is based. It is characterized in that it can be operated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the function expansion system according to the first or second aspect, the operation state of the entire device is displayed on the first operation panel.

[0011] Claim 5 of the present invention relates to Claims 1 and 2.
Alternatively, in the function expansion system according to 4, the information to be displayed preferentially can be switched using the first operation panel.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus, wherein a plurality of applications for performing processes specific to each user service relating to the image forming process can be mounted, and an intervening application is provided between the application and the hardware resources. An image forming apparatus including a platform for performing management, execution control, and image forming processing of the hardware resources required by at least two of the applications in common when providing the user service; A plurality of operation panels for receiving an operation input from and / or displaying information to the user, and assigning one of the plurality of operation panels to one or more of the applications, Display different from other operation panels on the one operation panel Characterized by comprising display control means for controlling to display the contents, the.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the display control means includes an application which is newly mounted on one of the plurality of operation panels. It is characterized by assigning.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the sixth or seventh aspect, the display control means displays an operation state of the entire apparatus on one of the other operation panels. It is characterized by controlling.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the sixth or eighth aspect, the display control means includes a priority display instruction content indicating which display panel the predetermined information is to be displayed on. Accepted from a predetermined operation panel,
The display contents of the plurality of operation panels are controlled based on the priority display instruction contents received from the predetermined operation panel.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a function expansion type system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a printer system (abbreviated as "MFP system") capable of expanding a copying machine to which a function expansion type system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

In the first embodiment, a printer controller 10 (MF in FIG.
(Meaning the whole except the P extension unit 20)
An MFP extension unit 20 is attached to the system bus 30 so as to extend the copying function.

The printer controller 10 is a printer that stores a program for printer control.
rROM 12, RAM 13 of a storage device temporarily used when executing this program, engine controller 14 for controlling a printer engine for forming an image on a recording sheet, various settings and operations for a printer, and an operation state , A printer panel 15 for displaying a message at the time of error, and a CPU 11 for executing a program for printer control.

The MFP extension unit 20 stores a program for executing a copy function and a printer function.
2. An additional RAM 21 of a storage device temporarily used when executing this program, a scanner controller 23 for controlling reading of a document as an image, and various settings and operations for a copier function and a printer function. And an MFP panel 24 for displaying an operation state and an error message.

With the above configuration, the printer controller 10 remains as a controller of the entire MFP system even after the copier is extended, and operates by enabling the extended function only by invalidating / rewriting / replacement of the program stored in the Printer ROM 12. I do.

That is, the CPU 11 executes the program in the MFP ROM 22 and, if necessary,
The program on the rROM 12 is invalidated / rewritten / replaced to execute the function as the MFP system.

After the extension, the user causes the MFP panel 24 of the MFP extension unit 20 to execute the copying function, and the printer panel 15 provided in the printer controller 10 is not used or (the extended function). Will be used for operation only when used as a printer itself).

However, in the present invention, the printer panel 15 is actively used as a sub panel.

FIG. 2 shows a software configuration of the MFP system after expansion, which is stored in the MFP ROM 22.

The hardware resources of the first embodiment are operating system (OS) 100
Panel (MFP Panel 2)
4, printer / panel 15), engine (engine controller 14), scanner (scanner controller 2)
3) and the like are accessed from a process on the OS 100 via driver software 300 (printer / panel driver, MFP panel driver, engine driver, scanner driver).

MFP screen control process 200
Controls the display / operation of the MFP panel 24,
As a result, the operation of the MFP system such as the printer operation / copy operation is controlled. At that time, the scanner control process 202 and the engine control process 20
3 to perform the actual operation.

The scanner control process 202 includes:
The operation of the scanner device is controlled via the scanner controller 23.

The engine control process 203 includes:
The printer engine is controlled via the engine controller 14 to control printing and devices related to printing (paper feeder, finisher, etc.).

Printer screen control process 201
Is composed of a plurality of threads as shown in FIG.

Printer screen control process 201
Key input from the panel and inter-process communication events are processed by the event dispatcher.

The event dispatcher usually sends an event to a selected thread, and each thread receiving the event performs an operation. For example, the threads include a printer operation thread, a system state thread, a tray setting thread, a job list thread, an operation state thread, and a switching thread.

Each of these threads uses the printer panel 15 as an operation input and a display screen for performing the following operations.

(1) The printer operation thread provides a screen interface for performing an operation for the printer operation (see a screen example in FIG. 4A). The interface of this printer operation is the same as that before expansion, but M
To perform exclusive control with other functions as an FP system,
It is executed while checking the state by communicating with the MFP screen control process 200 which holds the state of the entire system.

(2) The system status thread provides a function for displaying the status of the MFP system (see the screen example in FIG. 4B). This system state indicates the state of the entire MFP system. For example, the status is displayed as copy, facsimile, or printer. Also, this state
Obtained in communication with MFP screen control process 200.

(3) The tray status display thread displays the tray status (see screen example in FIG. 4C). This tray state indicates the tray information of the system. This information is obtained in communication with an engine control process 203 that manages the engine information.

(4) The job list thread provides a function of displaying / operating a job of the system (FIG. 4).
(See screen example of (d)). This job list is obtained by communicating with the MFP screen control process 200 that manages information of the entire MFP system.

(5) The status display thread displays a detailed status during the operation of the system (see the screen example in FIG. 4E). This operation state is generated from information obtained by communicating with the MFP screen control process 200, the scanner control process 202, and the engine control process 203.

(6) The switching thread is an interface for designating the operation of the printer screen control process 201 and determines which of the above threads is to be displayed with priority (see the screen example in FIG. 4F). ). This switching is activated by the dispatcher by an action such as input of a menu key on the printer panel 15, for example. It sets which of the threads as described above is displayed with priority from the displayed selection candidates.

As described above, the embodiment has the following advantages. First, by displaying information different from that of the main panel on a panel that is no longer used due to expansion, more information can be given to the user and easy-to-use operability can be realized. Also,
Since information different from the main panel is provided to the sub-panel after the extension, the user can also obtain information from the sub-panel and receive a wealth of information necessary for operation.

Further, since functions before expansion such as operation of a printer are provided to the sub-panel, the user can operate the sub-panel without feeling uncomfortable. Further, since the operation state of the system is displayed on the sub panel, the user can quickly know the state of the system.

Further, since the tray setting is displayed on the sub panel, the user can quickly know the tray state.
Further, the job list is displayed on the sub panel, so that the user can quickly know the job executed by the system.

Since the operating status is displayed on the sub panel, the user can quickly know the operating status of the system. Further, since the information to be set on the sub panel is switched, the user can select the content to be displayed on the sub panel.

(Embodiment 2) By the way, in Embodiment 1 described above, a case was described in which an MFP whose function can be extended to a copying machine is used as a printer.
The present invention can also be applied to a case where a multifunction peripheral having a function such as a facsimile is used. Therefore, in the second embodiment,
The case where the present invention is applied to a multifunction peripheral will be described.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment. This multifunction machine 5
00 is on a platform 520 comprising various common system services 522 to 528 and a general-purpose OS 521,
The printer application 511, copy application 512, fax application 513, scanner application 514, net file application 515, and process inspection application 516 are installed.

As shown in the figure, this multifunction device 500
A plotter 501, a hard disk drive 502, a network interface (I / F) unit 503, an operation panel 504, an operation panel 505, and the like.
The software group 510 includes a platform 520 and an application 530.

The platform 520 interprets a processing request from the application 530 to generate a hardware resource acquisition request, and manages one or more hardware resources as described below. System Resource Manager (SRM (System Resourc
e Manager) 523) and a general-purpose OS 521.

This control service is formed by a plurality of service modules.
(System Control Service) 522 and ECS (Engine
Control Service) 524 and MCS (Memory Control)
Service) 525 and OCS (Operation panel Control)
l Service) 526 and FCS (FAX Control Service)
527 and NCS (Network Control Service) 528
There is. The platform 520 has an application program interface that enables a processing request from the application to be received by a predefined function.

The general-purpose OS 521 is a UNIX (registered trademark).
A general-purpose operating system such as that described above, executes each software of the platform 520 and the application 530 in parallel as a process. By using the open source UNIX, the security of the program can be ensured, the network can be supported, and the source code can be easily obtained. Furthermore, O
Royalties for S and TCP / IP are not required, and outsourcing is also facilitated. This general-purpose OS includes device drivers for the respective hardware 501 to 505.

The SRM 523 controls the system and manages resources together with the SCS 522. The SRM 523 includes an engine such as a scanner unit and a plotter 501, a memory, an HDD 502, a host I / O (Centro I / F unit,
Network I / F 503, IEEE 1394 I /
F, RS232CI / F, etc.), operation panel 504.5
The arbitration is performed in accordance with a request from an upper layer using the hardware resources 05 and execution control is performed.

More specifically, the SRM 523 determines whether the requested hardware resource is available (whether the requested hardware resource is not used by another request), and if it is available, the requested hardware resource is determined. The upper layer is notified that the wear resource is available. Alternatively, hardware resource utilization scheduling may be performed for a request from an upper layer, and the content of the request (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation by plotter 501, memory reservation, file generation, etc.) may be directly implemented. .

The SCS 522 includes (1) application management,
(2) Operation panel control, (3) System screen display (job list screen, counter display screen, etc.), (4) LED
Display, (5) resource management, and (6) interrupt application control. Specifically, in (1) application management, a process of registering an application and notifying the information to another application is performed. For the registered application, the engine status is notified according to the system setting or the request setting from the application. In addition, the registered application is inquired about the transition to the power mode, the inquiry about the possibility of the transition of the system state such as the interruption mode, and the like.

In (2) operation panel control, exclusive control of the right to use the operation panel of the application is performed. Then, the key information from the operation panel driver (OCS) is exclusively notified to the application having the right to use the operation panel. This key information performs mask control for temporarily stopping notification according to a state transition of the system such as during application switching.

In the (3) system screen display, a warning screen corresponding to the engine state is displayed according to the request from the application having the operation panel use right. Some of them turn on / off the warning display depending on the state of the application such as a user restriction screen. Other than the engine status, display control is performed on a job list screen for displaying a job reservation / execution status, a counter screen for displaying total counters, and a screen indicating that a CSS is being reported. Regarding these system screen displays, the application is not requested to release the right to use the operation unit, but is drawn as a system screen covering the application screen.

(4) In the LED display, the warning LE
D, display control of system LEDs such as application keys. The application-specific LED is directly controlled by the application using a display driver.

In (5) resource management, an application (ECS) performs a service for exclusive control of an engine resource (scanner, staple, etc.) which must be excluded when executing a job.
In the interrupt application control, control and service for giving priority to a specific application are performed.

In particular, since this multi-function peripheral 500 has two operation panels 504 and 505, control is performed to display different information. For example, the operation panel 505 is assigned to the frequently used copy application 511,
The operation panel 504 can be assigned to another application. In addition, the copy application 5
Perform operation input and display of each application including 12
It is also possible to control to display the operation state of the entire apparatus on the operation panel 504. Further, priority display instruction contents indicating which operation panel is to be preferentially displayed can be received from the operation panel 504, and the display contents can be controlled in accordance with the priority display instruction contents.

The ECS 524 includes a scanner unit and a plotter 5.
01, which controls an engine such as image reading and printing operation, status notification, jam recovery, and the like.

More specifically, a series of copy / scan / print operations are realized by sequentially issuing print requests to the SRM 523 in accordance with the specification of the job mode received from the application 530. It is assumed that the job to be handled by the ECS 524 specifies a scanner (SCANNER) as an image input device or a plotter (PLOTTER) as an image output device.

For example, in the case of a copy operation, "SCANNE
R → PLOTTER ”,“ SCANNER → MEMORY ”for file storage, and“ SCANNER → FAX_IN ”for facsimile transmission. In addition, in the case of storage file printing or printing from the printer application 511, “MEMORY → PLOTTER” is designated,
In the case of facsimile reception, "FAX_OUT → PLOTTER" is specified.

Although the definition of a job differs depending on the application, here, a processing operation for one set of image groups handled by a user is defined as one job. For example, in a copy ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) mode, an operation for reading one set of originals placed on a platen is one job, and in the platen mode, one read operation until the final original is determined is one job. . In the case of the copy application 312, the operation of copying one bundle of documents is one job. In the case of the fax application 313, the operation of transmitting one document or the operation of receiving one document is one job. In this case, the printing operation of one document is one job.

The MCS 525 performs a memory control, and specifically, acquires and releases an image memory,
The use of the HDD 502, compression and decompression of image data, and the like are performed.

Here, functions necessary for managing information necessary as image data files stored in the HDD 502 include (1) file access (generation / deletion /
(Open / close) function (including exclusive processing), (2)
File attribute management such as file name / ID management (file / user) / password management / accumulation time management / number of pages / data format (compression method, etc.) / Access restriction / creation application / print condition management (physical page unit) (3) Combining / inserting / cutting functions in file and page units, (4) File sorting function (accumulation time / user I
(5) Notification of all file information (for display / search), (6) Recovery function (file / file of damaged file)
(Page discard), (7) Automatic file deletion function, and the like.

The functions for holding and accessing image data in a memory such as a RAM include (1) a function for acquiring file and page / band attribute information from the application 530, and (2) an application 53.
Secure, release, and read image data area from 0 (Rea
d), there is a Write function.

The OCS 526 is a module for controlling the operation panels 504 and 505 serving as information transmission means between the operator and the main body control. The OCS 526 is a process for notifying the main body control of a key operation event of the operator. , A process of managing the constructed GUI information for each application, a process of reflecting the display on the operation panel, and the like.

The OCS 526 includes (1) a library providing function for constructing a GUI, (2) a hardware resource management function for an operation unit, and (3) a VRAM drawing / LCD display function (hardware display, display application switching, display). Language switching,
Window dark display, message / icon blink display, message link display), (4) hard key input detection function, (5) touch panel key input detection function, (6)
It has an LED output function and (7) a buzzer output function.

FCS 527 includes facsimile transmission / reception using PSTN / ISDN from each application layer of the system controller, registration / quotation of various facsimile data managed by BKM (backup SRAM), facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, fusion transmission / reception API for performing the following.

Specifically, the FCS 527 is (1)
The document requested to be sent from the application layer is sent to PSTN /
A transmission function for transmitting to a facsimile receiver using the ISDN network, (2) a facsimile reception screen received from the PSTN / ISDN network, a reception function for transferring and printing various reports to each application layer, and (3) a fax board Phonebook quotation / registration function for quoting and registering facsimile management items such as phonebooks and group information stored in (4) BK mounted on fax board
Fax log notification function for notifying applications that need transmission / reception result history information and the like stored in M
(5) FC when the status of the fax board changes
It has an event notification function for notifying the application registered in S of an event that has changed.

The NCS 528 is a group of modules for providing services that can be used in common to applications requiring network I / O. The NCS 528 distributes data received from the network according to each protocol to each application, Mediates when sending data from the to the network side. Specifically, ftpd, httpd, lpd, snmpd, telnetd,
It has a server daemon such as smtpd and a client function of the same protocol.

The application 530 includes a page description language (PDL), a PCL, and a postscript (PS).
Printer application 511 that is a printer application, a copy application 512 that is a copy application, a facsimile application 513 that is a facsimile application, a scanner application 514 that is a scanner application, and a net application that is a net file application. File application 315
And a process inspection application 516 which is a process inspection application. Each application 511-516
Can be executed using each process on the platform 520, and thus a screen display control program for performing screen control, key operation control, job generation, and the like is the main component. Note that a new application can be installed via a network connected by the NCS 528 via the network. Further, each application can be added or deleted for each application.

Next, display control when the operation panel 504 shown in FIG. 5 is used as a printer panel and the operation panel 505 is used as a copy panel will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining display control when the operation panel 504 shown in FIG. 5 is used as a printer panel and the operation panel 505 is used as a copy panel.

In this case, as shown in FIG.
The driver 600 in S521 includes a printer panel driver 610 (driver for the operation panel 504), a copy panel driver 630 (driver for the operation panel 505), a plotter driver 620, and a scanner driver 64.
0 must be provided. Also, the application 530
Include a printer application 511 and a copy application 512
Is required. Further, the ECS 524 requires a plotter control process 524a and a scanner control process 524b.

When the operation panel 504 is used as a printer panel, the printer application 511
Data is exchanged with the printer panel driver 610 via S522. When the operation panel 505 is used as a copy panel, the copy application 512 exchanges data with the copy panel driver 630 via the SCS 522. The SCS 522 performs exclusive control of the right to use the operation panel of the application as described above,
The key information from the operation panel driver is notified to the application having the right to use the operation panel.

When processing by the printer application 511 is performed, the plotter 501 needs to be operated. Therefore, the printer application 511 transmits data to the plotter driver 620 via the plotter control process 524a of the ECS 524. Give and receive. On the other hand, when the processing by the copy application 512 is performed, it is necessary to further operate the scanner. Therefore, the copy application 512 exchanges data with the scanner driver 640 via the scanner control process 524b in the ECS 524.

As described above, in the second embodiment, when using a multifunction peripheral having two display panels 504 and 505 and mounting a plurality of applications 511 to 516, different display panels are allocated to different applications. With such a configuration, the operability of the user can be improved.

In the second embodiment, the case where the two display panels 504 and 505, the respective applications 511 to 516, and the respective drivers exist in the MFP 500 from the beginning is shown. The present invention can also be applied to a case where it is added later. In this case, an application and a control process are added as needed. In addition, the display panel 505
When the device driver is added later, it is necessary to newly add a device driver.

Further, in the second embodiment, the case where two display panels are provided is shown for convenience of explanation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the case where three or more display panels are provided, The present invention can be applied to a case where one display panel is divided into a plurality of parts and used.

[0078]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When an external device is connected to the device, information that is different from the main panel is displayed on the panel that is no longer used due to expansion, so that more information can be given to the user and operability is easy to use. Can be realized.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to mount a plurality of applications that perform processing unique to each user service related to the image forming processing, and provide the user service by interposing between the application and the hardware resources. At this time, in an image forming apparatus including a platform for performing management, execution control, and image forming processing of hardware resources commonly required by at least two of the applications, an operation input from a user is received and / or A plurality of operation panels for displaying the information of one or more applications, one or more of the applications are assigned to one of the plurality of operation panels, and the one operation panel is displayed differently from the other operation panels. Controlled to display contents In, it is possible to reduce the user's burden on confirmation of the operation input and display contents of the multi-functional image forming apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer system capable of expanding a copying machine to which a function expansion type system according to a first embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration after a function is extended;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of a printer screen control process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a screen example of a sub panel according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of the multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for describing display control when the operation panel 504 shown in FIG. 5 is used as a printer panel and the operation panel 505 is used as a copy panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 printer controller 11 CPU 12 Printer ROM 13 RAM 14 engine controller 15 printer panel (sub-panel) 20 MFP extension unit 21 additional RAM 22 MFP ROM 23 scanner controller 24 MFP panel (main panel) 30 system bus 100 operating system (OS) 200 MFP screen control process 201 Printer screen control process 202 Scanner control process 203 Engine control process 300 Driver (printer panel, MFP panel,
Engine, scanner) 500 MFP 501 Plotter 502 HDD 503 Network I / F 504, 505 Operation panel 510 Software group 511 Printer application 512 Copy application 513 Fax application 514 Scanner application 515 Net file application 516 Process inspection application 520 Platform 521 General purpose OS (including device driver) 522 SCS 523 SRM 524 ECS 525 MCS 526 OCS 527 FCS 528 NCS 530 Application

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/00 106 B41J 29/00 B

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus having a first operation panel whose function can be expanded by connecting an external apparatus, wherein the external apparatus has a second operation panel for operating the entire apparatus after expansion, and A function expansion type system wherein status display and operation can be performed from the first operation panel separately from the status display and operation of the entire device by the operation panel. 2. A function expansion type system in which a hardware and software can be extended to a device having a single function to expand the device as a device having multiple functions. A first operation panel for performing the function expansion, a device to be connected for performing the function expansion, and a second operation panel for operating the entire device after the function expansion attached to the connection device. Software that controls the entire device after the function has been expanded, and this software, when executing the software according to the instruction from the second operation panel, stores information different from the information to the second operation panel. A function expansion type system provided to one operation panel. 3. The function expansion system according to claim 2, wherein the software can operate a function of the device on which the expansion is based using a first operation panel. . 4. The function expansion system according to claim 1, wherein an operation state of the entire device is displayed on the first operation panel. 5. The function expansion type system according to claim 1, wherein switching of information to be displayed preferentially can be performed by using the first operation panel. 6. A plurality of applications each of which performs a process unique to each user service related to the image forming process can be installed, and the user service is provided between the application and hardware resources to provide the user service. An image forming apparatus provided with a platform for performing management, execution control, and image forming processing of the hardware resources required by at least two of the applications in common, and receiving operation input from a user and / or A plurality of operation panels for displaying information of one or more of the plurality of operation panels, and one of the plurality of operation panels is assigned to one or a plurality of the applications, and the one operation panel is different from the other operation panels. Display control means for controlling display contents An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising a. 7. The display control unit according to claim 6, wherein an application to be additionally mounted is assigned to one of the plurality of operation panels.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit controls to display an operation state of the entire apparatus on one of the other operation panels. 9. The display control means receives, from a predetermined operation panel, a priority display instruction content indicating which display panel the predetermined information is to be displayed on, and based on the priority display instruction content received from the predetermined operation panel. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein display contents of the plurality of operation panels are controlled.