Image processing apparatus and storage medium

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an application on a framework that is separated into a core logic portion handling basic processing and a user interface frame portion handling rendering processing;

a controller that executes the application and the framework;

an external application; and

a companion application arranged between the framework and the external application,

wherein the core logic portion is implemented with an application programming interface defined by the framework, and publishes a method and an event that are used for communication with a core logic portion of another application;

wherein the companion application instructs the framework to activate the external application in response to an instruction from a user; and

wherein the framework activates the external application in response to the instruction to activate the external application from the companion application and arranges and displays a window of the external application in a layer lower than a layer of a window of the application on the framework.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the core logic portion of the application on the framework stops the publication of the method and event.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the core logic portion of the application on the framework executes at least one of call of the published method, registration of a listener of the published event, and firing of the event.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the framework arranges the window of the external application in the layer lower than the layer of the window of the application on the framework and non-displays the window of the external application in response to the instruction of activating the external application, and the framework non-displays the window of the application on the framework in response to an instruction of displaying the external application from the companion application and displays the window of the external application.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein the framework displays the window of the application on the framework in response to the instruction of displaying the external application from the companion application if a banner or a fault is displayed.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the framework embeds a dummy management element for managing the window of the external application into the window of the application on the framework in response to the instruction of activating the external application, displays the window of the external application, and displays the dummy management element in a transparent manner.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6 ,

wherein the framework operates the external application while recognizing an operation on the dummy management element displayed in the transparent manner, as an operation on the external application.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the framework instructs the companion application to terminate the external application in response to an instruction of terminating the external application from the user,

wherein the companion application deletes management information on the external application in response to the instruction of terminating the external application, and instructs the framework to display an initial screen, and

wherein the framework displays the initial screen instead of the external application in response to the instruction of displaying the initial screen.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the framework instructs the companion application to terminate the external application if the external application is abnormally terminated,

wherein the companion application deletes management information on the external application in response to the instruction of terminating the external application, and instructs the framework to display an initial screen, and

wherein the framework displays the initial screen instead of the external application in response to the instruction of displaying the initial screen.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein, in a state in which the window of the external application is displayed, when the framework displays an initial screen in response to an operation from the user, the framework non-displays the window of the external application and notifies the companion application about the non-display of the window of the external application, and

wherein the companion application updates management information on the external application in response to the notification about the non-display of the window of the external application.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a processor that controls an image processing apparatus to execute a process for image processing, the process comprising:

implementing an application separated into a core logic portion handling basic processing and a user interface frame portion handling rendering processing;

implementing an application programming interface defined by a framework in the core logic portion, loading the core logic portion by the framework at activation of a system, and publishing a method and an event that are used for communication with a core logic portion of another application;

activating an external application in response to an instruction from a companion application arranged between the framework and the external application, the instruction from the companion application being in response to an instruction from a user; and

arranging and displaying a window of the external application in a layer lower than a layer of a window of the application on the framework.