Information processing apparatus with switchable program

Claim 2

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first memory means is detachable external memory means.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second memory means is detachable external memory means.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second memory means are detachable external memory means.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said process means is printing means for printing the entered information.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: second request means capable, in a state in which said second control program is selected, of requesting switching to said first control program; and means for indirectly obtaining, for the purpose of switching said control program in response to said request, a start address of said first control program, by referring to a fixed address of said first memory means.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second memory means store identification information for the control programs stored therein; and further comprising: display means for displaying said identification information of the control program currently executed.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said second memory means contains information on the apparatus with which the control program stored in said memory means matches.

Claim 9

An information processing apparatus comprising: input means for entering information; internal memory means storing a control program; plural detachable external memory means respectively storing control programs; selection means for selecting one of said control programs; process means for processing the information, entered from said input means, according to the control program selected by said selection means; request means capable, in a state in which one of said control program is selected, of requesting switching to another of said control programs; and means for indirectly obtaining, for the purpose of switching said control program in response to said request, a start address of said requested control program by referring to a fixed address of memory means storing said requested control program.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said request means requests the switching of control program, by designating memory means from which the control program to be executed is to be read.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: connection means provided with plural connectors capable of connecting said plural external memory means; wherein said external memory means contains information for identifying a connector which can utilize the control program stored in said memory means.

Claim 12

An information processing apparatus comprising: input means for entering information; internal memory means storing a control program; detachable external memory means storing a control program; selection means for selecting one of said control programs; process means for processing the information, entered from said input means, according to the control program selected by said selection means; request means capable in a state in which one of said control programs is selected, of requesting switching to another of said control programs; and discrimination means for discriminating, in response to said request, whether said switching of control program is possible.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: information memory means for temporarily storing information to be processed by said process means; and inspection means for inspecting the memory state of said information memory means; wherein said discrimination means is adapted to effect discrimination based on the result of said inspection.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said discrimination means is adapted, when switching is requested from the control program stored in the internal memory means to that stored in the external memory means, to discriminate whether the control program stored in said internal memory means is switchable to the one stored in said external memory means.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said external memory means contains information on the apparatus with which the control program stored in said memory means matches, and said discrimination means effects discrimination based on said information.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said information on the apparatus with which the control program matches is composed of plural bits, of which each bit represents matching/unmatching of an apparatus belonging to a group of apparatus; and said discrimination means effects discrimination by referring to a bit value corresponding to the apparatus.

Claim 17

An information processing apparatus comprising: input means for entering information; first memory means storing a first control program; second memory means storing a second control program; selection means for selecting said first or second control program; process means for processing the information, entered from said input means, according to the control program selected by said selection means; request means capable, in a state in which said first control program is selected, of requesting switching to said second control program; and inhibition means for inhibiting input of information to said input means, prior to an operation of switching said control program in response to said request.

Claim 18

An information processing apparatus comprising: input means for entering information; internal memory means storing a control program; detachable external memory means storing plural control programs; selection means for selecting one of said control programs; process means for processing the information, entered from said input means, according to the control program selected by said selection means; request means capable, in a state in which the control program stored in said internal memory means is selected, of requesting switching to one of the control programs stored in said external memory means; search means for searching identification information corresponding to the requested control program, on said external memory means in response to said request; and means for indirectly obtaining, when said identification information is searched by said search means, a start address of said requested control program by referring to a relative address determined by a fixed displacement from the storage position of said identification information.