Patent US 6,925,538

A multi-functional apparatus of all-in-one type has a plurality of functions and comprises a plurality of devices having respective functions, a designation device for designating one of the functions, where each function utilizes at least one of the plurality of devices, and a controller for controlling at least one of the plurality of devices for execution of the designated one function. A management device manages information that specifies an external apparatus from which an extension program is to be acquired for execution of the designated one function, and an acquisition device acquires the extension program from the specified external apparatus based on the managed information for extension of the functions of the multi-functional apparatus.