US Patent 7538901 Multifunction peripheral with efficient use of memory resources

An apparatus for forming an image, in which hardware resources for use in the forming of images are provided, and one or more processes run based on programs in respect of the forming of images. The apparatus includes an off-line unit which puts the one or more processes in a off-line state in which restriction is placed on the running of the one or more processes, a memory area releasing unit which releases one or more memory areas used by the one or more processes that are put in the off-line state, and a data laying-out unit which lays out data in the one or more memory areas released by the memory area releasing unit.