Image formation device

Abstract

To provide an image formation device that can be continuously used without causing adverse effect even in a state where a network interface is disabled.SOLUTION: A controller 11 can set network IFs 17, 18 to be disabled. When the controller receiving a login of an administrator via a user IF 16 in a state where the network IFs 17, 18 are set to be disabled, the controller 11 makes the network IFs 17, 18 temporarily enabled.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with a network interface. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an image forming apparatus equipped with a plurality of interfaces including a network interface. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-15685 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The inventors have considered making it possible to set a specific interface to be enabled or disabled, and to continue to use the image forming device with the specific interface set to disabled. However, it has been found that there is room for improvement in the processing of the image forming device when the network interface is disabled as a specific interface in the image forming device.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide an image forming apparatus that can be used continuously without adverse effects even when the network interface is disabled. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus disclosed in this embodiment includes an image forming unit, a user interface, a network interface, and a controller. The controller can accept a user's login through an operation accepted via the user interface, and when an instruction to disable the network interface is accepted via the network interface, the controller can set the network interface to be disabled. When the controller accepts an administrator's login via the user interface in a state in which the network interface has been disabled, the controller executes a login-time activation process to temporarily activate the network interface.

[0007] In the above configuration, after the network interface is disabled via the network interface, when an administrator login is accepted via the user interface, the network interface is temporarily enabled. As a result, in the administrator login state due to an operation on the user interface, the network interface is enabled, so that processing executed in relation to the administrator login can be executed without adverse effects. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can continue to be used without any adverse effects even when the network interface is disabled. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an MFP. [Diagram 2] 11 is a timing chart illustrating a process executed between a controller and a browser. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a home screen displayed on a browser. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an IF setting screen displayed on a browser. [Diagram 5] 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for logging in by remote processing. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating login state information. [Figure 7] 11 is a flowchart illustrating updating of setting information by remote processing. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating setting information. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for logging out by remote processing. [Figure 10] 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process according to an operation on a user interface. [Figure 11] 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating the transition of screens displayed on a user interface. [Figure 12] 11 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a process executed in S52 of FIG. 10. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an inquiry screen. [Figure 14] 11 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a process executed in S56 of FIG. 10. [Figure 15] 11 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a process executed in S58 of FIG. 10. [Figure 16] 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a no-operation state monitoring process. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating login state information according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] (First embodiment) The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described by taking an MFP (abbreviation of multifunction peripheral) as an example. The MFP 10 shown in Fig. 1 is connected to a network and is capable of communicating with a PC 100 through the network. The network may be a LAN or the Internet. The network may be connected wirelessly or by wire.

[0011] The MFP 10 comprises a controller 11, a memory 12, a printer 13, a FAX IF 14, a scanner 15, a user IF 16, a wireless network IF 17, a wired network IF 18, and a memory IF 19. Each of these components is connected to a bus and can communicate with each other. Note that "IF" is an abbreviation for Interface.

[0012] The user IF 16 is an interface between the user who directly operates the MFP 10 and the controller 11, and in this embodiment has a touch panel and operation keys which are physical keys. The printer 13 is capable of executing an operation of printing an image on a recording medium such as a sheet or a disk. Alternatively, it may be said that the printer 13 is capable of operating, or capable of executing a process for operating. The recording method of the printer 13 may be an inkjet method, an electrophotographic method, or the like.

[0013] The FAXIF 14 is an interface that transmits and receives FAX data to and from a destination device using a FAX protocol. The MFP 10 has a FAX transmission function that transmits scan data generated by scanning with the scanner 15, transmission data transmitted from the PC 100, and recording data read from a USB memory via a memory IF 19 to a destination device via the FAXIF 14. The MFP 10 has a FAX reception function that prints FAX data received via the FAXIF 14 on a sheet using the printer 13, transmits the data to another PC 100 via the network IFs 17 and 18, and writes the data to a USB memory via the memory IF 19. Note that the FAX data, scan data, transmission data, and recording data may all be referred to as image data.

[0014] The scanner 15 can read an original and generate scan data. The MFP 10 includes a copy function that causes the printer 13 to print the scan data generated via the scanner 15, a scan transmission function that transmits the scan data to, for example, a PC or a server (not shown) via the network IFs 17 and 18, and a scan direct function that can write the data to a USB memory via the memory IF 19. The scan transmission function and the scan direct function may be collectively described as a scan function. Printing by the printer 13 and generation of scan data by the scanner 15 are examples of image formation processing. Processing involving printing and generation of scan data is also an example of image formation processing. That is, processing in the copy function, scan function, FAX transmission function, and FAX reception function are examples of image formation processing. In addition, processing for outputting such as printing, transmission, and writing in each function may be collectively described as output processing.

[0015] The memory IF19 is an interface that performs data input / output conforming to the USB (abbreviation of Universal Serial Bus) standard. Data input / output may be a concept including communication. The memory IF19 has a port that is detachable from a USB memory. The USB standard is not particularly limited, but the USB 2.0 standard, the USB 3.0 standard, or the like may be adopted. The USB memory may be a portable memory that is detachable from the MFP 10 via the port. For example, it may be a HDD that can be connected via USB. For example, it may be a memory card that can communicate with the MFP 10 via a card reader that is connected via USB to the port. The memory IF19 may also have a card slot that is detachable from a memory card as a port. The memory card may be, for example, an SD card.

[0016] The wireless network IF 17 is a network IF that connects the MFP 10 to a network wirelessly, for example, via a wireless LAN. The wired network IF 18 is a network IF that connects the MFP 10 to a network wired, for example, via a wired LAN. In the following, when both the wireless network IF 17 and the wired network IF 18 are described, they may be described as network IFs 17 and 18.

[0017] The controller 11 is configured with a CPU, an ASIC (an abbreviation for Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc. The memory 12 is a so-called built-in memory built into the MFP 10, and may be configured by combining a RAM, a ROM, an SSD, an HDD, etc. Buffers provided in the controller 11 and used when various programs are executed may also be considered as part of the memory 12.

[0018] Note that the MFP 10 may include a storage medium readable by the controller 11 in addition to the memory 12. The storage medium readable by the controller 11 is a non-transitory medium. In addition to the above examples, the non-transitory medium also includes recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. Furthermore, the non-transitory medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, an electrical signal carrying a program downloaded from a server on the Internet or the like is a computer-readable signal medium, which is a type of computer-readable medium, but is not included in the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0019] The memory 12 stores firmware as a program executable by the controller 11. In this embodiment, the process of the controller 11 according to the instructions written in the program is mainly shown. That is, the processes of the controller 11 such as "judging", "selecting", "calculating", "deciding", "identifying", "obtaining", "receiving", and "controlling" in the following description represent the processes of the controller 11. Note that "obtaining" is used as a concept that does not require a request. That is, the process of the controller 11 receiving data without a request is also included in the concept of "the controller 11 obtaining data". In addition, "data" in this specification is represented by a bit string that can be read by the controller. Data with the same substantial meaning but different formats are treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in this specification.

[0020] By executing firmware, the controller 11 also functions as a Web server (also referred to as an Embedded Web Server (EWS)) for displaying a predetermined Web page on the PC 100. The controller 11 transmits Web page data for displaying the Web page to the PC 100, thereby causing a browser 101 (described later) of the PC 100 to display the Web page.

[0021] The controller 11 can refer to the setting information 20 stored in the memory 12, enable an IF for which a setting value "Enabled" is set, which will be described later, and disable an IF for which a setting value "Disabled" is set. The controller 11 can perform a process of temporarily enabling an IF for which a setting value "Disabled" is set in the setting information 20, by referring to the login status information 21 stored in the memory 12. This will be described in detail later.

[0022] Next, the configuration of the PC 100 will be described. The PC 100 includes a communication IF, a memory, a controller, a display, and a user IF, which are not shown. An OS and a browser 101 are stored in the memory of the PC 100. The browser 101 is an abbreviation for a browser program. The controller of the PC 100 operates according to the browser 101 to display a web page corresponding to the web page data transmitted from the MFP 10 on the display. In this embodiment, the controller 11, as a web server, causes the browser 101 of the PC 100 to display the web page, and the PC 100 displaying the web page are also examples of a user IF. The terminal is not limited to the PC 100, and may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, as long as it is a device capable of wireless communication with the MFP 10 via a network.

[0023] Next, the procedure of a process for setting the enable / disable of various interfaces provided in MFP 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the enable / disable setting of various IFs of MFP 10 can be executed using the function of a Web server of controller 11. That is, controller 11 supplies Web page data to browser 101 to display Web pages shown in Figs. 3 and 4 described below, and can accept operations for specifying the enable / disable of various interfaces by operations on this Web page.

[0024] A user operates PC 100 to input a URL for identifying a Web server of MFP 10 into browser 101. Browser 101 transmits a GET request of HTTPS communication based on the input URL at timing 10 (hereinafter, timing will also be referred to as "T"). When controller 11 receives the GET request from browser 101, it transmits an HTTPS response corresponding to the GET request.

[0025] The response returned at T11 includes Web page data for displaying the pre-login home screen shown in Fig. 3. When browser 101 of PC 100, which is the requesting device, receives the Web page data, browser 101 uses the Web page data to display the pre-login home screen on the display at T12. By receiving the Web page data, browser 101 is capable of executing remote processing that can receive instructions corresponding to operations via the Web page and transmit the received instructions to the MFP via wireless network IF 17. In this embodiment, the screen that browser 101 displays based on the Web page data from MFP 10 is an example of an operation screen by remote processing.

[0026] The home screen 30 shown in FIG. 3 includes a page display field 31 that includes a menu 32 and a content display section 33. The menu 32 displays options for receiving an operation to specify the content to be displayed on the content display section 33. The home screen 30 may include a URL display field that displays the URL of a registered site above the page display field 31. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a home screen based on Web page data included in the response returned at T11. FIG. 3 also illustrates a state in which an option "Status" 32A of the menu 32 is selected on the home screen 30 before login. The option "Status" 32A is a subordinate option of the option "Home", and is also an option corresponding to the current status of the MFP 10 and the display of the setting contents on the content display section 33. The content display section 33 includes a field for specifying whether "Automatic Refresh" is enabled "On" or disabled "Off" as the status of the MFP 10, a field for indicating the remaining toner capacity, a field for receiving the setting of the language to be displayed on the Web page, and the like.

[0027] When a selection operation is performed on any of the options in the menu 32, the browser 101 transmits a GET request to the controller 11 requesting Web page data corresponding to the selected option. The timing of transmission of the GET request requesting Web page data corresponding to the selected option may be any timing when a selection operation is performed via the home screen, and is not limited to T17 in FIG. 2. The controller 11 transmits a response including Web page data to the PC 100 in accordance with the requested request. This allows the browser 101 to display an operation screen (Web page) corresponding to the selected item on the content display unit 33. Note that instead of a configuration in which the controller 11 transmits Web page data as a response to the browser 101, a configuration in which only data indicating a screen to be displayed on the content display unit 33 is transmitted to the browser 101, and the browser 101 changes the display on the content display unit 33 using the data may be used.

[0028] When the user inputs an administrator password, which is administrator information, into administrator information input field 34 displayed in menu 32 on home screen 30 and operates login icon 35, in T13 the browser 101 transmits a POST request including the administrator password to the controller 11. Upon receiving the POST request including the administrator password, the controller 11 performs administrator EWS login processing in T14.

[0029] 5 shows the administrator EWS login process executed at T14. In step S10 (hereinafter, step is abbreviated as S), the controller 11 checks the information included in the POST request. If the controller 11 determines that the POST request includes an administrator password (S11: YES), the process proceeds to S12 and permits the administrator to log in. Specifically, the controller 11 determines whether the administrator password included in the POST request completely matches the administrator registration password registered in the MFP 10. Alternatively, if the administrator password and the administrator registration password partially match, the controller 11 may permit the administrator to log in to the MFP 10. In this embodiment, if the login is by someone other than the administrator (S11: NO), the process proceeds to S13 and does not permit the administrator to log in.

[0030] In S14, the controller 11 sets the setting value of the item "Administrator EWS login / logout status" in the login status information 21 stored in the memory 12 to a value indicating "Administrator EWS login status". As shown in FIG. 6, the login status information 21 includes "Administrator panel login / logout status", "Administrator EWS login / logout status", and "Network IF temporary activation management information" as items related to the login status of the MFP 10. Among these, the item "Administrator EWS login / logout status" is information indicating whether or not the administrator is logged in by the EWS function of the controller 11, i.e., remote processing. If the setting value of the item "Administrator EWS login / logout status" is a value indicating the "Administrator EWS login status", it indicates that the administrator is logged in by remote processing. If the setting value of the item "Administrator EWS login / logout status" is a value indicating the "Administrator EWS logout status", it indicates that the administrator is not logged in by remote processing.

[0031] The item "Administrator Panel Login / Logout Status" is information indicating whether or not the administrator is logged in by operation of user IF16, which will be described later. If the setting value of the item "Administrator Panel Login / Logout Status" is a value indicating "Administrator Panel Login Status", it indicates that the administrator is logged in by operation of user IF16. If the setting value of the item "Administrator Panel Login / Logout Status" is a value indicating "Administrator Panel Logout Status", it indicates that the administrator is not logged in by operation of user IF16.

[0032] When the controller 11 permits the administrator to log in, at T15 in FIG. 2, the controller 11 generates a response for when the administrator's login is successful, and transmits this response to the MFP 10. This response includes Web page data for displaying a home screen after the administrator's login, which is a Web page (not shown). The home screen after the administrator's login is configured by combining the content display unit 33 in FIG. 3 and the menu 42 in FIG. 4. When the browser 101 receives the response from the MFP 10, at T16, the browser 101 causes the user IF 16 to display the home screen after the administrator's login, which is a Web page. When a selection operation is performed on any of the options in the menu on the home screen after the administrator's login, the browser 101 transmits a GET request to the controller 11 in T17, requesting Web page data corresponding to the selected option. When the controller 11 receives the GET request, the controller 11 transmits a response including the Web page data to the PC 100 in response to the GET request.

[0033] When the browser 101 transmits a GET request in T17 in response to a selection operation of the option "Connection Interface" 42A subordinate to the option "Administrator" in the menu 42 on the home screen after the administrator login, the controller 11 supplies the PC 100 with Web page data for displaying the IF setting screen 40 in T18. FIG. 4 shows the IF setting screen 40, which is an operation screen (Web page) displayed by the browser 101 in T19 in response to a selection operation of the option "Connection Interface" 42A. Note that only when the administrator login is successful, the controller 11 transmits Web page data for displaying the home screen after the administrator login, including the menu 42, to the browser 101 in T15. That is, when the administrator login is not successful in T14, the controller 11 does not transmit Web page data for displaying the IF setting screen 40 to the browser 101 based on the selection operation of the option "Connection Interface" 42A in the menu 42 in the browser 101.

[0034] The content display section 43 included in the IF setting screen 40 includes items 43A, 43B, 43C, and 43D that accept enable / disable operations for various network IFs "Wired LAN", "Wireless LAN", "USB Port", and "Telephone Line". The item "Wired LAN" 43A is an item that accepts an instruction to enable / disable the wired network IF 18. The item "Wireless LAN" 43B is an item that accepts an instruction to enable / disable the wireless network IF 17. The item "USB Port" 43C is an item that accepts an instruction to enable / disable the memory IF 19. The item "Telephone Line" is an item that accepts an instruction to enable / disable an IF (not shown) related to connection with a telephone line.

[0035] When the administrator checks the check box "Enabled" included in each of the items 43A to 43D in the content display section 43 included in the IF setting screen 40, the corresponding IF is enabled, and when the administrator checks the check box "Disabled", the corresponding IF is disabled. The controller 11 creates Web page data reflecting the contents of the setting information 20 stored in the memory 12, and transmits the Web page data at T18. Therefore, at T19, the browser 101 displays the IF setting screen 40 in which the check states of the check boxes included in the items 43A to 43D reflect the contents of the setting information 20. In this example, it is assumed that the administrator checks the check box "Disabled" for the item "Wireless LAN" 43B included in the content display section 43, checks the check boxes "Enabled" for the other items, and operates the approval button 45.

[0036] Browser 101 transmits, in T20, to MFP 10, a POST request including information indicating the IFs designated as disabled on IF setting screen 40. Browser 101 may designate as disabled only those network IFs whose check state has been changed from "Enabled" to "Disabled" among the IFs for which "Disabled" is checked on IF setting screen 40 in T20. Note that when cancel button 44 is operated, browser 101 returns the check state of content display unit 43 to a state in which the contents of setting information 20 are reflected.

[0037] When the controller 11 receives a GET request or a POST request from the browser 101, it executes an administrator EWS setting process in T21. FIG. 7 is a flowchart explaining the procedure of the administrator EWS setting process executed in T21. The controller 11 analyzes the contents of the request received from the browser 101 in S20. First, a case where the browser 101 accepts an operation via the contents display unit 43 will be explained. In this example, if the POST request indicates an instruction to disable at least one of the network IFs (S21: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S22.

[0038] In S22, the controller 11 disables the network IF specified in the POST request. For example, the controller 11 stops the power supply to the IC chip constituting the network IF specified to be disabled, thereby making the network IF inaccessible, that is, disabled. This makes it impossible for the controller 11 to communicate with the network IF. In addition, when the network IF is set to be disabled, even if the controller 11 receives an interrupt process from the network IF, the controller 11 may disable communication with the network IF by ignoring the interrupt process. For example, when both the network IFs 17 and 18 are disabled, remote processing via the wireless network IF 17 and remote processing via the wired network IF 18 between the MFP 10 and the PC 100 are not possible.

[0039] In addition, in S22, the controller 11 refers to the setting information 20 and changes the setting value corresponding to the network IF designated as disabled from the setting value "Enabled" indicating enabled to the setting value "Disabled" indicating disabled. The setting information 20 is information for registering various functions executable by the MFP 10 and the setting states of enabled / disabled for various IFs. FIG. 8 shows a part of the setting information 20 stored in the memory 12. The setting information 20 associates an item "IF type" in which a setting value indicating the type of each IF is registered with an item "enabled / disabled" in which a setting value indicating enabled / disabled by the EWS is registered. In the item "enabled / disabled", if the setting value is "Enabled", it indicates that the IF specified by the corresponding item "IF type" is enabled by the EWS. If the setting value is "Disabled", it indicates that the IF specified by the corresponding item "IF type" is disabled by the EWS. In the factory default state of the MFP 10, all the setting values ​​"Enabled", i.e., indicating enabled, are registered in the item "IF type" of the setting information 20. In addition, in the setting information 20, in the factory default state, a setting value indicating "Disabled", that is, invalid, may be registered for some of the items "IF type".

[0040] In S23, the controller 11 determines whether or not the IFs designated as disabled in the POST request include the wireless network IF 17. If the wireless network IF 17 is included in the IFs designated as disabled (S23: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S24 and updates the setting value of the item "management information of temporary activation of network IF" in the login status information 21. As shown in Fig. 6, the item "management information of temporary activation of network IF" includes the items "state in which wireless network IF is disabled by EWS", "temporary enabled state of wireless network IF", "state in which wired network IF is disabled by EWS", and "temporary enabled state of wired network IF".

[0041] In S24, the controller 11 sets the setting value of the item "wireless network IF disabled by EWS" to "YES." Setting the setting value of the item "wireless network IF disabled by EWS" to "YES" indicates that the wireless network IF 17 is in a disabled state by EWS in the login status information 21. If the setting value of the item "wireless network IF disabled by EWS" is "NO," it indicates that the wireless network IF 17 is in an enabled state in the login status information 21. At the time of shipment from the factory, the setting values ​​of the item "wireless network IF disabled by EWS" and the item "wired network IF disabled by EWS" are set to "NO."

[0042] In S25, the controller 11 determines whether the wired network IF 18 is included in the IFs designated as disabled in the POST request. If the wired network IF 18 is included in the network IFs designated as disabled (S25: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S26 and sets the setting value of the item "state in which wired network IF is disabled by EWS" in the login status information 21 to "YES." Setting the setting value of the item "state in which wired network IF is disabled by EWS" in the login status information 21 to "YES" indicates that the wired network IF 18 is in a state in which it is disabled by EWS. Note that if the setting value of the item "state in which wired network IF is disabled by EWS" in the login status information 21 is "NO," it indicates that the wired network IF 18 is in an enabled state.

[0043] When the POST request includes both an instruction to disable the wireless network IF 17 and an instruction to disable the wired network IF 18 (S23: YES, S25: YES), the controller 11 sets the setting value of the item "wireless network IF disabled by EWS" to "YES" in S24, and sets the setting value of the item "wired network IF disabled by EWS" to "YES" in S26. In this case, the login status information 21 indicates that both network IFs 17 and 18 are disabled by EWS. If a POST request has issued an instruction to disable a network IF that has already been disabled by EWS, the disabled state may be maintained for the network IF that has been specified as disabled, without performing the process of disabling in S22 to S26 again. The items "temporarily enabled state of wireless network IF" and "temporarily enabled state of wired network IF" in the login status information 21 will be described later.

[0044] Furthermore, instead of judging whether the command in S23 to disable the wireless network IF 17 or the command in S25 to disable the wired network IF 18 is included, the controller 11 may make the judgments in S23 and S25 based on the disabling of the network IF in S22 or on whether the setting value corresponding to the setting value "Wireless LAN" has been changed to "Disabled" or the setting value corresponding to the setting value "Wired LAN" has been changed to "Disabled" in the item "IF type" of the setting information 20. In addition to this, the controller 11 may select whether to make the judgment in S23 or the judgment in S25 depending on which IF, the wireless network IF 17 or the wired network IF 18, receives the POST request. In this case, when the controller 11 receives a POST request at the wireless network IF 17, it determines in S23 whether the request includes an instruction to disable the wireless network IF 17, and if the request includes an instruction to disable the wireless network IF 17 (S23: YES), it proceeds to S24 and sets the setting value of the item "state in which the wireless network IF is disabled by EWS" to "YES." On the other hand, when the controller 11 receives a POST request at the wired network IF 18, it determines in S25 whether the request includes an instruction to disable the wired network IF 18, and if the request includes an instruction to disable the wired network IF 18 (S25: YES), it sets the setting value of the item "state in which the wired network IF is disabled by EWS" to "YES" in S26. That is, in this example, the setting value indicating the "state in which the wired network IF is disabled by EWS" is set to "YES" only when an instruction to disable the IF that received the POST request is received.

[0045] Next, a case where the browser 101 receives another operation via the content display unit 43 will be described. If the POST request indicates an instruction to enable at least one of the network IFs 17, 18 (S27: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S28. In S28, the controller 11 enables the network IF specified in the POST request. For example, the controller 11 enables this network IF by restoring the power supply that was stopped to the IC chip that constitutes the network IF. In addition to this, when the controller 11 has set a state in which an interrupt process from the network IF is ignored as the disablement of the network IF, the controller 11 may enable communication with the network IF by canceling the ignoring of this interrupt process.

[0046] In S29, the controller 11 determines whether the interfaces specified as enabled in the POST request include the wireless network interface 17. If the wireless network interface 17 is included in the interfaces specified as enabled (S29: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S30 and changes the setting value of the item "State in which the wireless network interface is disabled by EWS" in the login status information 21 from "YES" to "NO."

[0047] In S31, the controller 11 determines whether the interfaces specified as enabled in the POST request include the wired network interface 18. If the interfaces specified as enabled include the wired network interface 18 (S31: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S32 and changes the setting value of the item "State in which the wired network interface is disabled by EWS" in the login status information 21 from "YES" to "NO."

[0048] When the POST request includes both an instruction to enable the wireless network IF 17 and an instruction to enable the wired network IF 18 (S29: YES, S31: YES), the controller 11 executes both the processes of S30 and S32 already described, thereby indicating that both the wireless network IF 17 and the wired network IF 18 are in an enabled state in the login status information 21. Note that when an enable instruction is received for an already enabled network IF by the POST request, the enabled state may be maintained for the network IF designated as enabled, without performing the processes related to the enablement in S28 to S32 again.

[0049] Even after the processing of S30 and S32, the browser 101 keeps displaying the IF setting screen 40, so the administrator can accept operations via the menu 42 and the content display unit 43. In addition, other operations, such as displaying a screen other than the IF setting screen 40, can also be accepted.

[0050] Next, a case will be described where the administrator performs another operation via the screen displayed on the browser 101 while the network IFs 17 and 18 are enabled. In this case, the browser 101 of the PC 100 transmits a GET request or a POST request to the MFP 10 according to the selected option. The controller 11 determines in S33 of FIG. 7 already described that the operation is other than enabling or disabling the IF (S33: YES), and executes processing according to the content of the request in S34. For example, if the GET request from the browser 101 requests updating the content of the screen to a new Web page, the controller 11 transmits Web page data for displaying the requested Web page to the PC 100. Note that, when the IF setting screen 40 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the browser 101, if the POST request contains information including an instruction to hide the IF setting screen 40 (S33: YES), the controller 11 may proceed to S34 and transmit Web page data including a screen with the IF setting screen 40 hidden to the MPF 10.

[0051] Next, a case where the other operation is a logout operation will be described. The browser 101 can also accept an operation on a logout button on a screen (not shown) displayed by the browser 101. When the browser 101 accepts an operation on a logout button (not shown), it transmits a POST request including information indicating logout to the MFP 10. When the controller 11 of the MFP 10 receives the POST request including information indicating logout (S33: YES), the process proceeds to S34, where it starts the administrator EWS logout process shown in FIG. 9 in accordance with the logout instruction included in the POST request.

[0052] In S40, the controller 11 refers to the item "management information for temporary activation of network IF" in the login state information 21. In S41, the controller 11 determines whether or not there is an IF that is disabled by EWS. If the setting value of the item "state in which wireless network IF is disabled by EWS" in the login state information 21 is "YES" (S41: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S42.

[0053] In S42, the controller 11 determines whether or not the IF disabled by the EWS in the login state information 21 is in a temporary enabled state. If the setting values ​​of both the item "temporary enabled state of wireless network IF" and the item "temporary enabled state of wired network IF" in the login state information 21 are "NO" (S42: NO), the process proceeds to S44. In S44, the controller 11 updates the item "Administrator EWS login / logout state" to "Administrator EWS logout state." In S45, the controller 11 executes a logout process for canceling the login state of the administrator. In this example, with the wireless network IF 17 set to disabled, the login state of the administrator is canceled and the administrator enters a logged-out state.

[0054] 9, if there is no disabled interface in the EWS, that is, if all network interfaces are enabled (S41: NO), the controller 11 proceeds to S44. In S44, the controller 11 sets the item "Administrator EWS Login / Logout Status" to "Administrator EWS Logout Status." In S45, the controller 11 executes a logout process to cancel the login status of the administrator.

[0055] Next, a case will be described where, when it is determined in S41 that there is an IF that has been disabled by the EWS, this IF that has been disabled by the EWS is temporarily enabled. The temporary enabling of an IF that has been disabled by the EWS will be described in detail later. If, in S42, either of the setting values ​​of the item "temporary enabled state of wireless network IF" and the item "temporary enabled state of wired network IF" in the login state information 21 is "YES" (S42: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S43.

[0056] In S43, the controller 11 disables the network IFs indicated as temporarily enabled in the login state information 21 in order to cancel the temporary enablement. The disablement of the network IFs executed in S43 is the same as the process in S22 already described, for example, by stopping the power supply to the IC chips constituting the network IFs. In addition, even if the controller 11 receives an interrupt process from the network IF in S43, the controller 11 may disable communication with the network IF by ignoring the interrupt process. In S43, the controller 11 changes the item value of the item "temporary enabled state of wireless network IF" in the login state information 21 shown in FIG. 6 from "YES" to "NO". The processes executed by the controller 11 in S44 and S45 have already been described.

[0057] Besides this, the controller 11 may execute the administrator logout process shown in Fig. 9 when there has been no request from the browser 101 for a while, that is, when there has been no operation via the browser 101 for a while. Furthermore, when there has been no operation via a screen in remote processing, for example, the IF setting screen 40 shown in Fig. 4 or the home screen after the administrator logs in for a while, the browser 101 may send a POST request indicating logout to the MFP 10, and the controller 11 may execute the administrator logout process shown in Fig. 9.

[0058] Next, a situation where the administrator is logged in by operating the user IF 16 of the MFP 10 in a state where the wireless network IF 17 is disabled as a network IF by remote processing will be described with reference to FIG.

[0059] When the MFP 10 is in a standby state, a standby screen 60 shown in FIG. 11A is displayed on the user IF 16. The MFP 10 goes into a standby state, for example, when a startup process at startup is completed. For example, the MFP 10 goes into a standby state when an operation such as printing or scanning is completed. Note that, in the startup process at startup of the MFP 10, the controller 11 prevents an IF having a setting value "Disabled" set in the setting information 20 from functioning by, for example, not supplying power to the IF, as described above. The standby screen 60 shown in FIG. 11A includes operation icons 61A, 61B, and 61C corresponding to the respective functions of the MFP 10, a login icon 62, a setting icon 63, a message display area 64, and a network icon 65.

[0060] The operation icon "FAX" 61A corresponds to an output process in which the scanner 15 scans an original and generates scan data, and the scan data is output as a fax through the FAXIF 14 that is functioning properly. The operation icon "Scan" 61C corresponds to an output process in which the scanner 15 reads an original and generates scan data, and the generated scan data is output to a predetermined output destination. When the operation icon "Scan" 61C is operated, an output destination selection screen 75 shown in FIG. 11(e) to be described later can be displayed on the user IF 16. The login icon 62 is an icon indicating the current login state of the MFP 10. In the standby screen 60 shown in FIG. 11(a), the login icon 62 displays text indicating a state in which no one is logged in to the MFP 10, i.e., "Public."

[0061] When any of the network IFs has been disabled by the EWS, text indicating that the network IF has been disabled is displayed in the message display area 64. Specifically, when the setting value for one or both of the items "Wireless network IF disabled by EWS" and "Wired network IF disabled by EWS" in the "Management information for temporary activation of network IF" in the login status information 21 is "YES", a message indicating that the network IFs 17 and 18 are disabled by the EWS is displayed.

[0062] The network icon 65 is an icon indicating the state of the network using the wireless network IF 17. If the setting value corresponding to the item "Wireless LAN" in the setting information 20 is "Enabled", the controller 11 displays an icon indicating that the wireless LAN is enabled, as shown in FIG. 11(a). On the other hand, if the setting value corresponding to the item "Wireless LAN" in the setting information 20 is "Disabled" and the setting value corresponding to the item "Wired LAN" is "Enabled", an icon indicating that the wired LAN is enabled is displayed. Furthermore, if both the setting values ​​corresponding to the item "Wireless LAN" and the item "Wired LAN" in the setting information 20 are "Disabled", the controller 11 does not display an icon on the standby screen 60.

[0063] When the controller 11 detects a left / right flick operation on the standby screen 60 or an operation on the screen scroll icon 67, the controller 11 changes the display of the standby screen 60 in accordance with the detected operation. FIG. 11(d) shows a standby screen displayed on the user IF 16 by a left / right flick operation on the standby screen 60 after the administrator logs in, which will be described later. Note that even if a left / right flick operation is performed on FIG. 11(a) before the administrator logs in, the controller 11 can cause the user IF 16 to display the standby screen 60 shown in FIG. 11(d). In this case, the login icon 62 on the standby screen 60 displays "Public" instead of "Admin" indicating the administrator.

[0064] The standby screen 60 shown in FIG. 11(d) displays operation icons "to E-mail Server" 61D, "Web" 61E, and "Apps" 61F, different from the standby screen 60 shown in FIG. 11(c), whether before or after administrator login. The operation icon "to E-mail Server" 61D is an icon corresponding to an output process of sending and outputting scan data by e-mail via the network IFs 17 and 18 that are functioning effectively. The operation icon "to E-mail Server" 61D is an icon corresponding to the same output process as the icon "to E-mail Server" 76C of the output destination selection screen 75, which will be described later. That is, the standby screen 60 can be arranged with an icon corresponding to the same output process as "to XX" on the output destination selection screen 75. The operation icon "Web" 61E is an icon corresponding to a process of accessing a Web service via the network IFs 17 and 18 that are functioning effectively, and using the Web service. The process of using a Web service also includes a process of printing out image data downloaded from the Web service on the printer 13, and a process of uploading and outputting scanned data to the Web service. The operation icon "Apps" 61F is an icon corresponding to a process of accessing an application service via the network IFs 17 and 18 that are functioning effectively, and using the application service. The process of using an application service also includes a process of downloading image data instructed by the application service, printing out the image data on the printer 13, and uploading and outputting scanned data to the application service.

[0065] In this embodiment, the operation icons 62A to 62F shown in Figs. 11(a) and (c) are examples of operation objects. Among them, the operation icon "Scan" 61C is an example of a scan transmission icon, and the operation icon "Web" 61E and the operation icon "Apps" 61F are examples of a received data print icon. The message display area 64 is an example of an object related to network communication, and the network icon 65 is an example of an object indicating the state of a network connection. The message display area 64 may display a message indicating that the network IF can be temporarily enabled in response to a touch operation. In this case, the message display area 64 is an example of an operation object suggesting temporary enablement.

[0066] In S50 of FIG. 10, the controller 11 determines the operation content on the standby screen 60 displayed on the user IF 16. When performing a login operation on the standby screen 60 displayed on the user IF 16, the user first operates the login icon 62 on the standby screen 60 shown in FIG. 11(a). The controller 11 causes the user IF 16 to display a target user list screen 70 shown in FIG. 11(b). In the login process accepted via the user IF 16, it is also possible to accept login of a registered general user other than the administrator. The target user list screen 70 displays a list of users permitted to log in to the MFP 10. Specifically, in addition to an icon 71A indicating the administrator "Admin", icons 71B and 71C indicating "USER1" and "USER2" are displayed as a list of users permitted to log in. Here, the icon 71A is an icon operated when the administrator is designated as the login user. The icon 71B is an icon operated when the registered "USER1" is designated as the login user. Icon 71C is an icon that is operated when specifying the registered "USER2" as the login user. The user name indicating the administrator does not have to be "Admin". For example, if "USER1" has administrator authority, "USER1" becomes the user name indicating the administrator.

[0067] When the administrator selects and operates the icon 71A on the target user list screen 70, the controller 11 determines that the login operation to the user IF 16 is a login operation by the administrator (S51: YES), and proceeds to S52 to execute administrator panel login processing.

[0068] Fig. 12 is a flowchart explaining the procedure of the administrator panel login process executed in S52. The controller 11 causes a password entry screen (not shown) to be displayed on the user IF 16. When the administrator operates the input key in the entry field of the password entry screen to enter the administrator password and operates the OK icon, the controller 11 determines in S60 whether or not the entered administrator password matches the administrator registration information registered in the memory 12. If the administrator password matches the administrator registration information (S60: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S61. Note that if the administrator passwords do not match (S60: NO), the process of Fig. 12 ends.

[0069] In S61, the controller 11 determines whether or not there is an IF that is disabled by the EWS. Specifically, the controller 11 refers to the login state information 21 stored in the memory 12 and determines whether or not either the setting value of the item "state in which the wireless network IF is disabled by the EWS" or the item "state in which the wired network IF is disabled by the EWS" is set to "YES". In this example, since the setting value of the item "state in which the wireless network IF is disabled by the EWS" is set to "YES" (S61: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S62 and inquires whether or not to temporarily enable the network IF that is disabled by the EWS. In the inquiry in S62, the controller 11 causes the user IF 16 to display an inquiry screen 90 shown in FIG. 13. In the inquiry screen 90, an inquiry screen is displayed that inquires the user that the wireless network IF 17 or the wired network IF 18 is in a disabled state and that the disabled network IF can be temporarily enabled. This inquiry screen includes an OK icon 91 that accepts the operation when the administrator selects temporary activation of a network IF that has been disabled by the EWS, and a NO icon 92 that accepts the operation when temporary activation is not selected.

[0070] If the administrator operates the OK icon 91 on the inquiry screen 90 (S63: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S64 and temporarily enables the network IF disabled by the EWS. In S64, the controller 11 temporarily enables the wireless network IF 17 by supplying power, etc., in the same manner as the processing of S28 described above, while leaving the setting value of the setting information 20 at "Disabled", i.e., while leaving the network IF disabled by the EWS. That is, the same processing as the processing of S28 is performed, except that the setting value of the setting information 20 is "Disabled". Note that if the administrator operates the NO icon 92 on the inquiry screen 90 (S63: NO), the controller 11 ends the processing of FIG. 12 without temporarily enabling the network IF disabled by the EWS. In this embodiment, the processing executed by the controller 11 in S64 is an example of a login-time activation processing.

[0071] In S65, the controller 11 sets the setting value of the item "management information of temporary activation of network IF" in the login state information 21 to a setting value indicating a temporary activation state of the network IF. The temporary activation state is a state in which the wireless network IF 17 is activated only while the administrator is logged in, and the wireless network IF 17 is deactivated after the administrator logs out. Specifically, in S65, if the setting value of the item "state in which wireless network IF is deactivated by EWS" is "YES" and the wireless network IF 17 is deactivated, the controller 11 sets the setting value of the item "temporary activation state of wireless network IF" to "YES". On the other hand, in S65, if the setting value of the item "state in which wired network IF is deactivated by EWS" is "YES" and the wired network IF 18 is deactivated, the controller 11 sets the setting value of the item "temporary activation state of wired network IF" to "YES". In either case, the setting values ​​of the items "wireless network IF disabled by EWS" and "wired network IF disabled by EWS" in the login status information 21 remain "YES".

[0072] In S66, the controller 11 sets the setting value of the item "Administrator panel login / logout status" in the login status information 21 to a value indicating "Administrator panel login status." In the administrator login status, the controller 11 causes the login icon 62 on the standby screen 60 to display text indicating that the administrator "Admin" is logged in, as shown in Fig. 11(c).

[0073] 10, when a general user other than the administrator performs a login operation by operating the pre-login standby screen 60 (S53: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S54 and executes login processing for the general user. Even if the login of a general user other than the administrator is successful in the login processing for the general user in S54, the controller 11 does not perform temporary enabling, as was performed in the processing of S64 already described, for a network IF that currently indicates a disabled state in the EWS in the login status information 21.

[0074] Next, the enable / disable state and setting change of each network IF after the administrator login in S52 or the general user login in S54 will be described. When the administrator logs in, for example, if the administrator gives OK to the temporary enablement of the wireless network IF 17 (S63: YES), the setting value of the item "wireless network IF disabled by EWS" in the login status information 21 is in the "YES" state, but the wireless network IF 17 is functioning effectively. That is, the administrator can enable the wireless network IF 17 by, for example, displaying the IF setting screen 40 illustrated in FIG. 4 on the browser 101 in the procedure illustrated in FIG. 2, and by issuing an instruction via the browser 101 to cause the MFP 10 to execute the process including S27 to S28 in FIG. 7. On the other hand, when the administrator logs in, for example, if the administrator does not give OK to the temporary enablement of the wireless network IF 17 (S63: NO), the wireless network IF 17 with the setting value of the item "wireless network IF disabled by EWS" being "YES" is not functioning effectively even after the administrator logs in. Similarly, even after a general user logs in, the wired network IF 18 whose setting value for the item "state of wired network IF disabled by EWS" is "YES" does not function effectively.

[0075] Next, it will be described that even if the network IF is not temporarily enabled at the time of administrator login, it can be temporarily enabled by the administrator's operation on each icon displayed on the user IF 16. If any object is operated on the standby screen 60 after administrator login shown in Fig. 11(c) and (d) during administrator login (S55: YES in Fig. 10), the controller 11 proceeds to S56 and executes processing corresponding to the operated object. Fig. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the details of the processing executed in S56.

[0076] First, a process of temporarily enabling a network IF that is not functioning effectively because the administrator did not give OK to temporary enablement (S63: NO) by an administrator operation after administrator login will be described. After administrator login, the user IF 16 displays a standby screen 60 after administrator login shown in FIG. 11(c). In S70, the controller 11 judges whether the administrator is logged in. Specifically, the controller 11 refers to the login state information 21 and judges whether the setting value of the item "administrator panel login / logout state" is a value indicating "administrator panel login state". If the setting value is not "administrator panel login state" (S70: NO), the controller 11 proceeds to S75 described later. That is, even in this example, when the administrator is not logged in, temporary enablement is not performed on a network IF that is currently disabled by the EWS.

[0077] If the setting value is "administrator panel logged in state" (S70: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S71. In S71, the controller 11 determines whether or not there is an IF disabled by the EWS. For example, if the setting value of the item "wireless network IF disabled by EWS" or "wired network IF disabled by EWS" in the login state information 21 is "NO" (S71: NO), the controller 11 determines that there is no network IF disabled by the EWS and proceeds to S75, which will be described later.

[0078] When the administrator performs a left / right flick operation on the standby screen 60 or an operation on the screen scroll icon 67 on the standby screen 60 after administrator login shown in FIG. 11(c) (S75: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S80 and switches the screen displayed on the user IF 16 to the standby screen 60 shown in FIG. 11(d).

[0079] If the operation icon "Scan" 61C is operated on the standby screen 60 after the administrator logs in (S75: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S80 and changes the screen displayed on the user IF 16 to the output destination selection screen 75 shown in FIG. 11(e). On the output destination selection screen 75, the option "to USB" 76A is an icon corresponding to an output process in which the scan data generated by the scanner 15 scanning the document is output to the attached USB memory via the memory IF 19 that is functioning effectively. The option "to PC" 76B is an icon corresponding to an output process in which the scan data is output to the PC 100, which is an external device, via the network IFs 17 and 18 that are functioning effectively. The option "to E-mail Server" 76C is an icon corresponding to an output process similar to that of the operation icon "to E-mail Server" 61D displayed on the standby screen 60 after the administrator logs in. The option "to FTP / SFTTP" 76D is an icon corresponding to an output process of transmitting scan data to an FTP server or an SFTP server via the network IFs 17 and 18 that are functioning properly. The option "to Network" 76D is an icon corresponding to an output process of transmitting scan data to a shared server on the network via the network IFs 17 and 18 that are functioning properly. In this embodiment, each of the options 76A to 76E included in the output destination selection screen 75 is an example of an "operation object corresponding to execution of a process involving communication via a network interface."

[0080] If the object operated on the output destination selection screen 75 is one of the options "to PC" 76B, "to E-mail Server" 76C, "to FTP / SFTTP" 76D, and "to Network" 76D, the scan data acquired by the scanner 15 is transmitted and output via the network IFs 17 and 18 that are functioning effectively. The same is true when the operation icon "to E-mail Server" 61D displayed on the standby screen 60 is operated. In other words, the options may be rephrased as operation icons. The reverse is also true. Furthermore, these options "to XX" may be an example of an "object corresponding to a long press temporarily activating a disabled IF" described later. They may be an example of an "object corresponding to requesting consent to temporary activation of a disabled IF" described later. They may be an example of an "object corresponding to temporary activation without a long press and no consent required" described later.

[0081] If the setting icon 63 is operated on the standby screen 60 after the administrator logs in (S75: YES), the controller 11 in S80 causes the user IF 16 to display a setting screen 80 shown in Fig. 11(f). The setting screen 80 includes a toner icon 81, a network icon 82, a tray setting icon 83, a FAX preview icon 84, an eco mode icon 85, and an all settings icon 86, which are operation objects for accepting various setting operations of the MFP 10. Of these, the network icon 82 is an icon that is operated when accepting a setting operation related to a network connection using the network IFs 17 and 18, and is an example of an "object related to network communication."

[0082] In addition, in the login state information 21 shown in FIG. 6, when the setting value of the item "state in which the wireless network IF is disabled by EWS" is set to "YES", a message indicating that the wireless network IF 17 is disabled by EWS is displayed in the message display area 64. In this case, the controller 11 may display each of the operation icons 61A to 61F, the setting icon 63, and the operation icon "Network" 82 in a manner in which a specific badge is added. The badge indicates that the network IFs 17 and 18 are disabled by EWS on the standby screen 60 after login, and indicates that the network IFs 17 and 18 can be temporarily enabled. Therefore, each of the operation icons 61A to 61F, the setting icon 63, and the operation icon "Network" 82 in a manner in which the badge is displayed are also examples of "objects indicating the state of network connection".

[0083] When the object operated on the standby screen 60 after the administrator logs in is an object for which a long press corresponds to temporary activation of a disabled IF (S72: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S76 and determines whether the operation on the object is a long press. When the controller 11 determines that the operation on the object is a long press (S76: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S78. In this embodiment, examples of "an object for which a long press corresponds to temporary activation of a disabled IF" are the operation icon "Apps" 61F, the operation icon "Web" 61E, and further the settings icon 63 shown in FIG. 11(d).

[0084] In S78, the controller 11 temporarily enables the IF that has been disabled by the EWS by the same process as that already described in S64. In S79, the setting value of the item "management information of temporary network IF activation" in the login state information 21 is updated to a value indicating a temporary enabled state. For example, when the operation icon "Web" 61E is pressed and held in a state in which the wireless network IF 17 is disabled by the EWS, the controller 11 temporarily enables the wireless network IF 17 in S78, and sets the setting value of the item "temporary enabled state of wireless network IF" to "YES" in S79. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S80, where the screen displayed on the user IF 16 is changed to a screen corresponding to the operated object.

[0085] If the operated object is the operation icon "Web" 61E, the controller 11 accesses a Web service via the network IFs 17 and 18 that are functioning in accordance with an operation on the screen corresponding to the operation icon "Web" 61E displayed in S80, and prints out the downloaded image data or uploads the scan data acquired by the scanner 15. If the operated object is the operation icon "Apps" 61F, the controller 11 accesses an application service via the network IFs 17 and 18 that are functioning in accordance with an operation on the screen corresponding to the operation icon "Apps" 61F displayed in S80, and prints out the downloaded image data or uploads the scan data. The printout of the downloaded image data is an example of printing of received data. The upload output of the scan data is an example of scan transmission. The operation on the screen corresponding to the operation icon "Web" 61E or the operation on the screen corresponding to the operation icon "Apps" 61F may be an operation on an icon corresponding to the printout of the downloaded image data or the upload output of the scan data included in those screens.

[0086] In this embodiment, a long press operation on the operation icon "Apps" 61F, the operation icon "Web" 61E, and the setting icon 63 is an example of a "predetermined operation." Note that, when an operation other than a long press, for example a short press, is performed on the operation icon "Apps" 61F, the operation icon "Web" 61E, and the setting icon 63 (S76: NO), the controller 11 proceeds to S79. A short press operation on the operation icon "Apps" 61F, the operation icon "Web" 61E, and the setting icon 63 is an example of a "non-predetermined operation."

[0087] If a user other than the administrator has logged in (S70: NO), even if the controller 11 detects a long press operation on the operation icon "Apps" 61F, the operation icon "Web" 61E, or the setting icon 63, the controller 11 does not proceed to S78 and S79, and therefore does not temporarily enable the network IF disabled by the EWS. An example of the "predetermined operation" is not limited to a long press operation. For example, an operation different from a normal operation, such as a double tap or a flick, may be the predetermined operation. The message display area 64, the operation icon "Network" 82, the operation icon "Scan" 61C, and furthermore, the options included in the output destination selection screen 75, the setting icon 63, and furthermore, the network icon 82 included in the setting screen 80, and the icon included in the screen corresponding to the selected operation icon "Apps" 61F or the operation icon "Web" 61E, which corresponds to the execution of scan transmission and received data printing, may be used as an example of the "object whose long press corresponds to the temporary enablement of the disabled IF". When these objects are pressed and held, the controller 11 may execute the processes of S77 to S79 ​​to temporarily enable the network IF that has been disabled by the EWS.

[0088] If the object operated on the standby screen 60 after the administrator logs in is an object corresponding to a request for consent to the temporary activation of a disabled IF (S73: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S77. Here, the "object corresponding to a request for consent to the temporary activation of a disabled IF" corresponds to the operation icon "Network" 82. In S77, the controller 11 displays the inquiry screen 90 on the user IF 16, as shown in FIG. 13. If the administrator operates the OK icon 71 on the inquiry screen 90 (S77: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S78 and temporarily activates the network IF that was disabled by the EWS, as already described. In S79, the controller 11 sets the setting value of the "management information of temporary activation of network IF" for the temporarily activated network IF in the login state information 21 to a value indicating that the network IF has been temporarily activated. Thereafter, the controller 11 proceeds to S80 and changes the screen displayed on the user IF 16 to a screen corresponding to the operated object. If the administrator operates the NO icon 92 on the inquiry screen 90 (S77: NO), the process proceeds to S80 without temporarily enabling the network interface that was disabled by the EWS.

[0089] In this embodiment, the operation on the operation icon "Network" 82 is an example of a "predetermined operation". The OK icon 91 on the inquiry screen 90 is an example of an "operation object suggesting temporary activation". The message display area 64, the operation icon "Scan" 61C, further the options included in the output destination selection screen 75, the setting icon 63, further the network icon 82 included in the setting screen 80, the operation icon "Apps" 61F, the operation icon "Web" 61E, and the icons included in the screen corresponding to the selected "Apps" 61F or "Web" 61E corresponding to scan transmission and received data printing may be used as an example of an "object corresponding to requesting consent to temporary activation of a disabled IF". When these objects are operated, the controller 11 displays the inquiry screen 90 on the user IF 16, and when the administrator operates the OK icon 71 on the inquiry screen 90 (S77: YES), the controller 11 may temporarily activate the network IF disabled in the EWS by executing the processes of S78 and S79.

[0090] If the object operated on the standby screen 60 after the administrator logs in is an object that supports long presses, does not require consent, and is temporary enabled (S74: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S78. An example of an "object that supports long presses, does not require consent, and is temporary enabled" is each of the options 76A to 76E on the output destination selection screen 75. As already described, the controller 11 temporarily enables the network IF that was disabled by the EWS through a series of processes in S78 and S79.

[0091] In this embodiment, the operation on each of the options 76A to 76E on the output destination selection screen 75 is an example of a "predetermined operation." The message display area 64, the operation icon "Network" 82, the operation icon "Scan" 61C, the options included in the output destination selection screen 75, the setting icon 63, and the icons included in the screen corresponding to the network icon 82 included in the setting screen 80, the selected operation icon "Apps" 61F, or the operation icon "Web" 61E, which correspond to scan transmission and printing of received data, may be used as an example of an "object that corresponds to long press, does not require consent, and is temporarily enabled." When these objects are operated, the controller 11 may temporarily enable the network IF disabled by the EWS by executing the processes of S78 and S79. The controller 11 may be designed not to execute the process shown in FIG. 12 when the administrator logs in. Even in this case, the network IF may be temporarily enabled by the administrator's operation after the administrator logs in by the same process as S64, and the setting value of the login state information may be set to a value indicating temporary enabled information in S65.

[0092] Next, a situation will be described in which, with the wireless network IF 17 temporarily enabled, the administrator operates the user IF 16 to log out from the administrator's login state. When the controller 11 determines in Fig. 10 that the operation on the user IF 16 is an administrator panel logout operation (S57: YES), the process proceeds to S58, where the controller 11 executes administrator panel logout processing. Fig. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the administrator panel logout processing executed by the controller 11 in S58.

[0093] In S90, the controller 11 refers to the login state information 21 and updates the setting value of the item "administrator panel login / logout state" to a value indicating "administrator panel logout state."

[0094] In S91, the controller 11 determines whether or not the setting value of the item "Administrator EWS login / logout status" is a value indicating "Administrator EWS logged-out status." If the administrator has logged in by remote processing (S91: NO), the controller 11 ends the processing of Fig. 15 without executing logout at the user IF 16. If the setting value of the item "Administrator EWS login / logout status" indicates "Administrator EWS logged-out status" (S91: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S92.

[0095] In S92, the controller 11 determines whether or not the setting value of the item "temporary enabled state of wireless network IF" is set to "YES." If the setting value of the item "temporary enabled state of wireless network IF" is set to "YES," the wireless network IF 17 is temporarily enabled, so the controller 11 proceeds to S93 and sets the setting value of the item "temporary enabled state of wireless network IF" to "NO."

[0096] When the process of S93 ends, the controller 11 proceeds to S94 and determines whether or not the setting value of the item "Temporary valid state of wired network IF" is "YES." The controller 11 also proceeds to S94 if the setting value of the item "Temporary valid state of wireless network IF" is "NO."

[0097] If the setting value of the item “Temporary enabled state of wired network IF” is set to “YES” (S94: YES), the wired network IF 18 is temporarily enabled, so the controller 11 proceeds to S95 and sets the setting value of the item “Temporary enabled state of wired network IF” to “NO”.

[0098] In S96, the controller 11 disables the IF that was temporarily enabled by performing the same process as in S22.

[0099] If the setting values ​​of the item "temporary enabled state of wireless network IF" and the item "temporary enabled state of wired network IF" are both "NO", the controller 11 ends the processing of Fig. 15 without executing the processing of S93, S95, and S96. If the setting value indicating the disabled state in EWS in the login state information 21 is YES, the controller 11 may execute the processing of S93, S95, and S96.

[0100] In this embodiment, while the administrator is logged in, the controller 11 executes in parallel a no-operation state monitoring process shown in Fig. 16. In this no-operation state monitoring process, the controller 11 forcibly logs out the administrator if no operation is performed on the MFP 10 for a predetermined period while the administrator is logged in, thereby improving the security of the MFP 10. In the following explanation, it is assumed that logout has not been executed in the administrator panel logout process explained using Fig. 15.

[0101] 16, the controller 11 starts counting a timer for timing a period of no operation on the user IF 16. In S101, the controller 11 determines whether the timer count has passed a predetermined first period and timed out. The first period is a period assumed to be a state in which security is reduced by continuing a no operation state while the administrator is logged in.

[0102] If the timeout state is not reached (S101: NO), the controller 11 waits. On the other hand, if the controller 11 determines that the timeout has occurred due to the passage of the first period (S101: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S102 and determines whether the setting value of the item "Administrator EWS login / logout state" in the login state information 21 is a value indicating "Administrator EWS login state." In other words, the controller 11 determines whether the administrator is in the login state by remote processing.

[0103] If the administrator has not logged in by remote processing and the setting value is a value indicating "administrator EWS logout state" (S102: NO), the controller 11 executes the administrator panel logout process already described with reference to FIG. 15 in S105. Specifically, if the setting value of the item "temporary enabled state of wireless network IF" is set to "YES" in S102, the controller 11 proceeds to S93 and sets the setting value of the item "temporary enabled state of wireless network IF" to "NO" since the wireless network IF 17 is temporarily enabled. If the setting value of the item "temporary enabled state of wired network IF" is set to "YES" in S94, the controller 11 proceeds to S95 and sets the setting value of the item "temporary enabled state of wired network IF" to "NO" since the wired network IF 18 is temporarily enabled. In S96, the controller 11 disables the temporarily enabled network IF by the same process as in S22.

[0104] On the other hand, if the setting value of the item "Administrator EWS Login / Logout Status" in the login status information 21 is "Administrator EWS Login Status" in S102 (S102: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S103 and performs a process of extending the timeout period. Specifically, in S103, the controller 11 extends the timeout period so that the total timeout period becomes a second period that is longer than the first period. Then, the controller 11 proceeds to S104 and waits until the total timeout period reaches the second period as counted by the timer. When the administrator is logged in by remote processing, forced logout is made less likely to occur, thereby improving the convenience for the administrator.

[0105] When the controller 11 determines that the second period has elapsed (S104: YES), the process proceeds to S105, where the controller 11 executes the administrator panel logout process already described.

[0106] The present embodiment described above can provide the following advantages. After the network IFs 17 and 18 have been disabled, when the controller 11 of the MFP 10 receives an administrator login operation via the user IF 16, the network IFs 17 and 18 are temporarily enabled. As a result, when the administrator is logged in through the operation of the user IF 16, the network IFs 17 and 18 are enabled, so that processing executed in relation to the administrator's login can be executed without adverse effects.

[0107] With the network IFs 17 and 18 disabled, even if the controller 11 accepts a login from a user other than the administrator via the user IF 16, the controller 11 does not activate the network IFs 17 and 18. This makes it possible to prevent the network IFs 17 and 18 from being activated by an unauthorized user by not activating the network IFs 17 and 18 for logins by users other than the administrator.

[0108] When the administrator's login state is cancelled after the network IFs 17 and 18 are temporarily enabled, the controller 11 disables the temporarily enabled network IFs 17 and 18. After the administrator logs out, there is no need to keep the network IFs 17 and 18 enabled, so the network IFs 17 and 18 are disabled when the administrator logs out. This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in security in the MFP 10.

[0109] After putting network IFs 17 and 18 into a temporary enabled state, if an administrator operation for setting the administrator is performed in response to an instruction received via network IFs 17 and 18, controller 11 does not release the logged-in state even if no operation is received via user IF 16 for a first period, and releases the logged-in state if no operation is received via user IF 16 for a second period that is longer than the first period. As a result, if an administrator operation for setting the MFP 10 is performed via network IFs 17 and 18 in a state in which network IFs 17 and 18 are temporarily enabled by the administrator's login, it is possible to prevent the network IFs 17 and 18 from being released from enabled during an operation for setting the MFP 10 by making it difficult to log out due to the no-operation state.

[0110] After putting the network IFs 17 and 18 in a temporary enabled state, when the controller 11 receives an instruction to enable the network IFs 17 and 18 in response to an operation on the operation screen from the PC 100, the controller 11 enables the network IFs 17 and 18. In this way, during the period in which the network IFs 17 and 18 are in a temporary enabled state, the network IFs 17 and 18 can be changed to a normal enabled state.

[0111] After the network IFs 17 and 18 are temporarily enabled, if the controller 11 does not accept a login operation by an administrator through an operation on the operation screen, which is a Web page, the controller 11 does not enable the network IFs 17 and 18. This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in security.

[0112] (Modification of the first embodiment) The MFP 10 may be equipped with only the wireless network IF 17. If the MFP 10 is equipped with only the wireless network IF 17, when it is determined in S23 of Fig. 7 that the wireless network IF 17 has been disabled by the EWS, in S24 the setting value of the item "Wireless network IF disabled by EWS state" is set to "YES." In this case, during the administrator panel login process (S52 of Fig. 10), the setting value of the item "Temporary enabled state of wireless network IF" should be set to "YES."

[0113] The MFP 10 may be equipped with only the wired network IF 18. If the MFP 10 is equipped with only the wired network IF 18, when it is determined in S25 of Fig. 7 that the wired network IF 18 has been disabled by the EWS, in S26 the setting value of the item "State of wired network IF disabled by EWS" is set to "YES." In this case, during the administrator panel login process (S52 of Fig. 10), the setting value of the item "Temporary enabled state of wired network IF" can be set to "YES."

[0114] Second embodiment In the second embodiment, the configuration different from the first embodiment will be mainly described. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0115] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 17, the login state information 21 includes the items "State in which both network IFs are disabled by EWS" and "Temporary enabled state of both network IFs" in the item "Management information for temporary activation of network IF". If the setting value of the item "State in which both network IFs are disabled by EWS" is "YES", it indicates that both the wireless network IF 17 and the wired network IF 18 are disabled by EWS. If the setting value of the item "State in which both network IFs are disabled by EWS" is "NO", it includes a case where either the wireless network IF 17 or the wired network IF 18 is disabled by EWS, and a case where both IFs are not disabled by EWS.

[0116] If the setting value of the item "Temporary activation state of both network IFs" is "YES", it indicates that both the wireless network IF 17 and the wired network IF 18 are temporarily activated. On the other hand, if the setting value of the item "Temporary activation state of both network IFs" is "NO", it includes a state in which only one of the wireless network IF 17 and the wired network IF 18 is temporarily activated, or a state in which both IFs are not temporarily activated. Note that the setting value of each item of the login state information 21 in the factory default state is "NO".

[0117] 7, the controller 11 determines whether or not both of the items "Wireless LAN" and "Wired LAN" in the setting information 20 have been set to "Disabled" by the process in S22. If both IFs are set to disabled (S23: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S24 and sets the setting value of the item "State in which both network IFs are disabled by EWS" to "YES." In this embodiment, the processes of S25 and S26 are omitted. On the other hand, if only one of the IFs has been disabled or neither IF has been disabled (S23: NO), the controller 11 ends the administrator EWS setting process without executing the process of S24.

[0118] In addition, if the setting information 20 includes instructions to disable both the wireless network IF 17 and the wired network IF 18, the controller 11 may set the setting value of the item “State in which both network IFs are disabled by EWS” to “YES” in S24 without checking the setting information 20.

[0119] 7, the controller 11 determines whether or not both of the items "Wireless LAN" and "Wired LAN" in the setting information 20 have been set to "Enabled" by the process in S28. If both IFs are set to enabled (S29: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S30 and sets the setting value of the item "State in which both network IFs are disabled by EWS" to "NO." In this embodiment, the processes of S31 and S32 are omitted. On the other hand, if only one of the IFs is enabled or neither IF is enabled (S29: NO), the controller 11 ends the administrator EWS setting process without executing the process of S30.

[0120] (Other embodiments) The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the following modifications are also possible. MFP 10 may be configured to receive a request from browser 101 via a network IF other than wireless network IF 17 or wired network IF 18, and provide web page data to browser 101. For example, MFP 10 may be configured to receive an HTTPS request from browser 101 via a USB IF, and return web page data to browser 101. In this case, the IF that receives the request from browser 101 is an example of a network IF. Also, the IF that provides web page data is an example of a network IF.

[0121] In the above embodiment, the controller 11 displays a Web page on the browser 101 of the PC 100 by remote processing and accepts the operation of designating whether the network IF is enabled or disabled from the administrator. Alternatively, the controller 11 may display a screen for accepting the operation of designating whether the network IF is enabled or disabled on the user IF 16 and accept the operation of designating whether the network IF is enabled or disabled in response to an operation on this screen. Note that even in this case, the controller 11 can accept the designation of whether the network IF is enabled or disabled on the condition that the administrator has logged in. In this case, when the enablement or disablement of the network IF is designated by an operation on the user IF 16, the controller 11 may set the items of the login state information 21 to values ​​indicating a state in which the network IF is enabled by the EWS or a state in which the network IF is disabled by the EWS through the processes of S24 and S26 shown in FIG. 7.

[0122] The image forming apparatus is not limited to the MFP 10, but may be an apparatus equipped with only the printer 13. [Explanation of symbols]

[0123] 10: MFP, 11: controller, 12: memory, 13: printer, 16: user IF, 17: wireless network IF, 18: wired network IF, 20: setting information, 21: login status information, 100: PC, 101: browser

Claims

1. An image forming unit; A user interface; A network interface; A controller; Equipped with The controller: a user login can be accepted by an operation accepted via the user interface; The controller: When an instruction to disable the network interface is received via the network interface, the network interface can be set to be disabled; The controller: An image forming apparatus characterized in that, when the network interface is set to be disabled and an administrator's login is accepted via the user interface, a login activation process is executed to temporarily activate the network interface.

2. The controller:

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a network interface control unit that controls a network interface for controlling a user who is not an administrator and a network interface for controlling a user who is not an administrator.

3. The controller, in the login activation process, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network interface is automatically temporarily enabled when the administrator's login is accepted via the user interface.

4. The controller: The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that after the network interface is temporarily enabled by the login activation process, when the administrator's login state is cancelled, the temporary activation of the enabled network interface is cancelled.

5. The controller: if no operation is accepted via the user interface for a first period after the login state is established, the login state is cancelled; 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: an image forming apparatus configured to execute the login activation process upon accepting an administrator's login via the user interface when the network interface is disabled; and when the network interface is temporarily enabled and an administrator operation is performed to set the administrator in accordance with an instruction accepted via the network interface, the image forming apparatus does not release the login state even if no operation is accepted via the user interface for the first period, and releases the login state if no operation is accepted via the user interface for a second period that is longer than the first period.

6. The controller: When a request for Web page data for displaying an operation screen, which is a Web page, is received via the network interface, the Web page data for displaying the operation screen is transmitted to the requesting device; A remote process is executable to receive, via the network interface, an instruction corresponding to an operation on the operation screen from a device that has received web page data for displaying the operation screen; The controller: the remote processing transmits Web page data for displaying an operation screen capable of accepting an instruction to disable the network interface, and then, when an instruction to disable the network interface is accepted from a device that has received the Web page data in response to an operation on the operation screen, the network interface is disabled; The controller: Even if the network interface is disabled by receiving an instruction to disable the network interface in response to an operation on the operation screen from a device that has received web page data for displaying the operation screen, when a login by the administrator is accepted through an operation on the user interface, the login activation process is executed to temporarily activate the network interface; The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, after the network interface is temporarily enabled by the login activation process, web page data for displaying the operation screen is sent by the remote processing, and then, when an instruction to enable the network interface in response to an operation on the operation screen is received from a device that has received the web page data for displaying the operation screen, the image forming apparatus enables the network interface.

7. The controller: In a state where the network interface is temporarily enabled by the login enablement process, transmits web page data for displaying an operation screen for accepting an operation for enabling the network interface in response to accepting an operation indicating that the user is the administrator via the operation screen by the remote processing, and after transmitting the web page data for displaying the operation screen, when an instruction for enabling the network interface in response to an operation on the operation screen is accepted from a device that has received the web page data for displaying the operation screen, enables the network interface; The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that if an operation indicating that the user is an administrator is not accepted via the operation screen by the remote processing, web page data for displaying an operation screen for accepting an operation to enable the network interface is not sent.

8. The controller: The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a configuration in which, after the network interface is temporarily enabled by the login activation process, web page data for displaying the operation screen is sent by the remote processing, and then when the remote processing is terminated, the temporary enablement of the disabled network interface is cancelled.

9. The network interface includes a wireless network interface and a wired network interface, The controller:

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming device configured to execute the login activation process for temporarily activating both of the network interfaces when an instruction to disable the network interface is received via one of the network interfaces, and the login activation process is performed to temporarily activate both of the network interfaces when the administrator's login is received via the user interface, even if both of the network interfaces are disabled due to the reception of an instruction to disable the network interface via one of the network interfaces.

10. The network interface includes a wireless network interface and a wired network interface, The controller:

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming device configured to execute the login activation process for temporarily activating the disabled network interface when an administrator's login is accepted via the user interface, even if one of the network interfaces has been disabled due to an instruction to disable the network interface being accepted via one of the network interfaces.

11. The controller:

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming device configured to execute the login activation process for temporarily activating the disabled network interface when the image forming device receives a login instruction for the administrator via the user interface, even if the network interface that received the instruction to disable the network interface has been disabled due to receiving an instruction to disable the network interface via any of the network interfaces.

12. The controller, in the login activation process, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a network interface that temporarily enables a network user interface when a predetermined operation is received via the user interface after the administrator's login is received via the user interface.

13. The controller: displaying, in the user interface, an operation object in a manner suggesting that the network interface be temporarily enabled in response to accepting a login of the administrator via the user interface in a state in which the network interface is disabled as a result of accepting an instruction to disable the network interface via the network interface; The controller, in the login activation process, When an operation on the operation object is accepted as the predetermined operation, the network interface is temporarily enabled; 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein if the predetermined operation is not accepted, the network interface is not temporarily enabled.

14. The controller: displaying, on the user interface, an operation object capable of receiving a predetermined operation for temporarily enabling the network interface in a state in which the network interface is disabled upon receiving an instruction to disable the network interface via the network interface; The controller, in the login activation process, 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the network interface is temporarily enabled in response to acceptance of a login by the administrator and acceptance of a predetermined operation using the operation object.

15. The controller, in the login activation process, 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein even if login by the administrator is accepted, if the accepted operation is not a specified operation using the operation object, the network interface is not temporarily enabled.

16. The controller, in the login activation process, 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the network interface is not temporarily enabled even when a login by a user who is not the administrator and a predetermined operation using the operation object are accepted.

17. The controller, in the login activation process, 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the network interface is temporarily enabled when a long press of the operation object is accepted as the predetermined operation.

18. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the operation object is an object related to network communication of the image forming apparatus.

19. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the operation object is an object that indicates a network connection state of the image forming apparatus.

20. The controller: When an instruction to disable the network interface is received via the network interface, the network interface is disabled, displaying an operation object corresponding to execution of a process involving communication via the network interface on the user interface, the predetermined operation being an operation of the operation object corresponding to execution of a process involving communication via the network interface; The controller, in the login activation process, 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the network interface is temporarily enabled in response to acceptance of a login by an administrator and acceptance of the predetermined operation.

21. The controller, in the login activation process, displaying, in the user interface, an operation object in a manner suggesting that the network interface be temporarily enabled in response to the acceptance of the login of the administrator and the acceptance of the predetermined operation; The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a configuration in which, when an operation on an operation object having a mode suggesting temporary activation is received, the network interface is temporarily activated, and, when an operation on an operation object having a mode suggesting temporary activation is not received, the network interface is not temporarily activated.

22. 21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the operation objects corresponding to execution of a process involving communication via the network interface include at least a scan-and-send icon or a received-data-print icon.

23. The controller: When an instruction to disable the network interface is received via the network interface, the network interface is disabled, displaying an operation object related to communication via the network interface on the user interface, the predetermined operation being an operation of the operation object corresponding to execution of a process involving communication via the network interface; The controller, in the login activation process, displaying, in the user interface, an operation object in a manner suggesting that the network interface be temporarily enabled in response to the acceptance of the login of the administrator and the acceptance of the predetermined operation; The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a configuration in which, when an operation on the operation object in a manner suggesting temporary activation is received, the network interface is temporarily activated, and, when an operation on the operation object in a manner suggesting temporary activation is not received, the network interface is not temporarily activated.

24. An image forming unit; A user interface; A network interface; A controller; Equipped with The controller: a user login can be accepted by an operation accepted via the user interface; The controller: When an instruction to disable the network interface is received via the network interface, the network interface can be set to be disabled; The controller: An image forming apparatus characterized in that, when the network interface is set to be disabled, an operation object capable of accepting a specified operation for temporarily enabling the network interface is displayed on the user interface, and a login-time activation process for temporarily enabling the network interface is executed in response to acceptance of an administrator's login and acceptance of the specified operation using the operation object.

25. An image forming unit; A user interface; A network interface; A controller; Equipped with The controller: a user login can be accepted by an operation accepted via the user interface; The controller: When an instruction to disable the network interface is received via the network interface, the network interface can be set to be disabled; The controller: displaying, on the user interface, an operation object corresponding to execution of a process involving communication via the network interface in a state in which the network interface is disabled upon receiving an instruction to disable the network interface via the network interface; An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image forming apparatus is configured to execute a login activation process for temporarily activating the network interface in response to acceptance of an administrator's login and acceptance of an operation on an operation object.

26. An image forming unit; A user interface; A network interface; A controller; Equipped with The controller: a user login can be accepted by an operation accepted via the user interface; The controller: When an instruction to disable the network interface is received via the network interface, the network interface can be set to be disabled; The controller: displaying an operation object related to communication via the network interface on a user interface in a state in which the network interface is disabled upon receiving an instruction to disable the network interface via the network interface; displaying, in the user interface, an operation object in a manner suggesting that the network interface be temporarily enabled in response to acceptance of login by an administrator and acceptance of an operation on the operation object; An image forming device characterized in that, when an operation is received on an operation object in a manner suggesting temporary activation, the network interface is temporarily activated, and, when an operation is not received on an operation object in a manner suggesting temporary activation, the network interface is not temporarily activated.

Images