Image forming device

Abstract

To provide a technique that can restrict display when a predetermined screen is displayed.SOLUTION: When a PC 10 is remotely connected through a network IF108, a CPU 101 transmits to the PC 10 screen data for the PC10 to display the same screen as a display screen displayed on a panel 105, receives remote-access from the PC 10, executes a process for displaying the display screen in accordance with the remote-access, and restricts display on the display screen, when receiving the remote-access, when the display screen is a predetermined screen.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to a technology for remotely operating an image forming apparatus from an information processing terminal.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an information processing system that prevents information that a user of an image processing apparatus does not have viewing permission from being viewed when the authority of the image processing apparatus is changed during remote operation of the image processing apparatus. As a specific method for preventing information that a user does not have viewing permission from being viewed, it is described that the UI display unit on the image processing apparatus side is blacked out, or the display information of items that cannot be displayed is made non-display or equivalent to non-display.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the information processing system described in Patent Document 1 does not describe restricting display when a predetermined screen is being displayed, so it cannot meet the requirement to restrict display when a predetermined screen is being displayed.

[0005] An object of this application is to provide a technology that enables display restriction when a predetermined screen is being displayed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present application includes a communication interface, a display unit, and a control unit. When an information processing apparatus is remotely connected via the communication interface, the control unit transmits screen data for displaying the same screen as the display screen displayed on the display unit to the information processing apparatus, receives a remote access from the information processing apparatus, executes display processing of the display screen according to the remote access, and performs display restriction of the display screen when the remote access is received and the display screen is a predetermined screen.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present application, it is possible to perform display restriction when a predetermined screen is being displayed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a control configuration of an image forming system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present application. The image forming system 1 includes a PC 10, an MFP 100, and a router 32. Note that MFP is an abbreviation for multifunction peripheral.

[0011] The PC 10 mainly includes a CPU 12, a storage unit 14, a user IF 16, a display 18, and a network IF 20. The CPU 12, the storage unit 14, the user IF 16, the display 18, and the network IF 20 are communicable with each other via an input / output port 22. Note that IF is an abbreviation for interface.

[0012] The user IF 16 typically includes a keyboard and a mouse.

[0013] The display 18 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, a drive circuit for driving the display device, and the like. When a touch panel type display 18 is used, the user can perform an input operation by touching an input button on the screen. Therefore, in this case, the display 18 also serves as the user IF 16.

[0014] The CPU 12 executes various application programs (hereinafter abbreviated as "apps") including a program for main processing described later with reference to FIG. 4, firmware, and the like.

[0015] The storage unit 14 includes a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, an SSD, an optical disk drive, etc. The data storage area 28 of the storage unit 14 is an area for storing data necessary when the CPU 12 executes a program for main processing, etc. Further, the control program area 26 of the storage unit 14 is an area for storing an OS, a program for main processing, various other applications, firmware, etc.

[0016] The network IF 20 connects the PC 10 to the communication network 40. The communication network 40 is a wired or wireless LAN. The network IF 20 is either one or both of a LAN IF or a WLAN IF. In this embodiment, a router 32 and an MFP 100 are connected to the communication network 40, so the PC 10 can transmit and receive various data to and from the MFP 100 via the router 32.

[0017] The MFP 100 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, and an NVM 104. Note that NVM is an abbreviation for non-volatile memory.

[0018] The CPU 101 controls the entire MFP 100 and controls the printing engine 111 and the reading engine 112 via the engine IF 110, respectively.

[0019] The ROM 102 is a memory that stores a control program (including the program for main processing to be described later based on FIG. 8) executed by the CPU 101. The CPU 101 reads out the control program stored in the ROM 102 and executes various processes. The RAM 103 is a memory that temporarily stores image data, etc. Further, the RAM 103 is also used as a storage area for temporarily storing data, signals, etc. used when the CPU 101 executes a control program, or as a work area for data processing. The NVM 104 is a non-volatile memory that stores setting information, etc.

[0020] In addition, the MFP 100 includes a panel 105 and keys 106. The panel 105 is a touch panel in this embodiment, and various screens are displayed on the panel 105 according to the state of the MFP 100. The user can perform an input operation by touching an input button on the screen. In this specification, "touching an input button on the screen" may also be referred to as "pressing an input button on the screen". The keys 106 are hard keys, that is, keys formed by hardware. Examples of what belongs to the keys 106 include a power switch, a reset switch, and numeric keys.

[0021] Furthermore, the MFP 100 includes a network IF 108 similar to the network IF 20 of the PC 10. Thus, as described above, the MFP 100 can perform transmission and reception of various data with the PC 10.

[0022] Also, the MFP 100 includes an engine IF 110. A printing engine 111 and a reading engine 112 are connected to the engine IF 110. The printing engine 111 is a device for printing an image on a sheet, and has a printing device such as an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or a thermal method. The reading engine 112 is a device for reading an image from a document, and has a reading device such as a CCD or a CIS. The engine IF 110 is an IF that controls the printing engine 111 and the reading engine 112.

[0023] Furthermore, the MFP 100 includes an image processing circuit 120. The image processing circuit 120 rasterizes the image data related to a printing job and outputs it to the printing engine 111. The image processing circuit 120 also processes the image data read by the reading engine 112 from the document into digital data. The image data processed into digital data is transmitted to the outside via the network IF 307, or supplied to the printing engine 111 and output to a sheet.

[0024] The CPU 101, ROM 102, RAM 103, NVM 104, panel 105, keys 106, USB IF 107, network IF 108, engine IF 110, and image processing circuit 120 are interconnected by a bus 130.

[0025] Figure 2(a) shows an example of a browser screen 180 displayed on the display 18 when the user starts a browser on the PC 10 and enters the URL "10.100.100.1" in the URL input field 181. The entered URL "10.100.100.1" indicates the storage location of the EWS, which is one of the control programs of the MFP 100. Note that EWS is an abbreviation for embedded Web server.

[0026] On the page display area 182 of the browser screen 180, a page provided by the EWS is displayed. The page provided by the EWS consists of an item pane 183 and a detail pane 184. The page shown in Figure 2(a) is the initial page provided by the EWS. When the user enters a password in the login password input field 182a within this initial page and clicks the login button 182b with the cursor C, the user can log in to a function setting page for setting various functions of the MFP 100 provided by the EWS.

[0027] Figure 2(b) shows an example of the browser screen 180 displayed when the "Remote Panel" item 183a among a plurality of items described in the item pane 183 within the function setting page is clicked. The "Remote Panel" item 183a is an item for displaying "Remote Panel" in the detail pane 184. In the illustrated browser screen 180, a login authentication screen 190 for performing login authentication to the "Remote Panel" is pop-up displayed. The reason for performing login authentication before displaying the "Remote Panel" is as follows.

[0028] That is, "Remote Panel" is a virtual screen that virtually creates and displays the panel display of a remotely connected device for remote access to that device. Therefore, when an operation input is performed on the "Remote Panel" displayed in the detailed pane 184, it results in the same operation input being performed on the panel 105 of the remotely accessed device, which is the MFP 100 in this embodiment. Thus, if "Remote Panel" is displayed on the PC 10, a third party can freely remotely access the MFP 100 from the outside via the PC 10. Therefore, it is necessary to restrict those who can display "Remote Panel". For this reason, even after logging in to the function setting page, further login authentication is required to display "Remote Panel".

[0029] Login to "Remote Panel" is restricted to users with administrator privileges (hereinafter referred to as "administrators"). Therefore, enter the administrator name ("Administrator") in the user name input field 190a in the login authentication screen 190 and enter the administrator password in the password input field 190b. Then, when the login button 190c is clicked with the cursor C, as shown in Fig. 2(c), a confirmation screen 105a for confirming whether remote operation of the MFP 100 is permitted is displayed on the panel 105 of the MFP 100. When the user of the MFP 100 presses the "Yes" button 105a1 in the confirmation screen 105a, "Remote Panel" is displayed in the detailed pane 184.

[0030] Figure 3(a) shows an example of the "Remote Panel" displayed in the detailed pane 184. The illustrated "Remote Panel" includes, in addition to the panel display 105b displayed on the panel 105 of the MFP 100, a key display 105c that virtually displays the keys 106 of the MFP 100. The display data for displaying the "Remote Panel" is obtained from the EWS. Since the EWS is software as described above, strictly speaking, "obtained from the EWS" means obtained from the MFP 100 by the CPU 101 of the MFP 100 executing the software of the EWS. However, for simplicity, it may also be referred to as "obtained from the EWS".

[0031] Inside the "Remote Panel", an end button 184a for ending the "Remote Panel" is also displayed. The administrator can end the "Remote Panel" by clicking the end button 184a.

[0032] Also, inside the "Remote Panel", an ON / OFF button 184c for shifting the MFP 100 to the maintenance mode and ending the maintenance mode after the shift is also displayed. The administrator can shift the MFP 100 to the maintenance mode by clicking the ON / OFF button 184c. However, authentication for shifting to the maintenance mode is required before shifting to the maintenance mode. For this reason, in the "Remote Panel" in the device mode (the "Remote Panel" in Figure 3(a) is referred to as the "Remote Panel" in the device mode), when the ON / OFF button 184c is clicked, a "Remote Panel" for authentication for shifting to the maintenance mode is displayed. And when authentication is successful in this authentication "Remote Panel", the maintenance mode is entered.

[0033] Figure 3(b) shows an example of the "Remote Panel" for authentication to shift to the maintenance mode. When an administrator inputs a password into the password input field 105d1 within the panel display 105d using, for example, the software keyboard 105d2, and the authentication is successful, the system shifts to the "Remote Panel" in the maintenance mode. The "Remote Panel" in the maintenance mode is almost the same as the "Remote Panel" for authentication in Figure 3(b), and it is only enabled to execute operations for maintenance. Note that the password can also be input into the password input field 105d1 using the keys within the key display 105c.

[0034] The maintenance mode is a mode for performing maintenance on the MFP 100. Examples of maintenance include investigating the cause of a malfunction of the MFP 100 and changing settings for items that cannot be changed by general users. Since the maintenance mode is such a special mode, additional authentication is required before shifting to the maintenance mode.

[0035] In the "Remote Panel" in the device mode, when an icon (such as a "Fax" icon or a "Copy" icon) or a button (such as a "Basic 1" button or a "Custom1" button) within the panel display 105b is clicked, the display mode (for example, the display color) of the indicator related to the click changes so that it can be known that the indicator has been operated. Similarly, the display mode of the same indicator on the panel 105 of the MFP 100 also changes.

[0036] However, in the "Remote Panel" for authentication in Figure 3(b), if the display mode of the operation keys changes when the software keyboard 105d2 is clicked, there is a risk that the password may be known to a third party other than the administrator who is looking at the panel 105 of the MFP 100. This is because even if the password being input into the password input field 105d1 is hidden by, for example, "*", a third party can know the password by following the change in the display mode of the operation keys.

[0037] Therefore, in the authentication "Remote Panel", even when the software keyboard 105d2 is used, the display mode of the operation keys is not changed. Similarly, in the maintenance mode "Remote Panel", when the software keyboard 105d2 is used, the display mode of the operation keys is not changed. Note that since the key display 105c virtually displays the keys 106 of the MFP 100, i.e., the hard keys, the display mode is not changed for key operations even in the device mode "Remote Panel".

[0038] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the main process executed by the PC 10, particularly the CPU 12. This main process is the process executed by the CPU 12 after login authentication is performed on the login authentication screen 190 in FIG. 2(b). Hereinafter, in the description of the procedure of each process, the steps are denoted as "S".

[0039] In FIG. 4, first, the CPU 12 executes a remote operation screen display process (S1). The remote operation screen is the "Remote Panel" displayed in the detailed pane 184. Therefore, the remote operation screen display process indicates a process of displaying the "Remote Panel" in the detailed pane 184.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows the detailed procedure of the remote operation screen display process. In FIG. 5, first, the CPU 12 sends an initial screen http(s) request (S11). Here, the http(s) request is a request according to the http(s) protocol. The reason for sending a request according to the http(s) protocol like this is that since the request destination is the EWS, it is necessary to send a request of a protocol that the EWS can interpret. The initial screen http(s) request is input to the network IF 108 via the communication network 40 and the router 32 from the network IF 20. Not limited to the initial screen http(s) request, data transmission from the PC 10 to the MFP 100 is performed through the same route. Conversely, data transmission from the MFP 100 to the PC 10 is performed through the reverse route.

[0041] Next, in response to receiving the initial screen http(s) request, the CPU 12 receives the http(s) response and the virtual screen data sent by the EWS (S12). The http(s) response and the virtual screen data are generated and sent by the initial screen transmission process (FIG. 8) of S46 described later.

[0042] Next, the CPU 12 stores the http(s) cgi in the data storage area 28 (S13). The http(s) cgi is various scripts included in the http(s) response. Note that cgi is an abbreviation of common gateway interface. As various scripts, in this embodiment, an idle timer script, a screen data request script, a screen press process script, and a lift-off process script are generated (see S71 to S73 in FIG. 10). By executing this script, the CPU 12 can execute an idle timer process, an http(s) cgi request transmission process, and the like.

[0043] Furthermore, after the CPU 12 displays the received virtual screen data on the detailed pane 184 (S14), it ends the remote operation screen display process. As a result, a "Remote Panel" as shown in Fig. 3(a) is displayed on the detailed pane 184.

[0044] Returning to Fig. 4, the CPU 12 determines whether the no-operation timer has counted a predetermined time (S2). Here, the "predetermined time" is, for example, 0.5 seconds. The no-operation timer is a timer whose start is instructed in S35 (Fig. 7) described later.

[0045] In the determination of S2, if it is determined that the no-operation timer has counted the predetermined time (S2: YES), the CPU 12 executes the screen update process (S3) and then proceeds to S4. On the other hand, if it is determined that the no-operation timer has not yet counted the predetermined time (S2: NO), the CPU 12 skips S3 and proceeds to S4.

[0046] Fig. 6 shows the detailed procedure of the screen update process. In Fig. 6, first, the CPU 12 sends an http(s) request for screen update (S21). Next, the CPU 12 receives the http(s) response and virtual screen data sent by the EWS in response to receiving the http(s) request for screen update (S22). Note that the http(s) response and virtual screen data are generated and sent by the screen data transmission process (Fig. 8) of S48 described later.

[0047] Then, after the CPU 12 updates the virtual screen, that is, the "Remote Panel", based on the received HTML data (S23), it ends the screen update process. As a result, the "Remote Panel" displayed on the detailed pane 184 matches the current display screen of the panel 105 of the MFP 100.

[0048] Returning to FIG. 4, in S4, it is determined whether the virtual screen has been pressed. In this determination, if it is determined that the virtual screen has been pressed (S4: YES), the CPU 12 executes the http(s)cgi request execution process (S5) and then advances the process to S6. On the other hand, in this determination, if it is determined that the virtual screen has not been pressed (S4: NO), the CPU 12 skips S5 and advances the process to S6.

[0049] FIG. 7 shows the detailed procedure of the http(s)cgi request execution process. In FIG. 7, first, the CPU 12 stops the no-operation timer (S31). Stopping the no-operation timer in this way is to postpone the execution of the screen update process in S3 above and prevent the screen update of "Remote Panel" until the http(s)cgi request execution process ends. If there are icons or buttons at the pressed position within the virtual screen, the screen will transition or the color of the button will change. The http(s)cgi request execution process is a process that realizes such a change in the display screen mode within the virtual screen. Therefore, if the screen update process is executed during the execution of the http(s)cgi request execution process, there may be a discrepancy between the virtual screen and the actual screen of the panel 105. The process of S31 is provided to prevent this.

[0050] Next, the CPU 12 generates an http(s)cgi request (S32) and transmits the generated http(s)cgi request (S33). Here, the generated http(s)cgi request includes screen press information indicating that the screen has been pressed and the coordinates of the pressed position (hereinafter referred to as "press coordinates").

[0051] Next, the CPU 12 receives the http(s)cgi response transmitted by the EWS in response to the http(s)cgi request and executes the process corresponding to the http(s)cgi response (S34). The http(s)cgi response is generated and transmitted by the screen press process (FIG. 8) in S50 described later.

[0052] Furthermore, after starting the inactivity timer (S35), the CPU 12 ends the http(s)cgi request execution process. After this, when the inactivity timer measures the above-mentioned predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds), the screen update process of S3 is executed once.

[0053] Returning to FIG. 4, in S6 above, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the indicator has been lifted. The indicator is the object that has been instructed to be pressed when pressed within the virtual screen. That is, the indicator includes both meaningful and meaningless objects such as icons, buttons, and a part of the background image when pressed.

[0054] In the determination of S6, when it is determined that the indicator has been lifted (S6: YES), after executing the http(s)cgi request execution process (S7), the CPU 12 proceeds to S8. On the other hand, in this determination, when it is determined that the indicator has not been lifted (S6: NO), the CPU 12 skips S7 and proceeds to S8. This http(s)cgi request execution process is the http(s)cgi request execution process of FIG. 7 above. However, the content of the http(s)cgi request generated when the http(s)cgi request execution process is executed in S5 and when it is executed in S7 is different. That is, the http(s)cgi request generated in S5 includes screen press information and the like as described above, while the http(s)cgi request generated in S7 includes lift information indicating that it has been lifted and the coordinates of the lifted position (hereinafter referred to as "lift coordinates").

[0055] In S8, the CPU 12 determines whether an individual key has been pressed and released. The individual keys correspond to each key included in the above key display 105c (Fig. 3), that is, the keys 106 of the MFP 100. In this determination, if it is determined that an individual key has been pressed and released (S8: YES), the CPU 12 executes the http(s)cgi request execution process (S9) and then returns the process to the above S2. On the other hand, in this determination, if it is determined that at least one of the conditions that the individual key is not pressed and not released is satisfied (S8: NO), the CPU 12 skips S9 and returns the process to S2. This http(s)cgi request execution process is also the http(s)cgi request execution process in Fig. 7. However, the content of the generated http(s)cgi request is different between the case where the http(s)cgi request execution process is executed in S5 and S7 and the case where the http(s)cgi request execution process is executed in S9. The http(s)cgi request generated in S9 includes individual key information that identifies the key among the individual keys that has been pressed and released and a release notification indicating that the key has been released.

[0056] Fig. 8 shows the procedure of the main process executed by the MFP 100, particularly the CPU 101. In Fig. 8, first, the CPU 101 displays a standby screen on the panel 105 (S41). The standby screen is, for example, the same screen as the panel display 105b in Fig. 3(a) above.

[0057] Next, the CPU 101 determines whether it has received an HTTP(S) communication, that is, data communication conforming to the HTTP(S) protocol (S42). In this determination, if it is determined that the HTTP(S) communication has not been received (S42: NO), the CPU 101 determines whether it has detected an operation on the main body panel, that is, a user operation on the panel 105 and the keys 106 (S43). In this determination, if it is determined that an operation on the main body panel has been detected (S43: YES), the CPU 101 executes the main body panel process (S44) and then returns the process to S42 above. On the other hand, if it is determined that no operation on the main body panel has been detected (S43: NO), the CPU 101 skips S44 and returns the process to S42.

[0058] FIG. 9 shows the detailed procedure of the main body panel process. In FIG. 9, first, the CPU 101 determines whether the panel 105 is displaying a specific screen (S61). The specific screen is, for example, the screen of the panel display 105d immediately before the transition to the maintenance mode in FIG. 3(b) above and the screen after the transition to the maintenance mode. In the determination of S61, if it is determined that the panel 105 is displaying a specific screen (S61: YES), the CPU 101 ignores the detected panel operation (S62) and then ends the main body panel process. In this way, when a specific screen is displayed on the panel 105, that is, when the MFP 100 is in the maintenance mode (including immediately before the transition), even if the user operates the panel 105 and the keys 106, the operation is not accepted and is ignored. Thereby, when the MFP 100 is put into the maintenance mode by remote operation, the operation input by the user of the MFP 100 to the main body panel is prohibited, so that incorrect or intentional setting changes by the user of the MFP 100 in the maintenance mode can be prevented.

[0059] Note that the determination in S61 may be changed to a determination of whether or not the MFP 100 is under remote operation, and when the MFP 100 is under remote operation, user operations on the panel 105 and the keys 106 may be ignored. Whether or not the MFP 100 is under remote operation may be determined by the fact that the "Yes" button 105a1 has been pressed on the confirmation screen 105a in Fig. 2(c) above.

[0060] On the other hand, in the determination in S61, when it is determined that the panel 105 is not displaying a specific screen (S61: NO), the CPU 101 determines whether or not the panel operation is a press (S63). In this determination, when it is determined that the panel operation is a press (S63: YES), the CPU 101 executes screen press processing (S64) and then ends the main body panel processing. On the other hand, in this determination, when it is determined that the panel operation is not a press (S63: NO), the CPU 101 executes release processing (S65) and then ends the main body panel processing.

[0061] Fig. 12 shows the detailed procedure of the screen press processing. In Fig. 12, first, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the screen being displayed on the main body panel is a specific screen (S91). In this determination, when it is determined that the screen being displayed on the main body panel is not a specific screen (S91: NO), the CPU 101 determines whether or not the press coordinates are within the area of any button image (S92). In this determination, when it is determined that the press coordinates are within the area of any button image (S92: YES), the CPU 101 switches the button image to the pressed state (S93). The button image is, for example, an icon ("Fax" icon, "Copy" icon, etc.) or a button ("Basic 1" button, "Custom1" button, etc.) within the panel display 105b in Fig. 3(a). And switching to the pressed state means, for example, switching the color of the button image from the color in the non-pressed state (normal state) to a different color.

[0062] Next, after generating the screen data and storing it in the RAM 103 (S94), the CPU 101 proceeds with the process to S95. Note that the screen data stored in the RAM 103 is read and used in the screen data transmission process described later based on FIG. 11.

[0063] On the other hand, in the determination of S91, if it is determined that the screen being displayed on the main body panel is a specific screen (S91: YES), or in the determination of S92, if it is determined that the pressed coordinates are not within the area of any button image (S92: NO), the CPU 101 skips S93 and S94 and proceeds with the process to S95.

[0064] In S95, the CPU 101 determines whether the screen press process has been called by an http(s) request. In this determination, if it is determined that the screen press process has been called by an http(s) request (S95: YES), the CPU 101 transmits an http(s) cgi response (S96) and then ends the screen press process. This http(s) cgi response is the http(s) cgi response received when the http(s) cgi request execution process was executed in the above S5 (FIG. 4). And this http(s) cgi response contains information indicating which http(s) request the response is for.

[0065] On the other hand, in the determination of S95, if it is determined that the screen press process has not been called by an http(s) request (S95: NO), the CPU 101 skips S96 and ends the screen press process.

[0066] The screen press process is not limited to S64 within the main body panel process of S44 above, but is also called in S48 described later, so the processing content is created in a general-purpose manner. That is, the determination of S91 and the determination of S95 and the processing of S96 are unnecessary when called in S64, but are necessary when called in S48.

[0067] Since the above-mentioned lifting process of S65 is also called by S52 and S54 in FIG. 8 in addition to S65, the processing content is created generically in the same way as the screen pressing process. Before explaining the lifting process in detail based on FIG. 13, the processing after S45 in the main process on the MFP100 side in FIG. 8 will be explained.

[0068] In the above S42 in FIG. 8, when it is determined that an http(s) communication has been received (S42: YES), the CPU 101 determines whether the http(s) communication is an initial screen http(s) request (S45). In this determination, when it is determined that the http(s) communication is an initial screen http(s) request (S45: YES), the CPU 101 executes the initial screen transmission process (S46) and then returns the process to the above S42.

[0069] FIG. 10 shows the detailed procedure of the initial screen transmission process. In FIG. 10, first, the CPU 101 generates an idle timer script (S71). The idle timer script is a program that operates an idle timer in the browser and causes, for example, the process of S3 to be performed.

[0070] Next, the CPU 101 generates a screen data request script (S72). The screen data request script is a program that causes the browser to execute a screen data request process and generates an http(s) request including a screen data request, for example, the http(s) request for screen update transmitted in the above S21.

[0071] Next, the CPU 101 generates a screen pressing process script and a lifting process script (S73). The screen pressing process script is a program that causes the browser to execute a screen pressing process and causes, for example, the determination process of S4 and the processes of S31 to S33 in the process of S5 executed when the determination result in this determination process is "YES" (FIG. 7), etc. to be performed. Also, the lifting process script is a program that causes the browser to execute a lifting process and causes, for example, the determination process of S6 and the processes of S31 to S33 in the process of S7 executed when the determination result in this determination process is "YES", etc. to be performed.

[0072] Next, the CPU 101 reads the screen data (S74). This screen data is the screen data of the screen currently being displayed on the panel 105 of the MFP 100. When the MFP 100 displays a screen on the panel 105, it generates the screen data, stores it in the RAM 103, reads out the screen data, and displays it on the panel 105. Therefore, in S74, the CPU 101 reads the screen data from the RAM 103.

[0073] Next, after the CPU 101 generates an http(s) response and transmits it together with the read screen data (S75), it ends the initial screen transmission process. This http(s) response is a response to the initial screen http(s) request in the above S11 (Fig. 5). This http(s) response includes the script generated in S71 to S73 and information indicating that the screen data is transmitted together.

[0074] Returning to Fig. 8, in the determination of S45, if it is determined that the http(s) communication is not the initial screen http(s) request (S45: NO), the CPU 101 determines whether the http(s) communication is a screen update http(s) request (S47). In this determination, if it is determined that the http(s) communication is a screen update http(s) request (S47: YES), the CPU 101 executes the screen data transmission process (S48) and then returns the process to the above S42.

[0075] Fig. 11 shows the detailed procedure of the screen data transmission process. In Fig. 11, first, the CPU 101 reads the screen data (S81). In S81, the screen data stored in the RAM 103 in the above S94 (Fig. 12) or S104 described later is read.

[0076] Next, after the CPU 101 generates an http(s) response and transmits it together with the read screen data (S82), the screen data transmission process ends. Since the process of S82 only differs from the process of S75 in that the http(s) response is a response to the http(s) request for screen update in the above S21 (Fig. 6), further explanation is omitted.

[0077] Returning to Fig. 8, in the determination of S47, if it is determined that the http(s) communication is not an http(s) request for screen update (S47: NO), the CPU 101 determines whether the http(s) communication is an http(s) cgi request including screen press information or the like (S49). In this determination, if it is determined that the http(s) communication is an http(s) cgi request including screen press information or the like (S49: YES), after the CPU 101 executes the screen press process (S50), the process returns to the above S42. Since the screen press process was described in detail in S64 included in the process of S44, the description thereof is omitted.

[0078] In the determination of S49, if it is determined that the http(s) communication is not an http(s) cgi request including screen press information or the like (S49: NO), the CPU 101 determines whether the http(s) communication is an http(s) cgi request including lift-off information or the like (S51). In this determination, if it is determined that the http(s) communication is an http(s) cgi request including lift-off information or the like (S51: YES), after the CPU 101 executes the lift-off process (S52), the process returns to the above S42.

[0079] On the other hand, in the determination of S51, if it is determined that the http(s) communication is not an http(s) cgi request including logout information or the like (S51: NO), the CPU 101 determines whether the http(s) communication is an http(s) cgi request including individual key information or the like (S53). In this determination, if it is determined that the http(s) communication is an http(s) cgi request including individual key information or the like (S53: YES), the CPU 101 executes the logout process (S54) and then returns the process to S42 above.

[0080] On the other hand, in the determination of S53, if it is determined that the http(s) communication is not an http(s) cgi request including individual key information or the like (S53: NO), the CPU 101 returns the process to S42 above.

[0081] FIG. 13 shows the detailed procedure of the logout process. In FIG. 13, first, the CPU 101 determines whether the logout coordinates are within the area of any button image or whether there is a logout notification for an individual key (S101). In this determination, if it is determined that either one of the logout coordinates being within the area of any button image and there being a logout notification for an individual key is established (S101: YES), the CPU 101 determines whether the button of that button image or the individual key switches the screen (S102). In this determination, if the button of the button image or the individual key switches the screen (S102: YES), the CPU 101 switches the screen display of the panel 105 to the screen indicated by that button or individual key (S103) and then proceeds with the process to S104. Specifically, the button that switches the screen is, for example, the "Fax" icon when the same screen as the panel display 105b in FIG. 3(a) is displayed on the panel 105. When the "Fax" icon is pressed, the screen display of the panel 105 switches to the screen display of the operation panel for "Fax". Also, the individual key that switches the screen is, specifically, for example, the "HOME" key.

[0082] In S104, the CPU 101 generates screen data for displaying the same screen as the screen display of the panel 105 on the "Remote Panel", and stores it in the RAM 103 in the same manner as in S94. Therefore, when the "Fax" icon on the panel 105 is pressed and the screen display of the panel 105 switches to the screen display of the operation panel for "Fax", screen data for displaying the screen display of the operation panel for "Fax" on the "Remote Panel" is generated and stored.

[0083] Next, the CPU 101 determines whether the log-off process has been called by an http(s) request (S105). In this determination, if it is determined that the log-off process has been called by an http(s) request (S105: YES), the CPU 101 generates and transmits an http(s) cgi response (S106), and then ends the log-off process. This http(s) cgi response is the http(s) cgi response received when the http(s) cgi request execution process is executed in S7 (Figure 4). And this http(s) cgi response contains information indicating which http(s) request the response is for.

[0084] On the other hand, in the determination of S105, if it is determined that the log-off process has not been called by an http(s) request (S105: NO), the CPU 101 skips S106 and ends the log-off process.

[0085] On the other hand, in the determination of S102, if it is determined that the button is not a screen switching button and not an individual key for screen switching (S102: NO), the CPU 101 determines whether it is not a release notification for an individual key (S107). In this determination, if it is determined that it is not a release notification for an individual key (S107: YES), that is, when the button of the button image is not a screen switching button, the CPU 101 switches the button image to the normal mode (S108), and then proceeds with the process to S104. As a result, the button image of the released button switches from the pressed mode to the normal mode on the panel 105.

[0086] Thereafter, after executing the processes of S104 to S106, the CPU 101 ends the release process. When the process reaches S106 via S108, S104, and S105, or when the process reaches S106 via S103, S104, and S105, in the same manner, the CPU 101 generates and transmits an http(s)cgi response that is received when the http(s)cgi request execution process is executed in S5 (FIG. 4) as the http(s)cgi response.

[0087] On the other hand, in the determination of S107, if it is determined that the notification is a release notification for an individual key (S107: YES), the CPU 101 determines whether at least one of the following conditions is met: the panel 105 is not displaying a specific screen, and the release notification for the individual key is not a release notification for a focus mode processing key (S109). In this determination, if it is determined that at least one of the following conditions is met: the panel 105 is not displaying a specific screen, and the release notification for the individual key is not a release notification for a focus mode processing key (S109: YES), the CPU 101 updates the screen display (S110) and then proceeds with the process to S104 above. Note that the focus mode processing keys include a start key, a movement key, a decision key, and an end key. Specifically, for example, on the key display 105c, the "HOME" key corresponds to the start key, the "#" key corresponds to the forward movement key, the "*" key corresponds to the reverse movement key, the "0" key corresponds to the decision key, and the "BACK" key corresponds to the end key. The focus mode is a mode in which any key within the software keyboard 105d2 is displayed in a selected state, and the process is performed when the button in the selected state is pressed by the decision key.

[0088] Thereafter, after executing the processes of S104 to S106, the CPU 101 ends the release process. When the process reaches S106 via S110, S104, and S105, different from the case where the process reaches S106 via S103, S104, and S105, the CPU 101 generates and transmits, as an http(s)cgi response, the http(s)cgi response received when the http(s)cgi request execution process was executed in S9 (Figure 4) above.

[0089] On the other hand, in the determination of S109, if it is determined that the panel 105 is displaying a specific screen and the release notification for the individual key is a release notification for the focus mode processing key (S109: NO), the CPU 101 skips S110 and S104 and advances the process to S105 above. In this case, the screen display of the panel 105 does not change. On the specific screen, since it is not desired to show the remote operation content using the focus mode processing key on the panel 105 to a third party other than the administrator, even if the focus mode processing key is operated, the screen display of the panel 105 is not changed.

[0090] After that, the CPU 101 executes the processes of S105 and S106 and then ends the release process. When the process reaches S106 via S105 without going through S110 and S104 from S109, unlike the case where the process reaches S106 via S110, S104, and S105 from S109, the CPU 101 generates and transmits a non-screen data transmission as an http(s)cgi response. Thereby, the operation content using the focus mode processing key is not displayed even in the "Remote Panel" in the maintenance mode.

[0091] On the other hand, in the determination of S101 above, if it is determined that neither the release coordinates are within the area of any button image nor the release notification for the individual key is established (S101: NO), the CPU 101 advances the process to S105.

[0092] In this way, when the specific screen is displayed in the detailed pane 184 as shown in Fig. 3(b), if the administrator presses the software keyboard 105d2 while trying to enter a password in the password input field 105d1, the display mode of the pressed key does not switch to the pressed mode. This is because in the determination of S91 in the screen press process of Fig. 12, it becomes "YES" and the process of S93 is skipped. Since the same display as that of the detailed pane 184 is also made on the panel 105 of the MFP 100, the display mode of the pressed key does not switch to the pressed mode.

[0093] However, since the input process for the pressed key is accepted, the entered password is input into the password input field 105d1. However, the password in the password input field 105d1 is hidden, for example, by overwriting and displaying "*".

[0094] Note that even when the specific screen is the "Remote Panel" in the maintenance mode migrated from the "Remote Panel" for authentication, a display restriction is imposed not to switch the display mode of the software keyboard 105d2. However, in this case, since the administrator does not know which key was pressed or whether the key was pressed correctly, the display restriction for the software keyboard 105d2 in the detailed pane 184 may be lifted, and the display restriction for the software keyboard on the panel 105 may be continued. In this case, for the software keyboard 105d2 in the detailed pane 184, a mode in which the display restriction is not lifted and a mode in which it is lifted may be provided, and either mode may be selectable according to the administrator's instruction. Furthermore, on the MFP100 side as well, a mode in which the display restriction is not lifted and a mode in which it is lifted may be provided, and either mode may be selectable according to the administrator's instruction.

[0095] Also, when the specific screen is displayed on the panel 105 of the MFP100, even if there are user operations on the panel 105 and the key 106, they are ignored. This is because in the determination of S61 in the main body panel process of FIG. 9, it becomes "YES" and the process of S62 is performed.

[0096] As described above, the MFP 100 of the present embodiment includes a network IF 108, a panel 105, and a CPU 101. When the PC 10 is remotely connected via the network IF 108, the CPU 101 transmits screen data for displaying the same screen as the display screen shown on the panel 105 to the PC 10, receives a remote access from the PC 10, executes display processing of the display screen according to the remote access, and performs display restriction of the display screen when the display screen is a specific screen and a remote access is received.

[0097] In this way, in the MFP 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to perform display restriction when a specific screen is being displayed.

[0098] Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the MFP 100 is an example of an "image forming apparatus". The network IF 108 is an example of a "communication interface". The panel 105 is an example of a "display unit". The CPU 101 is an example of a "control unit". The PC 10 is an example of an "information processing apparatus". The specific screen is an example of a "predetermined screen".

[0099] (Second Embodiment) Next, an image forming system according to the second embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 16. Since only a part of the control processing is different from the image forming system of the first embodiment, as the control configuration of the image forming system of the present embodiment, that of the image forming system 1 of the first embodiment, that is, the control configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be adopted as it is.

[0100] FIG. 14(a) shows an example of the display of the detailed pane 184 of the browser launched on the PC 10 of the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment. Similar to the detailed pane 184 of FIG. 3(b), an authentication "Remote Panel" for shifting to the maintenance mode is displayed in the detailed pane 184 of FIG. 14(a).

[0101] However, the "Remote Panel" for authentication in Fig. 14(a) has a different display mode of the panel display 105d' compared to the "Remote Panel" for authentication in Fig. 3(b). Specifically, in the panel display 105d', the software keyboard 105d2 in the panel display 105d of Fig. 3(b) is not displayed, and only the password input field 105d1 is displayed. Therefore, the password is input into the password input field 105d1 using the keys within the key display 105c.

[0102] The panel display 105d' within the detailed pane 184 is also displayed on the panel 105 of the MFP 100 as it is. Fig. 14(b) shows the panel display 105d' of the panel 105 of the MFP 100.

[0103] Next, the control process executed by the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment will be described. The control process of the present embodiment is different only in part of the screen pressing process and the releasing process executed by the CPU 101 of the MFP 100 compared to the control process of the first embodiment. Therefore, for other processes, the processes included in the control process of the first embodiment, specifically, the processes in Figs. 4 to 11 will be used as they are.

[0104] Fig. 15 shows the detailed procedure of the screen pressing process executed by the MFP 100 of the present embodiment, particularly the CPU 101. The screen pressing process in Fig. 15 is configured by deleting the determination in S91 from the screen pressing process in Fig. 12. That is, in the present embodiment, when a specific screen is displayed in the detailed pane 184 and the panel 105, no button image is displayed within the specific screen, so there is no need to change the display mode of the button image. Therefore, the determination in S91 is deleted.

[0105] FIG. 16 shows the detailed procedure of the log-off process executed by the CPU 101 of the present embodiment. The log-off process in FIG. 16 is configured by deleting the determination in S109 from the log-off process in FIG. 13 and adding the determination in S115 and the process in S116. The determination in S109 is deleted because the button image is not displayed within the specific screen. Then, the determination in S115 is added after S102 because when the main body panel screen to be displayed next is the specific screen, it is desired to switch to the screen without input buttons (panel display 105d' shown in FIGS. 14(a) and (b)).

[0106] As described above, in the present embodiment, if the panel 105 of the MFP 100 is displaying the specific screen, it switches to the screen without input buttons, that is, the panel display 105d' without the software keyboard 105d2. Therefore, the change in the display mode of the operation keys cannot be followed, and a third party cannot know the password. For this reason, there is no risk of leakage of the confidential information related to the MFP 100 to a third party other than the administrator, so the security of the confidential information related to the MFP 100 can be improved.

[0107] Next, a modified example of the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment will be described. This modified example is such that the display screen of the panel 105 of the MFP 100 is made different depending on whether it is remotely connected to the PC 10 or not.

[0108] FIG. 14(c) shows an authentication panel display 105b for shifting the MFP 100 to the maintenance mode when the MFP 100 is not remotely connected to the PC 10. The MFP 100 is configured to be able to directly operate the MFP 100 and shift it to the maintenance mode without depending on an external access from the PC 10. And the authentication panel display 105b in FIG. 14(c) shows an authentication screen displayed on the panel 105 when shifting to the maintenance mode by directly operating the MFP 100. That is, when the MFP 100 is not remotely connected to the PC 10, a software keyboard 105d2 is displayed on the authentication panel display 105b on the panel 105. In this case, when using the software keyboard 105d2, the display mode of the operation keys changes.

[0109] As described above, the MFP 100 of the modification example of the present embodiment includes a network IF 108, a panel 105, and a CPU 101. And when the PC 10 is remotely connected via the network IF 108, the CPU 101 transmits screen data for displaying the same screen as the display screen 105d displayed on the panel 105 to the PC 10, receives a remote access from the PC 10, and executes display processing of the display screen 105d according to the remote access. Further, when the PC 10 is not remotely connected via the network IF 108, the CPU 101 displays a first screen 105d, which is a specific screen, on the panel 105, and when the PC 10 is remotely connected via the network IF 108, instead of the first screen 105d, a second screen 105d' having a different display mode from the first screen 105d is displayed on the panel 105.

[0110] When the MFP100 is not remotely connected to the PC10, the administrator directly operates the MFP100 in front of the MFP100, so there is no risk of leakage of confidential information related to the MFP100 to a third party other than the administrator. Therefore, in a modified example of this embodiment, the display screen of the panel 105 is changed depending on whether the MFP100 is remotely connected to the PC10 or not. When the MFP100 is not remotely connected to the PC10, a screen that is easy for the administrator to operate is provided. Thereby, the operability of the administrator can be improved.

[0111] (Third Embodiment) Next, the image forming system according to the third embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 20. Since the image forming system of this embodiment is only different in part of the control process from the image forming system of the first embodiment, as the control configuration of the image forming system of this embodiment, that of the image forming system 1 of the first embodiment, that is, the control configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be adopted as it is.

[0112] In the image forming system 1 of this embodiment, when the panel 105 of the MFP100 is displaying a specific screen, the backlight of the panel 105 is turned off so that the display content of the panel 105 cannot be seen by a third party other than the administrator.

[0113] The image forming system 1 of this embodiment is realized by changing a part of each of the PC10 side main process and the MFP100 side main process with respect to the image forming system of the first embodiment. For this reason, the same reference numerals are given to the processes similar to those executed by the image forming system of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0114] FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the main process executed by the PC 10, particularly the CPU 12, in the present embodiment. The main process in FIG. 17 is configured by deleting the determination in S8 and the process in S9 from the main process in FIG. 4. In the present embodiment, when the administrator makes an operation input to "Remote Panel" while "Remote Panel" is being displayed in the detail pane 184 within the browser screen 180, the display mode is changed according to the operation input both in "Remote Panel" and the display on the panel 105. That is, the control that does not change the display mode according to the operation input as in the first embodiment is not performed in the present embodiment. However, in this case, since the backlight of the panel 105 is turned off, the person in front of the MFP 100 cannot see the display content of the panel 105. For this reason, S8 and S9 are deleted.

[0115] FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the main process executed by the MFP 100, particularly the CPU 101, in the present embodiment. The main process in FIG. 18 is configured by deleting the determination in S53 and the process in S54 from the main process in FIG. 8 and changing a part of each of the initial screen transmission process and the log-off process. The reason for deleting S53 and S54 is the same as the reason for deleting the above S8 and S9.

[0116] FIG. 19 shows the detailed procedure of the initial screen transmission process in S46' of FIG. 18. The initial screen transmission process in FIG. 19 is configured by adding the determination in S76 and the process in S77 to the initial screen transmission process in FIG. 10.

[0117] In S76, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the setting is made to make the main body panel invisible while "Remote Panel" is in use. In this determination, if it is determined that the setting is made to make the main body panel invisible while "Remote Panel" is in use (S76: YES), the CPU 101 turns off the backlight of the panel 105 (S77), and then ends the initial screen transmission process. On the other hand, in this determination, if it is determined that the setting is not made to make the main body panel invisible while "Remote Panel" is in use (S76: NO), the CPU 101 ends the initial screen transmission process.

[0118] FIG. 20 shows the detailed procedure of the lifting-off process of S52' in FIG. 18. The lifting-off process in FIG. 20 is configured by deleting part of the content of the determination in S101, deleting the determination in S107, the determination in S109, and the process in S110, and adding the processes in S120 to S123, compared with the lifting-off process in FIG. 13.

[0119] In S101', the CPU 101 determines whether or not the lifting-off coordinates are within the area of any button image. The reason for deleting the determination for individual keys is the same as the reason for deleting S8 and S9 above.

[0120] In S120, the CPU 101 determines whether the main body panel screen is a specific screen. In this determination, if it is determined that the main body panel screen is a specific screen (S120: YES), the CPU 101 turns off the backlight of the panel 105 (S121), and then advances the process to S105. On the other hand, in this determination, if it is determined that the main body panel screen is not a specific screen (S120: NO), the CPU 101 determines whether the setting to make the main body panel non-displayed is made while "Remote Panel" is in use, in the same manner as in S76 above (S122). In this determination, if it is determined that the setting to make the main body panel non-displayed is not made while "Remote Panel" is in use (S122: NO), the CPU 101 turns on the backlight of the panel 105 (S123), and then advances the process to S105. On the other hand, in this determination, if it is determined that the setting to make the main body panel non-displayed is made while "Remote Panel" is in use (S122: YES), the CPU 101 advances the process to S105. Note that since the backlight of the panel 105 is lit by default, for example, in the above S41 (FIG. 18), when the standby screen is displayed, the backlight of the panel 105 may be lit accordingly.

[0121] As described above, in this embodiment, if the panel 105 of the MFP 100 is displaying a specific screen, the backlight of the panel 105 is turned off, so there is no risk that the confidential information related to the MFP 100 will leak from the MFP 100 to a third party other than the administrator.

[0122] Also, it is possible to set the main body panel to be non-displayed while "Remote Panel" is in use. If this setting is in the on state, the backlight of the panel 105 is also turned off while "Remote Panel" is in use, so the security regarding the confidential information related to the MFP 100 can be further improved.

[0123] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit thereof.

[0124] (1) In each of the above embodiments, as an example of the image forming apparatus, the MFP 100 has been described as an example. However, the image forming apparatus is not limited to the MFP 100 and may be a single printer, scanner, or copier.

[0125] (2) In each of the above embodiments, as an example of the control unit, the CPU 101 has been described. However, the control unit may have a CPU and a dedicated circuit. Examples of the dedicated circuit include, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

Description of Reference Numerals

[0126] 10…PC, 12…CPU, 14…Storage Unit, 16…User IF, 18…Display, 20…Network IF, 100…MFP, 101…CPU, 102…ROM, 103…RAM, 105…Panel, 106…Keys, 108…Network IF.

Claims

1. A communication interface, a display unit, a control unit, comprising: wherein the control unit, when an information processing device is remotely connected via the communication interface, transmits screen data for displaying the same screen as the display screen displayed on the display unit to the information processing device, receives a remote access from the information processing device, and executes display processing of the display screen according to the remote access, when the display screen is a predetermined screen and a remote access is received, performs display restriction on the display screen, an image forming apparatus.

2. The predetermined screen is a screen immediately before and after shifting to the maintenance mode of the image forming apparatus, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The predetermined screen is a screen immediately before and after an administrator logs in to the image forming apparatus from the information processing device, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The display restriction is not to change the display mode of a key corresponding to the key operation when the remote access is a key operation of a key displayed on the display screen, The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The key operation is a key operation for inputting a password, The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.

6. The key operation is a key operation by a focus mode processing key, The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 or 5.

7. The control unit, is selectable between a first mode for changing the display mode of a key corresponding to the key operation and a second mode for not changing the display mode of a key corresponding to the key operation, The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

8. The information processing device includes a display unit for displaying the result of the key operation, The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7.

9. The control unit, when a remote access is received while the display restriction of the display screen is being performed, transmits screen data for displaying a display screen according to the remote access to the information processing device, The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The image forming apparatus further comprises, a user interface comprising: wherein the control unit, when the display screen is a predetermined screen, does not accept a user operation from the user interface, The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The display restriction is not to display a key on the display screen. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

12. When the display unit displays the display screen by a backlight, the display restriction is to turn off the backlight. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

13. A communication interface; A display unit; A control unit; Comprising: The control unit: When an information processing apparatus is remotely connected via the communication interface, Transmit screen data for displaying the same screen as the display screen displayed on the display unit to the information processing apparatus, Receive a remote access from the information processing apparatus and execute display processing of the display screen according to the remote access, When the information processing apparatus is not remotely connected via the communication interface, display a first screen which is a predetermined screen on the display unit, When the information processing apparatus is remotely connected via the communication interface, instead of the first screen, display a second screen having a different display mode from the first screen on the display unit. An image forming apparatus.

14. An image forming system including an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus can remotely access the image forming apparatus, The information processing apparatus: Comprises a communication interface, a display unit, and a control unit, The control unit: When the image forming apparatus is remotely connected via the communication interface, Send a request to the image forming apparatus to obtain screen data for displaying the same screen as the display screen displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus on the information processing apparatus, Receive the screen data transmitted by the image forming apparatus in response to the request and display the same screen as the display screen displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus on the display unit, Send a remote access according to an operation input to the display screen displayed on the display unit to the image forming apparatus, The image forming apparatus: Comprises a communication interface, the display unit, and a control unit, The control unit: When the information processing apparatus is remotely connected via the communication interface, Receive the request from the information processing apparatus and transmit the screen data to the information processing apparatus. Receiving the remote access from the information processing apparatus and executing display processing of the display screen according to the remote access, When the display screen is a predetermined screen, if a remote access is received from the information processing apparatus, performing display restriction of the display screen, An image forming system.

15. In a computer included in an image forming apparatus including a display unit and a communication interface, When an information processing apparatus on a network is remotely connected via the communication interface, A transmission process of transmitting screen data for displaying the same screen as the display screen displayed on the display unit to the information processing apparatus; Receiving the remote access from the information processing apparatus and performing display processing of the display screen according to the remote access; A restriction process of performing display restriction of the display screen when the display screen is a predetermined screen and a remote access is received from the information processing apparatus; To cause to execute, A program.

Images