JP2009135808A - Image forming apparatus and information updating method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform customization work of a hierarchical structure formed by each object included in a menu picture displayed in a display screen in a terminal device, such as a personal computer. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: a display screen 1a1; an information storing part 1b for storing information about uncustomized objects included in the menu picture; a network communicating part 1d for transmitting information about the information about the uncustomized objects read by an information control part 1e to the outside, and capturing information about objects customized in the outside through a communication network; and the information control part 1e for reading the information about the uncustomized objects stored in the information storing part 1b, writing the information about the customized objects captured by the network communicating part 1d in the information storing part 1b and updating the information about the objects when there is a request to transmit the information about the uncustomized objects from the outside to the outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an information updating method in which a menu screen to be displayed on a screen can be customized using an external terminal device.

  Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus capable of supporting customization of a hierarchical structure formed by each object included in a menu screen displayed on a display screen provided in an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral. (See Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-133520 A

  However, this image forming apparatus does not disclose any specific method for customizing the hierarchical structure formed by each object included in the menu screen displayed on the display screen.

  In general, in an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral, it is difficult to ensure a sufficient size to display all of the hierarchical structure formed by each object included in the displayed menu screen due to design restrictions. It has become.

  Therefore, it is extremely difficult for an operator to customize the hierarchical structure formed by the objects included in the menu screen displayed on the display screen of the image forming apparatus on the display screen of the image forming apparatus.

  On the other hand, from the viewpoint of being able to respond to various needs different for each operator, the hierarchical structure formed by each object included in the menu screen displayed on the display screen of the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus such as a personal computer. It is more preferable to be able to customize with a different terminal device.

  According to the inventor's consideration regarding the display screen of the image forming apparatus, a personal computer or the like provided outside the image forming apparatus with a hierarchical structure formed by each object included in the menu screen displayed on the display screen There is an increasing demand from the industry for an image forming apparatus that can be easily customized by the terminal device.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus and an information updating method that can easily customize a hierarchical structure formed by each object included in a menu screen displayed on a display screen with a terminal device such as a personal computer. The purpose is to provide.

  The essence of the present invention is that “the information on the object included in the menu screen is transmitted to the requesting terminal device via the communication network, customized by the terminal device, and transmitted from the terminal device via the communication network. With this configuration, it is possible to easily customize the hierarchical structure formed by each object included in the menu screen displayed on the display screen with a terminal device such as a personal computer. It is to achieve the unique effect of making it possible to do.

  Further, in this specification, “object” means each content displayed on a menu screen and forming a hierarchical structure.

  Further, in this specification, “customization” means “to arbitrarily change the hierarchical structure formed by a plurality of objects included in the target screen or the layout of each object according to the preference of the operator”. means.

  Here, “changing the hierarchical structure” means “changing the position where the object to be customized is displayed on the screen to be customized”.

  Now, the gist of the present invention as described above is specifically achieved by taking the following means.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of customizing information relating to an object included in a menu screen by a terminal device connected via a communication network, wherein information relating to the object included in the menu screen is stored. Storage means, transmission request receiving means for receiving a transmission request for information about an object included in the menu screen, transmitted from the terminal device via the communication network, and an object included in the menu screen received by the transmission request receiving means In response to the information transmission request, the reading means for reading out information related to the object included in the menu screen from the storage means, and the information related to the object included in the menu screen read out by the reading means via the communication network Information to send Information relating to the object included in the menu screen by storing information relating to the object contained in the menu screen received by the information receiving means, the information receiving means for receiving information relating to the object contained in the menu screen in the storage means The image forming apparatus includes information updating means for updating the image.

  Thereby, in response to a request to send information related to the object included in the menu screen from the outside, the information related to the object included in the menu screen is read from the storage unit by the reading unit, and the object included in the read menu screen Information is transmitted to the requesting terminal device by the information transmitting means, customized by the terminal device, and information related to the object included in the menu screen transmitted from the terminal device is received by the information receiving means and received by the information receiving means. The information related to the object included in the menu screen is stored in the storage means by the information updating means, and the information related to the object included in the menu screen is updated, so that it is formed by each object included in the menu screen displayed on the display screen. Is It is possible to easily perform the customization hierarchical structure terminal apparatus such as a personal computer.

  A second invention is an information update method for updating information about an object included in a menu screen displayed on a display screen of an image forming apparatus, from a terminal device connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication network. In response to a transmission request receiving step for receiving a transmission request for information about an object included in a menu screen transmitted via a communication network, and a transmission request for information regarding an object included in the menu screen received in the transmission request receiving step A read process for reading out information related to the object included in the menu screen from the storage means storing the information related to the object included in the menu screen, and information related to the object included in the menu screen read out in the read process to the requesting terminal device Send over a communication network An information transmission step, an information reception step for receiving information about an object included in the menu screen, and an object included in the menu screen by storing in the storage means information related to the object included in the menu screen received in the information reception step. An information update method including an information update process for updating information related to.

  Thereby, in response to a request to send information related to the object included in the menu screen from the outside, the information related to the object included in the new screen is read from the storage means in the reading process, and the object included in the read menu screen Information related to the object included in the menu screen transmitted from the terminal device is received in the information receiving step and received in the information receiving step. The information related to the object included in the menu screen is stored in the storage means in the information updating process, and the information related to the object included in the menu screen is updated, so that it is formed by each object included in the menu screen displayed on the display screen. The hierarchical structure It is possible to easily perform the customization terminal device such Yuta.

  Here, from the viewpoint of simplifying the description, only the invention expressed as “image forming apparatus” and “information updating method” of the present invention has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Needless to say, it may be expressed as an arbitrary category such as “program” and “recording medium” within the scope of the above.

  According to the present invention, customization of a hierarchical structure formed by a plurality of objects included in a menu screen displayed on a display screen can be easily performed with a terminal device such as a personal computer.

  Hereinafter, the best mode of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a multifunction machine 1 to which an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an object layout changing system for changing the relative layout of objects on the menu screen to which the multifunction machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. is there.

  The object layout change system according to the present embodiment is described in XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and stores information related to the layout of an object included in a menu screen before customization stored in a semiconductor memory or the like inside the multifunction device 1. After reading from the semiconductor memory or the like, information related to the layout of the objects included in the read menu screen is transmitted to a terminal device such as an external personal computer via a communication network, and the operator displays the menu screen on the terminal device. It is a system that enables customization of information related to the layout of contained objects.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the object layout changing system according to the present embodiment includes a multi-function device 1 and a terminal device 2 connected to the multi-function device 1 via a communication network CN.

  Note that the communication network CN that connects the MFP 1 and the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment may be a network that transmits information by wire, wireless LAN, Bluetooth, infrared, optical wireless, magnetic flux Needless to say, the transmission system may be a network that transmits information by changes, thermal changes, and the like.

  For example, a communication network CN that connects the MFP 1 and the terminal device 2 that constitute the object layout changing system of the present embodiment is a network to which a known IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) technology is applied, for example, NGN (Next Generation Network). ) Or wireless based on IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11a, IEEE802.11b, IEEE802.11g, IEEE802.11n, WIMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) standards It may be configured using a LAN, may be configured using optical wireless, or may be configured using a network compliant with IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4) and IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6) standards. Needless to say.

  The multifunction device 1 applied to the object layout changing system according to the present embodiment receives a request for transmitting information related to the layout of the object before customization transmitted from the terminal device 2 via the communication network. The information related to the relative layout of each object included in the menu screen stored in the information storage unit 1b, which will be described later, constituted by a semiconductor memory built in the machine 1 is read from the information storage unit 1b, which will be described later, A function for transmitting information related to the relative layout of each object included in the menu screen to an external terminal device 2 different from the multifunction device 1 such as a personal computer via a communication network, and an operation using the terminal device 2 Included in a menu screen customized by the user Is executed via the communication network CN, and the received information regarding the layout of the customized object is overwritten with the information regarding the layout of the object before customization in the information storage unit 1b described later. This is a multifunction device having a function of updating stored information.

  Further, the terminal device 2 applied to the object layout changing system according to the present embodiment is composed of, for example, a well-known personal computer, and the object before customization transmitted from the above-described multifunction device 1 via the communication network. It is a terminal device which performs the customization assistance process which assists the customization operation | work which an operator performs with respect to the information regarding the layout of this.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the multi-function device 1 according to the present embodiment includes an operation input unit 1a, an information storage unit 1b, an information expansion memory 1c, a network communication unit 1d, and an information control unit 1e. ing.

  Note that the multifunction device 1 according to the present embodiment is realized by a computer in which an image forming program is written in a built-in memory (not shown) at the time of manufacture or the program is installed via a recording medium or a communication network.

  Further, it goes without saying that each unit constituting the multi-function device 1 according to the present embodiment may be configured by any one of software, hardware, or a combination of hardware and software.

  The operation input unit 1a has a display screen 1a1 on which a menu screen including information related to the layout of an object that has not been customized or has been customized is displayed. This display screen 1a1 is displayed after the MFP 1 is turned on. A menu screen including information related to the layout of the object before customization is displayed. On the other hand, when the customization process is completed, a menu screen including information related to the layout of the customized object is displayed.

  In the information storage unit 1b, an object layout before development processing in which information related to the layout of a customized or customized object included in the menu screen displayed on the display screen 1a1 described in XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is stored. Information of the information table is stored.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the object layout information table OT according to the present embodiment.

  In the object layout information table OT, as shown in FIG. 3, the identification ID (a) assigned to the object included in the menu screen, the message (b) indicating the name of the object, and the message type (c) And a hierarchical position (d) indicating a relative layout on the hierarchical structure of the object are stored in association with each other.

  The identification ID (a) is information of an ID individually assigned for each object in order to identify the object included in the menu screen.

  The message (b) is information indicating a name given to each object included in the menu screen.

  The message type (c) is information indicating the type of each object.

  The hierarchical position (d) is information indicating the relative position of each object on the hierarchical structure formed by the objects included in the menu screen.

  In the object layout information table OT according to the present embodiment, the hierarchical position of the object is [a] [b] [c], which means that the object is a subordinate of the object on the menu screen that is the root directory. A second belonging to a hierarchy that is one hierarchy lower than the first object laid out in the a-th node of the first hierarchy belonging to and that is laid out in the b-th node of the hierarchy lower than the first object. Means that the object belongs to a hierarchy that is one level lower than that of the object and is laid out at the c-th node in the hierarchy lower than the second object. Here, when there is no other object belonging to the lower hierarchy, [b] and [c] are represented as [0].

  Further, the object layout information table OT according to the present embodiment further identifies information on each object other than the identification ID (a), the message (b), the message type (c), and the hierarchy position (d). Needless to say, the ID (a), message (b), message type (c), and hierarchical position (d) may be stored in association with each other.

  The information storage unit 1b according to the present embodiment may be configured in a removable memory card format, a hard disk drive (HDD), a code ROM (Read-Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrical Needless to say, it may be composed of Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

  The information expansion memory 1c is the XML before the expansion process stored in the information storage unit 1b described above when the MFP 1 main unit is turned on or when the object layout information included in the menu screen is customized. This is a semiconductor memory for developing the object layout information table information described in (1) into an object layout information table OT.

  Note that the information expansion memory 1c according to the present embodiment is more preferably configured by a RAM (Random Access Memory) from the viewpoint of performing access to the object layout information table OT from the information control unit 1e at higher speed. .

  The network communication unit 1d has a transmission request reception function, a request reception completion notification output function, a pre-customization information transmission function, a customization work completion notification reception function, a customized information transmission request output function, and a customized information reception function.

  The transmission request reception function is a function for receiving a transmission request for information related to the layout of the object before customization transmitted from the terminal device 2, and outputting the received transmission request for information regarding the layout of the object before customization to the information control unit 1e. is there.

  The request reception completion notification output function is a function for outputting to the information control unit 1e a request reception completion notification indicating that a transmission request for information related to the layout of the object before customization is received from the terminal device 2.

  The pre-customization information transmission function is a function for receiving the information related to the layout of the object before customization output from the information control unit 1e and transmitting the received information related to the layout of the object before customization to the terminal device 2.

  The customization work completion notification reception function receives a customization work completion notification indicating that the customization work for the information related to the layout of the object included in the menu screen transmitted from the terminal device 2 has been completed, and controls the received customization work completion notification. This is a function for outputting to the unit 1e.

  The customized information transmission request output function receives, from the information control unit 1e, a transmission request for information related to the layout of the customized object output in response to the above-described customization work completion notification, and receives the received information related to the layout of the customized object. This is a function for transmitting the transmission request to the terminal device 2.

  The customized information reception function receives information regarding the layout of the customized object transmitted from the terminal device 2 in response to the transmission request for information regarding the layout of the customized object described above, and relates to the layout of the received customized object. This is a function for outputting information to the information control unit 1e.

  The information control unit 1e includes a transmission request presence / absence determination function, an object layout information read function, an object layout information transmission control function, a customization work end determination function, a transmission request output control function, a customized information update function, an updated information read function, information It has an expansion process execution function, an updated menu screen generation function, and an updated menu screen display control function.

  The transmission request presence / absence determination function determines whether there is a transmission request for information regarding the layout of the object included in the menu screen from the terminal device 2 depending on whether a transmission request for information regarding the layout of the object before customization is received from the network communication unit 1d. It is a function to do.

  The object layout information read function determines the layout of the objects included in the menu screen when it is determined by the transmission request presence / absence determination function that there is a transmission request for information related to the layout of the objects included in the menu screen from the terminal device 2. This is a function for reading out information on the information storage unit 1b.

  The object layout information transmission control function transmits information related to the layout of the object included in the menu screen read from the information storage unit 1b to the terminal device 2 that is the request source of the transmission request connected via the communication network CN. In this way, the network communication unit 1d is controlled.

  The customization work end determination function is a function for determining whether the customization work for the information related to the layout of the object in the terminal device 2 by the operator is completed depending on whether the customization work completion notification is received from the network communication unit 1d.

  The transmission request output control function, when the customization work end determination function described above determines that the customization work for the information regarding the object layout on the terminal device 2 by the operator has been completed, displays information regarding the customized object layout. This is a function for controlling the network communication unit 1d so that a customized information transmission request for transmission is transmitted to the terminal device 2 via the communication network CN.

  The customized information update function receives the information regarding the layout of the customized object transmitted from the terminal device 2 from the network communication unit 1d, and stores the received information regarding the layout of the customized object stored in the information storage unit 1b. This is a function for updating information related to the layout of an object by overwriting and storing information related to the layout of the previous object.

  The updated information reading function is a function of reading information described in XML regarding the layout of the customized object updated by the customized information updating function described above from the information storage unit 1b.

  The information expansion processing execution function converts information related to the layout of the object described in XML read from the information storage unit 1b into information in the object layout information table OT, and converts the information in the converted object layout information table OT into an information expansion memory This is a function for executing information expansion processing that expands to 1c.

  The post-update menu screen generation function refers to the information in the object layout information table OT expanded in the information expansion memory 1c, and generates information on the menu screen after information update based on the reference result.

  The updated menu screen display control function is a function for displaying the generated information on the updated menu screen on the display screen 1a1 of the operation input unit 1a.

  Next, the terminal device 2 applied to the object layout change system according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal device 2 applied to the object layout changing system according to the present embodiment includes a power switch unit 2a, a mouse 2b, a desktop file storage memory 2c, an object layout information storage memory 2d, and a transmission destination address. A reference table storage unit 2e, a display unit 2f, a network communication unit 2g, and a control unit 2h are provided.

  Note that the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment is realized by a computer in which a customization support program is written in a built-in memory (not shown) at the time of manufacture or the customization support program is installed via a recording medium or a communication network.

  In the present specification, the “customization support program” may be referred to as a “panel menu configuration change tool” or a “tool”.

  Furthermore, it goes without saying that each unit constituting the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment may be configured by any of software, hardware, or a combination of hardware and software.

  Note that the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment reads a desktop file stored in a memory (not shown) when the OS is started after the power is turned on, and a desktop screen generated based on the read desktop file is displayed on the display unit. It is configured to be displayed on the display screen 2f1 of 2f.

  Further, the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment has a multifunction device selection screen for customizing the layout of objects displayed on the desktop screen displayed on the display screen 2f1 of the display unit 2f. When an icon for inputting a display request is selected by, for example, an operator's double-click operation, a display request for a multifunction device selection screen is sent from the mouse 2b connected to the terminal device 2 to the terminal according to the present embodiment. It is configured to be input to the control unit 2 h of the device 2.

  Furthermore, the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment receives the communication network CN from the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment on the displayed multifunction device selection screen after the display request for the multifunction device selection screen is input. If any of the icons that individually display all the multifunction devices connected via the interface is selected by, for example, a double-click operation, the object before customization is displayed on the multifunction device indicated by the icon. It is configured to transmit a transmission request.

  The power switch unit 2a has a switch that is turned on / off by an operator's pressing operation, and controls a power-on signal indicating that the switch is turned on by the operator's pressing operation. To 2h.

The mouse 2b mainly detects push buttons (not shown) for performing the operations shown in the following (a) to (d) and movement of the mouse 2b main body on the mounting surface on which the mouse 2b main body is mounted. And a movement detection sensor (not shown).
(A) Icon for inputting a customization tool activation request for activating a customization tool for executing customization related to object layout, in other words, a display request for a multifunction device selection screen for customizing the object layout (B) Selection of one of the icons for individually displaying all the multifunction devices connected to the terminal device 2 via the communication network CN on the multifunction device selection screen Operation (c) Selection operation of an icon indicating an object included in the menu screen before customization downloaded from the multifunction device on the multifunction device selection screen (d) Mouse cursor when performing drag and drop operation (customization work) of the object Any object present at the location The bets selection operation desktop file storage memory 2c, after power, when the OS is activated, the file of a desktop screen displayed on the display screen 2f1 having a display portion 2f is stored.

  The object layout information storage memory 2d stores information related to the layout of objects included in the menu screen before / after customization.

  In the destination address reference table storage unit 2e, an identification ID assigned in advance to each multifunction device connected to the terminal device 2 via the communication network CN, and a network address assigned to the multifunction device, for example, IP Addresses are stored correspondingly.

  The display unit 2f includes a desktop screen generated based on the desktop file stored in the desktop file storage memory 2c after execution of the OS startup process, and all the composites connected to the terminal device 2 via the communication network CN. Interpret the information described in XML related to the layout of the objects included in the menu screen read from the object layout information storage memory 2d and the multifunction device selection screen including icons for individually displaying the machine, and included in the read menu screen A display screen 2f1 for displaying a customization target screen for graphically displaying information related to the layout of the object to be displayed.

  The network communication unit 2g has one of the icons for individually displaying all the multifunction devices connected to the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment via the communication network CN on the multifunction device selection screen. For example, when selected by a double click operation or the like, a function of transmitting a pre-customization information transmission request for transmitting information related to the layout of an object before customization to the selected multi-function peripheral via the communication network CN; A function for receiving information related to the layout of the object before customization transmitted from the multifunction peripheral in response to the request for transmitting information before customization described above, and outputting the received information regarding the layout of the object before customization to the control unit 2h; Customization indicating that the customization work by the user has been completed A function of transmitting a work end notification to the multifunction peripheral 1 that is a transmission source of information related to the object layout via the communication network CN, and a customized object returned from the multifunction peripheral 1 in response to the customization work end notification described above. A function for receiving a customized information transmission request for transmitting information related to the layout, outputting the received customized information transmission request to the control unit 2h, and a customized object read from the object layout information storage memory 2d. A function of transmitting information relating to the layout to the multi function device 1 via the communication network CN.

  The control unit 2h includes a power on / off determination function, an operating system activation process execution function, a desktop file reading function, a desktop file display control function, a customization tool selection determination function, a multifunction device selection screen display control function, and a multifunction device selection presence / absence determination function. Pre-customization information transmission request transmission control function, pre-customization information download completion determination function, pre-customization information write function, downloaded object selection presence / absence determination function, downloaded information read / unread function, customization target screen display control function, customization work execution determination Function, layout information update function, customization work end notification transmission control function, customized information transmission request presence / absence determination function, customized information readout function, and customized information transmission control It has the ability.

  The power on / off determination function is a function for determining whether or not the power of the terminal device 2 is turned on depending on whether or not the power on signal indicating that the switch is turned on is received from the power switch unit 2a.

  The operating system activation process execution function is an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) installed in the terminal device 2 when it is determined by the power on / off determination function that the terminal device 2 is powered on. This is a function for executing startup processing.

  The desktop file reading function is a function of reading a desktop file stored in the desktop file storage memory 2c from the desktop file storage memory 2c after execution of the OS startup process by the operating system startup process execution function described above.

  The desktop file display control function is a function for displaying a desktop screen generated based on the desktop file read by the desktop file reading function described above on the display screen 2f1 of the display unit 2f.

  The customization tool selection determination function selects the customization tool displayed on the desktop screen on the desktop screen displayed on the display screen 2f1 by the above-described desktop file display control function depending on whether the customization tool activation request is received from the mouse 2b. In other words, an icon for inputting a display request for a multifunction device selection screen for selecting a multifunction device whose object layout is to be customized has been selected by, for example, an operator double-click operation. It is a function to determine.

  The multifunction device selection screen display control function includes an icon indicating the customization tool displayed on the desktop screen by the customization tool selection determination function described above, in other words, an icon for inputting a request for displaying the multifunction device selection screen. When it is determined that the terminal is selected by the operation, the network address of the selected MFP is acquired with reference to the destination address reference table storage unit 2e, and the terminal according to the present embodiment corresponding to the acquired network address This is a function for displaying a multifunction device selection screen including an icon for individually displaying all multifunction devices connected to the device 2 via the communication network CN on the display screen 2f1 of the display unit 2f.

  The multi-function device selection presence / absence determination function determines all of the terminals connected to the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment on the multi-function device selection screen via the communication network CN depending on whether the transmission request for the object before customization is received from the mouse 2b. This is a function for determining whether any one of the icons for individually displaying the multifunction peripherals has been selected by, for example, a double click operation.

  The pre-customization information transmission request transmission control function is an icon that individually displays all the multifunction devices connected via the communication network CN on the multifunction device selection screen described above by the multifunction device selection presence / absence determination function. When any icon is determined to be selected by, for example, a double click operation, a pre-customization information transmission request for transmitting information related to the layout of the object before customization is selected via the communication network CN. This is a function for controlling the network communication unit 2g so that it is transmitted to the multifunction device.

  The pre-customization information download completion determination function receives information about the pre-customization object layout from the MFP 1 in response to the pre-customization information transmission request described above, depending on whether the pre-customization object layout information is received from the network communication unit 2g. In other words, it is a function for determining whether downloading of information related to the layout of the object before customization from the multifunction device 1 is completed.

  When the pre-customization information writing function determines that the pre-customization information transmission presence / absence determination function determines that the information related to the layout of the object before customization has been downloaded from the multifunction device 1, the pre-customization information writing function is received from the network communication unit 2g. This is a function for writing information relating to the layout of objects included in the menu screen to the object layout information storage memory 2d.

  The downloaded object selection presence / absence determination function is based on whether the above-described composite information is received depending on whether the layout information customization request for customizing the information related to the layout of the object downloaded from the multifunction device 1 is received from the mouse 2b. This is a function for determining whether an icon indicating an object included in the menu screen before customization downloaded from the multifunction machine 1 on the machine selection screen is selected by an operation such as double-clicking.

  The downloaded information read function is an operation such as double-clicking an icon indicating an object included in the menu screen before customization downloaded from the multifunction device 1 on the multifunction device selection screen described above by the above-described downloaded object selection presence / absence determination function. When it is determined that the information is selected by the above, the information described in XML relating to the layout of the object included in the menu screen is read from the object layout information storage memory 2d.

  The customization target screen display control function interprets information described in XML relating to the layout of the object included in the menu screen read from the object layout information storage memory 2d, and displays information related to the layout of the object included in the read menu screen. This is a function to display graphically as a customization target screen on the display screen 2f1 of the display unit 2f of the terminal device 2.

  The function for determining whether or not to perform the customization work is performed in any of the xy directions on the placement surface of the mouse 2b main body in a state where an arbitrary object existing in the layout of the mouse cursor is selected by pressing the push button of the mouse 2b. After the movement, whether or not the above-described push button pressing operation is released, the operator has performed the drag and drop operation of the object, in other words, the customization work for the information related to the layout of the object included in the menu screen to be customized This is a function for determining whether or not the operation has been performed by the operator.

  If the layout information update function determines that the customization work for the information related to the layout of the object included in the menu screen to be customized has been performed by the operator by the above-described customization work execution determination function, Of the information read from the information storage memory 2d, the information related to the object layout is changed from the layout before movement (before customization) to the layout after movement (after customization), and the information related to the object is updated and customized. This information is stored in the object layout information storage memory 2d, and the information related to the object layout is overwritten and updated.

  The customization work end notification transmission control function is configured so that a customization work end notification indicating that the customization work by the operator has been completed is transmitted to the MFP 1 that is a transmission source of information related to the object layout via the communication network CN. This is a function for controlling the communication unit 2g.

  The customized information transmission request presence / absence determination function determines whether the customized information transmission request is received from the multifunction device 1 according to the customization work end notification depending on whether the customized information transmission request for transmitting information related to the customized object layout is received from the network communication unit 2g. This is a function for determining whether the returned customized information transmission request has been received, in other words, whether the transmission request for the information related to the layout of the customized object is from the MFP 1 that is the transmission source of the information related to the layout of the object. .

  The customized information read function determines that the transmission request for the information related to the customized object layout is from the MFP 1 that is the transmission source of the information related to the layout of the object by the above-described customized information transmission request presence / absence determination function. In this case, it is a function of reading out information related to the layout of the customized object from the object layout information storage memory 2d.

  The customized information transmission control function transmits information related to the layout of the customized object read from the customized information storage memory 2e by the customized information reading function described above to the MFP 1 via the communication network CN. This is a function for controlling the network communication unit 2g.

  Next, processing to which the information update method of the present invention executed by the object layout changing system configured as described above is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a customization support process (STA) executed by the terminal device 2 applied to the object layout change system according to the present embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a pre-customization object transmission process (STB) executed by the multifunction device 1 applied to the object layout change system according to the present embodiment.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a customized object update process (STC) executed by the multi-function device 1 applied to the object layout changing system according to the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, each process executed by the object layout changing system will be described in more detail.

First, processing executed by the terminal device 2 applied to the object layout changing system according to the present embodiment will be described.
(1) [Execution process on the terminal device 2 side]
The terminal device 2 applied to the object layout change system according to the present embodiment executes customization support processing (STA) as described below.

  First, in the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment, when the OS is started up after the power is turned on, a desktop file stored in a memory (not shown) is read, and an illustration generated based on the read desktop file is shown. The desktop screen not to be displayed is displayed on the display screen 2f1.

  Next, in the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment, on the desktop screen displayed on the display screen 2f1, an icon indicating the customization tool displayed on the desktop screen, in other words, for customizing the object layout. When an icon for inputting a display request for the multifunction device selection screen is selected by, for example, an operator double-clicking, a display request for displaying the multifunction device selection screen is connected to the terminal device 2 by the mouse 2b. FIG. 7 includes icons that individually display all multifunction devices that are input to the control unit 2h according to the present embodiment and connected to the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment via the communication network CN. A multifunction device selection screen like this is displayed.

  In the object layout change system according to the present embodiment, the multifunction device selection screen displayed on the display screen 2f1 of the display unit 2f of the terminal device 2 is a form that can identify the multifunction device, and an icon or link for each multifunction device. Needless to say, this is not limited to the MFP selection screen.

  As described above, when the icon of the customization tool is double-clicked by the operator on the multifunction device selection screen and the multifunction device selection screen is displayed on the display screen 2f1, the computer of the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment is displayed. The installed customization support processing program is activated and executes the customization support processing including the following series of processes.

(Customization support processing)
First, the control unit 2h determines that all of the terminals connected to the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment on the multifunction device selection screen via the communication network CN depending on whether the transmission request for the object before customization is received from the mouse 2b. It is determined whether any one of the icons for individually displaying the MFPs has been selected by, for example, a double click operation (A1).

  In step A1, the control unit 2h displays, for example, a double-click operation for any one of the icons for individually displaying all the multifunction devices connected via the communication network CN on the multifunction device selection screen. If it is determined that the information has been selected by the user (A1: Yes), a pre-customization information transmission request for transmitting information related to the layout of the object before customization is transmitted to the selected multifunction device 1 via the communication network CN. (A2).

  In step A1, the control unit 2h selects any of the icons for individually displaying all the multifunction devices connected to the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment on the multifunction device selection screen via the communication network CN. If it is determined that the icon is not selected by an operation such as double-clicking (A1: No), one of the icons indicating the multifunction device on the multifunction device selection screen is an operation such as double-clicking. The determination process regarding whether or not it has been selected is executed.

  In step A <b> 3, the control unit 2 h determines whether information related to the layout of the object before customization is transmitted from the multifunction device 1 based on whether information about the layout of the object before customization is received from the network communication unit 2 g.

  If the control unit 2h determines that the information related to the layout of the object before customization is transmitted from the multifunction device 1 (A3: Yes), the layout of the object included in the menu screen before customization received from the network communication unit 2g. Is written in the object layout information storage memory 2d (A4).

  As a result, the information related to the layout of the object before customization transmitted from the multifunction device 1 is downloaded to the terminal device 2, and the downloaded information related to the layout of the object before customization is configured from the semiconductor memory built in the terminal device 2. Is written into the object layout information storage memory 2d.

  On the other hand, if the control unit 2h determines that the information regarding the layout of the object before customization is not transmitted from the multifunction device 1 (A3: No), the information regarding the layout of the object before customization is transmitted from the multifunction device 1. Repeat the determination process regarding whether or not

  In step A5, the control unit 2h determines whether the object included in the pre-customization menu screen downloaded from the multifunction device 1 on the multifunction device selection screen described above, depending on whether the customization request for customizing the downloaded object is received from the mouse 2b. It is determined whether the icon indicating is selected by an operation such as double-clicking.

  When the control unit 2h determines in step A5 described above that the icon indicating the object included in the menu screen before customization downloaded from the multifunction device 1 on the multifunction device selection screen is selected by an operation such as double-clicking. (A5: Yes), information described in XML relating to the layout of the object included in the menu screen is read from the object layout information storage memory 2d (A6).

  On the other hand, the control unit 2h determines that the icon indicating the object included in the menu screen before customization downloaded from the multifunction device 1 on the multifunction device selection screen described in step A5 is not selected by an operation such as double-clicking. When it is determined (A5: No), the determination process regarding whether the icon indicating the object included in the menu screen before customization downloaded from the multifunction device 1 on the multifunction device selection screen is selected by an operation such as double-clicking is repeated. .

  In step A7, the control unit 2h interprets information described in XML relating to the layout of the object included in the menu screen read from the object layout information storage memory 2d, and information related to the layout of the object included in the read menu screen. Is graphically displayed on the display screen 2 f 1 of the terminal device 2.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a menu display screen before customization work including information related to the layout of objects displayed on the display screen 2f1 of the terminal device 2 applied to the object layout changing system according to the present embodiment. is there.

  This menu configuration display screen includes a plurality of screen files having a hierarchical structure.

  In the object layout changing system according to the present embodiment, it goes without saying that the menu screen displayed on the display screen 2f1 of the display unit 2f of the terminal device 2 is not limited to this menu screen.

  Furthermore, in the object layout changing system according to the present embodiment, it goes without saying that the menu screen displayed on the display screen 2f1 of the display unit 2f of the terminal device 2 may further display other changeable fields. .

  In step A8, the control unit 2h selects one of the xy directions on the placement surface of the mouse 2b main body in a state where an arbitrary object existing at the position of the mouse cursor is selected by pressing the push button of the mouse 2b. After the movement, the operator has performed the drag and drop operation of the object depending on whether the pressing operation of the push button is released, in other words, the operator performs customization of the layout of the object included in the menu screen. Judgment was made.

  If the control unit 2h determines that the layout of the object included in the menu screen has been customized in step A8 described above (A8: Yes), the control unit 2h includes the object information out of the information read from the object layout information storage memory 2d. After changing the information about the layout from the layout before the movement to the layout after the movement and updating the information about the object, the customized information is stored in the object layout information storage memory 2d to overwrite the information about the layout of the object. Update (A9).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the file “IP Address xxx” is moved from the hierarchical position [1] [1] [4] to the hierarchical position [1] [0] [0] by the operator's drag and drop operation. When moved, the control unit 2h overwrites and updates the information on the hierarchy position from [1] [1] [4] to [1] [0] [0] as shown in FIG.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 9, the file “Print Status page” is a lower hierarchy of the new file generated by the operator's operation “Print List” from the hierarchy position [2] [0] [0]. Is moved to the hierarchical position [2] [1] [0], as shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 2h changes the hierarchical position information from [2] [0] [0] to [2]. ] [1] [0] is overwritten and updated.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the file “Print Network Status” is a lower hierarchy of the new file generated by the operator's operation “Print List” from the hierarchy position [1] [4] [0]. Is moved to the hierarchical position [2] [3] [0], the control unit 2h changes the hierarchical position information from [1] [4] [0] to [2] as shown in FIG. ] [3] Overwrite and update [0].

  Also, as shown in FIG. 9, the file “Print Menu Map” is a lower hierarchy of the new file generated by the operator's operation “Print List” from the hierarchy position [3] [0] [0]. Is moved to the hierarchical position hierarchical position [2] [2] [0], the control unit 2h changes the hierarchical position information from [3] [0] [0] as shown in FIG. [2] [2] [0] is overwritten and updated.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, the file “Print List of Partitions” is stored in a lower level of the new file generated by the operator's operation “Print List” from the hierarchical position [4] [2] [0]. When moved to a hierarchy position hierarchy position [2] [4] [0], which is a hierarchy, the control unit 2h changes the information of the hierarchy position to [4] [2] [0] as shown in FIG. To update by overwriting [2] [4] [0].

When the customization process is executed by the operator using the terminal device 2, the terminal device 2
On the display screen 2f1 of the display unit 2f, the menu screen as shown in FIG. 8 before execution of customization is changed to the menu screen as shown in FIG. 11 after execution of customization. Become.

  On the other hand, if the control unit 2h determines that the layout of the object included in the menu screen has not been customized in step A8 (A8: No), the layout of the object included in the menu screen is customized. The determination process regarding whether or not it has been performed is repeated.

  In step A10, the control unit 2h transmits a customization work end notification indicating that the customization work is completed to the network communication unit 2g via the communication network CN so as to transmit to the MFP 1 that is the transmission source of information related to the object layout. To control.

  In step A11, the control unit 2h is returned from the multifunction device 1 in response to the customization work end notification depending on whether the customized information transmission request for transmitting the information related to the customized object layout is received from the network communication unit 2g. It is determined whether the customized information transmission request has been received, in other words, whether the transmission request for the information related to the customized object layout is from the MFP 1 that is the transmission source of the information related to the layout of the object.

  When the control unit 2h determines in step A11 described above that the transmission request for the information related to the layout of the customized object is from the MFP 1 that is the transmission source of the information related to the layout of the object (A11: Yes). Then, information regarding the layout of the customized object is read from the object layout information storage memory 2d (A12).

  On the other hand, when the control unit 2h determines in step A11 described above that the transmission request for information related to the layout of the customized object is not from the MFP 1 that is the transmission source of information related to the layout of the object (A11: No), the determination process regarding whether or not the customized information transmission request has been received is repeated.

  In step A13, the control unit 2h controls the network communication unit 2g so as to transmit information related to the layout of the customized object read from the customized information storage memory 2e to the multi-function device 1 via the communication network CN. .

  Through the series of processes as described above, the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment ends the customization support process being executed.

  Next, processing executed by the multifunction device 1 applied to the object layout change system according to the present embodiment will be described.

(2) [Execution process on the MFP side]
(Information transmission before customization)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the pre-customization information transmission process executed by the multi-function device 1 configuring the object layout changing system according to the present embodiment.

  First, the information control unit 1e sends the pre-customization information transmission request transmitted from the terminal device 2 depending on whether the pre-customization information transmission request for transmitting information related to the layout of the object before customization is received from the network communication unit 1d. It is determined whether it has been received (B1).

  When the information control unit 1e determines that the pre-customization information transmission request transmitted from the terminal device 2 has been received in the above-described step B1 (B1: Yes), the information control unit 1e stores the object included in the pre-customization menu screen from the information storage unit 1b. Information about the layout is read (B2).

  On the other hand, if the information control unit 1e determines that the pre-customization information transmission request transmitted from the terminal device 2 has not been received in step B1 described above (B1: No), the pre-customization information transmitted from the terminal device 2 The determination process regarding whether or not a transmission request has been received is repeated.

  In step B3, the information control unit 1e controls the network communication unit 1d so as to transmit information related to the layout of the object included in the menu screen read from the information storage unit 1b to the terminal device 2 via the communication network CN. To do.

  Thereby, in response to the pre-customization information transmission request transmitted from the terminal device 2, information regarding the layout of the object included in the menu screen read from the information storage unit 1b is transmitted to the terminal device 2 via the communication network CN. Sent.

  Through the series of processes as described above, the multifunction peripheral 1 applied to the object layout change system according to the present embodiment ends the pre-customization information transmission process being executed.

  Next, a customized information update process (STC), which is another process executed by the multifunction machine 1 applied to the object layout change system according to the present embodiment, will be described.

(Customized information update process)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the customized information update process executed by the multi-function device 1 configuring the object layout changing system according to the present embodiment.

  First, the information control unit 1e customizes information related to the object layout in the terminal device 2 by the operator depending on whether a customization work end notification indicating that the customization work in the terminal device has been completed is received from the network communication unit 1d. It is determined whether the work has been completed (C1).

  If the information control unit 1e determines that the customization work by the operator for the information related to the object layout in the terminal device 2 has been completed in step C1 described above (C1: Yes), the information control unit 1e transmits the information related to the customized object layout. The network communication unit 1d is controlled to transmit the request to the terminal device 2 via the communication network CN (C2).

  Thereby, in response to the customized information transmission request transmitted from the multifunction device 1, information related to the layout of the objects included in the customized menu screen transmitted from the terminal device 2 is transmitted via the communication network CN. Will be returned.

  On the other hand, if the information control unit 1e determines in the above-described step C1 that the operator has not finished customizing the information regarding the object layout on the terminal device 2 (C1: No), the terminal by the operator The determination process regarding whether or not the customization work of the information related to the layout of the object in the device 2 is completed is repeated.

  In step C3, the information control unit 1e receives the information regarding the customized object layout transmitted from the terminal device 2 from the network communication unit 1d in response to the transmission request for the information regarding the customized object layout described above. Information on the layout of the received customized object is stored in the information storage unit 1b.

  In step C4, the information control unit 1e reads out information related to the layout of the object described in XML including information related to the updated object from the information storage unit 1b.

  Next, the information control unit 1e converts information related to the layout of the object described by XML read from the information storage unit 1b into information in the object layout information table OT, and develops information in the converted object layout information table OT as information development The information expansion process to expand in the memory 1c is executed (C5).

  Next, the information control unit 1e refers to the table information expanded in the information expansion memory 1c, and generates information on the updated menu screen based on the reference result (C6).

  Next, the information control unit 1e displays the generated menu screen information on the display screen 1a1 included in the operation input unit 1a (C7).

  Through the series of processes as described above, the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment ends the customized information update process being executed.

  As described above, according to the multi-function device 1 according to the present embodiment, when a transmission request for an object before customization is received from the terminal device 2, information related to the object before customization stored in the information storage unit 1b is stored. Information related to the object before customization read by the information control unit 1e and read by the information control unit 1e is transmitted to the terminal device 2 by the network communication unit 1d via the communication network CN, and the terminal device 2 Since the customization work by the operator is executed and the network communication unit 1d receives the customized object transmitted from the terminal device 2 via the communication network CN, it is included in the menu screen displayed on the display screen 1a1. Pass the hierarchical structure formed by each object. Coarsely braided easily becomes possible to customize the terminal device 2 such as a computer.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, information related to the layout of the object included in the menu screen before customization stored in the information storage unit 1e of the multifunction device 1 exists outside the multifunction device 1 via the communication network. By transmitting the information to the terminal device 2 such as a personal computer, it is possible to refer to information regarding the layout of the object included in the menu screen before customization on the display screen 1a1 of the terminal device 2 such as an external personal computer. .

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, information related to the layout of objects included in the menu screen before customization stored in the information storage unit 1e of the multifunction device 1 exists outside the multifunction device 1 via the communication network. By transmitting to the terminal device 2 such as a personal computer, information related to the layout of the object included in the menu screen before customization can be customized by the terminal device 2, so that the information is displayed on the display screen 1a1 of the multifunction device 1. The customization of the layout of the objects included in the menu screen can be performed more easily than on the narrow display screen 1a1 on the multifunction device 1 side.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the information related to the object included in the menu screen before customization stored in the information storage unit 1e of the multifunction device 1 is received from the multifunction device 1 via the communication network CN and received. Since the information about the object included in the menu screen before customization is customized by the terminal device 2 such as a personal computer existing outside the multifunction device 1, it is transmitted to the multifunction device 1 connected via the communication network CN. By sharing the objects included in the screens between different models, the display screens possessed by a plurality of multifunction devices 1 by broadcasting or multicasting information on objects customized between different models via the communication network CN Menu displayed on 1a1 It is possible to easily perform than doing customization work layout of objects in the screen for each individual model.

  Note that the image forming program according to the embodiment may be realized by an application program, an emulator, an OS, a browser, middleware, or the like installed in a computer.

  The method described in each of the above-described embodiments is a program that can be read and executed by a computer, such as a magnetic disk (floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk drive, etc.), optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, BD (Blu-ray)). -ray Disk-ROM (Read Only Memory), BD (Blu-ray Disk) -R (Recordable), BD (Blu-ray Disk) -RE (Rewritable) HD DVD- ROM, HD DVD-R, HD DVD-RW, HD DVD-RAM: etc.), magneto-optical disk (MO), semiconductor memory, holographic memory, etc. Can do.

  Further, as a method for providing the image forming program of the present invention, for example, a method of distributing the image forming program to a user in a state where the image forming program is recorded on a recording medium, or a method of transmitting to a computer owned by the user via a communication network such as the Internet. In addition, there are a technique for installing the transmitted program in a computer, a technique for providing the program using radio, and the like. Needless to say, the technique for providing the image forming program according to the present embodiment may be a so-called ASP (Application Service Provider) technique.

  In addition, the image forming program according to each of the above embodiments is a general high-level language such as C language, Delphi, XTL, Perl (Practical Extraction and Report Language), XML (eXtensible Markup Language), or an object-oriented language (C ++). , JAVA (registered trademark), C #, JAVA2, Small Talk) or the like.

  As the recording medium in the present invention, any recording format can be used as long as it can record a program and can be read by a computer. For example, a magnetic tape, a semiconductor flash memory, a floppy (registered) Trademark) Disc, CD-ROM, CD-R / RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-information development memory 1c, DVD-R / -RW, DVD + R / + RW, MO, holographic memory, BD-ROM, BD -R, BD-RE, HD DVD-ROM, HD DVD-R, HD DVD-RW, HD DVD-RAM, and the like may be used.

  Further, the recording medium of the present invention is not limited to a medium independent of a computer, but is a medium that is stored or temporarily stored via a communication network such as NGN (Next Generation Network), LAN, WAN, Intranet, and the Internet. It may be.

  In the present invention, it is needless to say that the type and number of recording media need not be one, and may be composed of a plurality of recording media having the same form or different forms.

  The present invention also includes an information structure, a processing program, and various hardware on which the processing program functions, which are indispensable for configuring a program that realizes the above-described functions.

  The processing program includes general high-level languages such as C language, Delphi, XTL, Perl (Practical Extraction and Report Language), XML (eXtensible Markup Language), and object-oriented languages (C ++, JAVA, C #, It may be created in any programming language such as JAVA2 or Small Talk).

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention in the implementation stage. For example, an invention obtained by substituting a configuration other than the essential part of the configuration of the present invention with a technical configuration unpredictable at the time of filing that exhibits the same effect as this configuration can be included in the present invention. Further, the embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be generated by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, when an invention is generated by omitting some requirements from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, the omitted portion is supplemented with a well-known common technique in the stage of implementing the generated invention. It is.

  In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a multifunction machine 1 to which an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of an object layout changing system for changing a relative layout of objects on a menu screen to which the multifunction peripheral 1 according to the embodiment is applied. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the object layout information table OT which concerns on the embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the customization assistance process (STA) which the terminal device 2 applied to the object layout change system which concerns on the embodiment performs. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a pre-customization object transmission process (STB) executed by the multifunction machine 1 applied to the object layout change system according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a customized object update process (STC) executed by the MFP 1 applied to the object layout change system according to the embodiment. MFP selection screen for selecting a MFP to be customized that is displayed on the display screen 2f1 of the terminal device 2 applied to the object layout changing system according to the embodiment and customizes the layout of the object included in the menu screen. It is a figure which shows an example. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the menu display screen before customization including the information regarding the layout of the object displayed on the display screen 2f1 of the terminal device 2 applied to the object layout change system which concerns on the embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the customization work of the information regarding the layout of the object by the operator using the terminal device 2 applied to the object layout change system which concerns on the embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the customization work of the information regarding the layout of the object by the operator using the terminal device 2 applied to the object layout change system which concerns on the embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the menu screen after the customization operation | work of the information regarding the layout of the object by the operator using the terminal device 2 applied to the object layout change system which concerns on the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... MFP, 1a ... Operation input part, 1a1 ... Display screen, 1b ... Information storage part, 1c ... Memory for information expansion, 1d ... Network communication part, 1e ... Information control part, CN ... Communication network, 2 ... Terminal device 2a ... power switch unit, 2b ... mouse, 2c ... desktop file storage memory, 2d ... object layout information storage memory, 2e ... destination address reference table storage unit, 2f ... display unit, 2g ... network communication unit, 2h ... control Part

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus capable of customizing information on an object included in a menu screen on a terminal device connected via a communication network,
Storage means for storing information related to objects included in the menu screen;
A transmission request receiving means for receiving a transmission request for information about an object included in a menu screen transmitted from the terminal device via a communication network;
In response to a transmission request for information regarding an object included in the menu screen received by the transmission request receiving unit, a reading unit that reads out information regarding the object included in the menu screen from the storage unit;
Information transmitting means for transmitting information related to the object included in the menu screen read by the reading means to a requesting terminal device via a communication network;
Information receiving means for receiving information about an object included in the menu screen;
An image forming apparatus comprising: information updating means for storing in the storage means information relating to an object contained in the menu screen received by the information receiving means, and updating information relating to the object contained in the menu screen. 2. The information receiving unit according to claim 1, wherein the information receiving unit receives information related to an object included in a customized menu screen customized by the terminal device and transmitted from the terminal device via a communication network. Image forming apparatus. An information update method for updating information about an object included in a menu screen displayed on a display screen of an image forming apparatus,
A transmission request receiving step of receiving a transmission request for information about an object included in a menu screen transmitted via the communication network from a terminal device connected via the communication network to the image forming apparatus;
In response to a transmission request for information relating to the object included in the menu screen received in the transmission request receiving step, information relating to the object included in the menu screen is stored from storage means in which information relating to the object included in the menu screen is stored. A reading process to read out;
An information transmission step of transmitting information on the object included in the menu screen read out by the reading step to the requesting terminal device via the communication network;
An information receiving step for receiving information about the object included in the menu screen;
An information updating method comprising: an information updating step of storing information related to an object included in the menu screen received in the information receiving step in the storage unit and updating information related to the object included in the menu screen. In the information receiving step,
The information update method according to claim 3, wherein information related to an object included in a customized menu screen customized by the terminal device and transmitted from the terminal device via the communication network is received.

Images