Patent ID: 8019853
Filing Date: 2011-09-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A data processing apparatus that communicates with plural peripheral devices including a printer and a scanner connected via a network, the apparatus comprising: a network interface unit that obtains function information indicating functions of the plural peripheral devices and number information indicating numbers of print sheets remaining in the plural peripheral devices from the plural peripheral devices via the network; a display unit that displays symbols indicating the plural peripheral devices using the function information obtained by said network interface unit, wherein, in response to a selection of a number of the symbols displayed by said display unit, said display unit indicates one or more combinations of functions of the selected peripheral devices; and a central processing unit that judges effectiveness of the one or more combinations of functions of the selected peripheral devices indicated by said display unit, wherein, if said central processing unit judges that the one or more combinations of functions of the printer and the scanner included in the plural peripheral devices provide effective functionality, said display unit displays a screen indicating a copy function to be provided by a combination of the printer and the scanner, wherein, in response to an input of an instruction for executing the copy function indicated by the screen displayed by said display unit, said central processing unit discriminates whether print sheets required for the copy function are remaining in the printer, based on the number information indicating numbers of print sheets remaining in the plural peripheral devices obtained by said network interface unit via the network, wherein, if said central processing unit judges that the print sheets required for the copy function are not remaining in the printer based on the number information, said display unit displays a screen presenting to a user an option to switch a print setting to 2-in-1 printing and an option to switch the print setting to duplicate printing such that the user can execute the copy function with print sheets remaining in the printer, and wherein said display unit displays a path connecting the symbols for the functions indicated by said display unit on a virtual network path using a display form different from a display form of other paths.