Patent ID: 8082323
Filing Date: 2011-12-20
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus which is communicatably connected to a monitoring server and a client apparatus, wherein the monitoring server has a WEB server which obtains, from the image forming apparatus, at least one of print sheet information showing a number of print sheets used in the image forming apparatus, fault information on errors in the image forming apparatus and consumable information in the image forming apparatus, and which generates service screen information from the obtained information, wherein the client apparatus has a browser for browsing the service screen information, the image forming apparatus comprising: a reception unit constructed to receive, from the client apparatus, a request for screen information to be displayed on a remote UI for reviewing an operating status of the image forming apparatus; an inquiry unit constructed to make an inquiry to the monitoring server, based on identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus, about whether an access right to the service screen information provided by the monitoring server is set for the image forming apparatus, if the reception unit receives the request from the client apparatus, wherein, in response to the inquiry made by the inquiry unit, the monitoring server determines whether the access right to the service screen information is set for the image forming apparatus, based on the identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus, and sends a determination result to the image forming apparatus, a generation unit constructed to generate the screen information for the remote UI including a link for accessing the WEB server of the monitoring server, if the determination result from the monitoring server shows that the access right to the service screen information is set for the image forming apparatus, and generate the screen information for the remote UI including no link for accessing the WEB server of the monitoring server, if the determination result from the monitoring server shows that the access right to the service screen information is not set for the image forming apparatus; a provision unit constructed to provide the client apparatus with the screen information generated by the generation unit; and an instruction unit constructed to send a URL of the WEB server of the monitoring server to the client apparatus to allow the browser of the client apparatus to display the service screen information and to give an instruction instructing the client apparatus to access the WEB server of the monitoring server, in response to reception from the client apparatus of selection information indicating that the link is selected on the remote UI displaying the screen information provided by the provision unit.