Patent Publication Number: US-2012044517-A1

Title: Image processing apparatus capable of displaying shortcut keys, and control method and program therefor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of displaying shortcut keys, and a control method and a program therefor. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Recently, as image processing apparatuses (e.g. image forming apparatus) have higher functions or more functions, there are user&#39;s needs for enabling a commonly-used function to be invoked quickly or simplifying the setting in this technical field. In response to this, an image processing apparatus is provided in which: processing related to an arbitrary function and setting is assigned to a function assignment key (i.e. shortcut key) and displayed in a displaying unit; and, when the user selects this key, the corresponding function and setting value are reflected. 
     In an image processing apparatus of using shortcut keys (hereinafter referred to as “the shortcut function”), functions or setting values in association with the shortcut keys are held by the image processing apparatus. When this shortcut function is utilized, it is, however, required to adjust data formats of the held functions or setting values in order to shortcut key-storable formats. 
     Also, the image processing function may have more functions by having installed therein an application implementing a function to be used. In this image processing apparatus, it follows that use of the shortcut function allows the function and setting value in the application to be associated with a shortcut key. In this case, if the data format of the function in the application is not inconsistent with a format adapted to the shortcut function, it is not possible to utilize the shortcut function. 
     This image processing apparatus copes with the above by adopting a method of storing the setting content in the application, and using the shortcut function, storing, in a key, call information including the application and pointer information for invoking the setting content. 
     In the case of adopting this method, when the key is pressed, the shortcut function determines the application from the call information and gives to the application the pointer information of the setting content in the call information. This application invokes the setting content from the pointer information to execute it. This method (hereinafter referred to as “the pointer scheme”) makes it possible to achieve the shortcut function without depending on the application. 
     It should be noted that a shortcut key is created by a user operation on an operation panel of an image processing apparatus, thereby causing the operation panel to be occupied by the user during the shortcut key creation, which disables other users to use the image processing apparatus (for a copy, for example). 
     Then, there is provided a network system having a conventional image processing apparatus and a host computer connected to the image processing apparatus via a network, in which exclusive application for creating shortcut key is prepared on the host computer. 
     The network system having this image processing apparatus causes the user to set, using the exclusive application, content of the shortcut key on the host computer, and further creates a shortcut key by transmitting the setting content to the shortcut function of the image processing apparatus via the network. 
     The network system having this image processing apparatus is capable of preventing a control panel from being occupied for the shortcut key creation to use the image processing apparatus for other purposes (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2007-60425, for example). 
     In the network system having the above-described image processing apparatus, the host computer or the like transmits a function instruction e-mail to the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus having received the function instruction e-mail realizes a shortcut key function by displaying a list of the e-mail. 
     However, the host computer favorably generates, when creating the function instruction e-mail, the setting content of the shortcut key without figuring out the current capability of the image processing apparatus correctly, and also cannot analyze the setting content of the shortcut key by the shortcut key function even if it tries to do so, since the setting content of the shortcut key in the pointer scheme is specific to each application. 
     Accordingly, the host computer unfavorably transmits, to the image processing apparatus, the setting content of the shortcut key generated without figuring out the current capability of the image processing apparatus correctly. 
     This may disable the image processing apparatus to be operated if the received shortcut key is set as is. 
     Therefore, the image processing apparatus requires, when setting a received shortcut key, to actually operate the shortcut key or to make an inquiry to an application for confirmation, only for determining whether or not the setting content is correct 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an image processing apparatus capable of displaying shortcut keys, which prevents setting content not adapted to the capability of the image processing apparatus from being registered when registering a shortcut key for the image processing apparatus using e-mail, a control method and a program therefor. 
     In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: a user interface adapted to display a shortcut key on a screen and allow a user to input an instruction therethrough; a registering unit adapted to register an execution of a function or a setting for the execution onto the shortcut key; a storing unit adapted to store capability information representing a capability of the apparatus itself; a receiving unit adapted to receive an e-mail including content to be registered onto the shortcut key and capability information used when the user specifies the content to be registered; and a determining unit adapted to determine whether or not the content to be registered included in the e-mail received by the receiving unit should be registered onto the shortcut key, based on the capability information included in the e-mail received by the receiving unit and the capability information stored in the storing unit, wherein if the content to be registered included in the e-mail received by the receiving unit should be registered onto the shortcut key, the registering unit registers the content to be registered included in the e-mail received by the receiving unit onto the shortcut key. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent setting content not adapted to the capability of the image processing apparatus from being registered when registering a shortcut key for the image processing apparatus using e-mail. 
     Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view schematically showing a configuration of a network system including an image processing apparatus to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a personal computer (PC) in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the image processing apparatus (device) in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a view which is useful in explaining a UI screen displayed on a user interface (UI) in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a view which is useful in explaining the software configuration of the network system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a basic process of the device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing the procedure of an e-mail process executed in step S 610  of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a decoding process executed in step S 711  of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9A  is a view which is useful in explaining customization information described in a customization request e-mail received in step S 701  of  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 9B  is a view showing a case where the customization information in  FIG. 9A  is decoded. 
         FIG. 10  is a view which is useful in explaining capability information compared in step S 713  of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a view schematically showing a configuration of a network system including an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The network system of  FIG. 1  is configured with an image processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “the device”)  110  and a personal computer (PC)  120  (i.e. information processing apparatus), which are connected to each other via a LAN  100 . The device  110  has functions such as a copying function, a printing function, a sending function, a box storage function and a pullprint function. The devices  110  may comprise a plurality of devices  110 . 
     The device  110  is configured to be customized by registering the settings or operations of a copy, print, image transmission and so on, for shortcut keys or switches on a UI screen. 
     Also, the network system of  FIG. 1  is connected to an external Internet  198  via a firewall  197 . 
     Also, the network system of  FIG. 1  is connected to another network  199  via the Internet  198 . 
     A description will next be given of examples of functions realized in the above-described network system. 
     The copying function of the device  110  is to read out a manuscript to convert the read out manuscript into electronic data and perform the printing, according to the user operation. 
     The printing function of the device  110  is to print printing data received from the PC  120 , according to the user operation. 
     The sending function of the device  110  is to transmit the electronic data of the manuscript to the PC  120  via the LAN  100 , according to the user operation. The PC  120  receives the electronic data and stores the received data. 
     The box storage function of the device  110  is to store the electronic data of the read out manuscript, according to the user operation. 
     The box sending function of the device  110  is to specify the electronic data of the manuscript stored by means of the box storage function and transmit the specified electronic data of the manuscript to the PC  120  as a destination via the LAN  100 , according to a user operation. The PC  120  receives the electronic data of the manuscript and stores the received data. 
     The pullprint function of the device  110  is to specify the data stored in the PC  120 , receive the specified data via the LAN  100 , and print the received data, according to the user operation. 
     It should be noted that the above-described system configuration and functions are just examples, and hence the present invention is not limited thereto. The image processing apparatus, and the control method and the program of the present invention may be configured such that other devices than the above are connected to a network to provide new functions. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the PC  120  in  FIG. 1 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , the PC  120  includes a CPU  201  that takes overall control of devices connected to a system bus  204 . 
     Further, the PC  120  includes a ROM  202 , a RAM  203 , a keyboard controller (KBC)  205 , a CRT controller (CRTC)  206 , a disk controller (DKC)  207 , and a network interface card (NIC)  208 , which are connected to the system bus  204  together with the CPU  201 . 
     The RAM  203  functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU  201 . The keyboard controller (KBC)  205  controls an instruction input from a keyboard (KB)  209  or other pointing devices (not shown). The CRT controller (CRTC)  206  controls a display in a CRT display (“CRT”)  210 . 
     The disk controller (DKC)  207  controls access to a hard disk (HD)  211 . The hard disk (HD)  211  stores a boot program, various kinds of programs, various kinds of applications, edition files, user files, and so on. 
     The disk controller (DKC)  207  further controls access to a floppy (Registered Trademark) disk drive (FD)  212 . 
     The network interface card (NIC)  208  performs bidirectional communication of data with a network printer, other network devices or other PCs via the LAN  100 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the image processing apparatus (device)  110  in  FIG. 1 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the device  110  includes a CPU  301  that executes various programs stored in a ROM  302  or a hard disk (HD)  311  or provided from a floppy (Registered Trademark) disk drive (FD)  312 . The CPU  301  takes overall control of devices connected to a system bus  304 . 
     The device  110  further contains a RAM  303 , a user interface controller (UIC)  305 , a function controller (FUNCC)  306 , a disk controller (DKC)  307 , and a network interface card (NIC)  308 , which are connected to the system bus  304  together with the CPU  301  and the ROM  302 . 
     The RAM  303  functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU  301 . 
     The user interface controller (UIC)  305  manages display control in a user interface (UI)  309  and control of an instruction input from the user interface (UI)  309 . The user interface (UI)  309  is configured to allow an instruction input from the user. 
     The function controller (FUNCC)  306  realizes/controls a device-specific function (FUNC)  310 . 
     If the device  110  is a black and white printer, the device  110  includes a black and white print engine controller and a black and white print engine. If the device  110  is a color printer, the device  110  includes a color print engine controller and a color print engine. 
     Further, if the device  110  has a scan function, the device  110  includes a scanning controller and a scanner. In the case of the device  110  having a facsimile, the device  110  further includes a facsimile controller and a facsimile interface. 
     In short, if the device  110  has hybrid functions, the device  110  includes the FUNCC  306  and the FUNC  310  for each function. 
     The disk controller (DKC)  307  controls access to the hard disk (HD)  311 . The hard disk (HD)  311  has functions of storing a boot program, programs to perform operations in the present embodiment, and a function as a storage area for storing various applications and data files. Further, the disk controller (DKC)  307  controls access to a floppy (Registered Trademark) disk driver (FD)  312 . 
     The network interface card (NIC)  308  performs bidirectional communication of data with a network printer, other network devices or other PCs via the LAN  100 . 
       FIG. 4  is a view which is useful in explaining a UI screen displayed on the user interface (UI)  309  in  FIG. 3 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the user interface (UI)  309  in the device  110  displays shortcut keys  401  to  406  on a screen  400 . The device  110  has a function (i.e. shortcut key registration function) of registering, in any one of the shortcut keys  401  to  406 , execution of a function provided in a network system or a setting for this execution. Further, the device  110  has a function (i.e. shortcut key execution function) of executing, when any one of the shortcut keys is pressed, the corresponding registered content. 
     In the device  110 , for example, in order to execute the sending function, the following settings (1) to (4) are needed. 
     (1) To perform settings such as a resolution, designation of color/black and white, magnification, reading concentration and image quality (hereinafter referred to as “the reading settings”). 
     (2) To select a transmission method such as e-mail and FTP is selected. 
     (3) To set destination. 
     (4) To place a manuscript on a platen. 
     Also, in a case where the sending function is frequently used with the same setting, the device  110  has a function of registering the setting content in any one of the shortcut keys and executing the setting content when the any one of shortcut keys is operated. 
     The device  110  uses the shortcut key registration function to register the above-described settings (1) to (3) in advance in any one of the shortcut keys  401  to  406  on the screen  400 . 
     In the device  110 , when the sending function is executed, pressing the shortcut key registered by the user allows the shortcut key execution function to be performed to invoke the settings (1) to (3) with just one touch. 
     Accordingly, it follows that the device  110  can execute the settings (1) to (3) with just one touch, which makes it possible to simplify the user operation remarkably. After that, the user placing a manuscript on the platen enables the sending function to be started with the same setting as in the normal times described above. 
     If these shortcut keys  401  to  406  have settings registered therein, the setting names are displayed, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , on the shortcut keys  401  to  406  in the screen  400  of the user interface (UI)  309  to thereby show the registered content for the user.  FIG. 4  shows that the shortcut key  404  is displayed as “COPY 1” 414. 
     Also, the device  110  has a function of allowing an external apparatus to perform registration for the shortcut keys  401  to  406  in the screen  400  of the user interface (UI)  309 . Specifically, in the network system illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a program operating in the PC  120  allows the sending function setting to be registered in the shortcut key  404  in the device  101  via the LAN  100 . 
       FIG. 5  is a view which is useful in explaining a software configuration of the network system of  FIG. 1 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , according to the network system of  FIG. 1 , execution of a control program by the CPUs  201  and  301  disposed in the device  110  and the PC  120  realizes the functions shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The PC  120  includes a PC application unit  510  which is configured with a customization information creating unit  511 , a switching unit  512 , an e-mail transmitting and receiving unit  513 , other communication unit  514 , and reference capability information  515  describing capability information of the device  110 . The capability information will be described later using  FIG. 10 . 
     The customization information creating unit  511  generates customization information of customizing the device  110  according to the reference capability information  515  and an instruction from the user who operates the PC  120 . The e-mail transmitting and receiving unit  513  transmits, when generating the generated customization information, the used reference capability information  515  to the device  110  with e-mail. Also, when receiving a reply from the device  110 , the PC application unit  510  analyzes the received reply and displays the result on the UI screen of the PC  120 . It should be noted that the other communication units  514  comprises other methods than e-mail, for transmitting the customization information to the device  110 . 
     The switching unit  512  of the PC application unit  510  performs, when transmitting the customization information to the device  110 , switching control between the e-mail transmitting and receiving unit  513  and the other communications units  514 . 
     The device  110  includes a customization setting function unit  520  including an e-mail transmitting and receiving unit  521 . 
     The e-mail transmitting and receiving unit  521  receives an e-mail including the customization information generated by the customization information creating unit  511  and the reference capability information  515  referred to when the customization information is generated. When the customization setting function unit  520  executes the customization setting, the e-mail transmitting and receiving unit  521  receives an e-mail from the PC  120  and an analyzing unit  522  analyzes its content. A user identifying unit  523  of the analyzing unit  522  identifies the user based on the “FROM” address of the received e-mail. 
     A security processing unit  524  of the analyzing unit  522  determines whether or not the e-mail content is encrypted, and executes, if it is encrypted, a decoding process by a unique shared key held by the identified user, and further may determine whether or not the e-mail content is tampered using a hash function. 
     A comparing unit  525  of the analyzing unit  522  compares an own device-capability information  527  and the reference capability information  515  described in the e-mail with each other to determine whether or not they are consistent or inconsistent with each other. The own device-capability information  527  describes the capability related to functions provided in the device  110  itself. 
     In the case of “consistency” as a result of the determination of the comparing unit  525 , a customizing unit  526  gives the customization information described in the e-mail to a corresponding function control unit  542  and stores its pointer information in user information storing unit  550 . The customization information is held in the function control unit  542 . 
     In the case of “inconsistency” as a result of the determination of the comparing unit  525 , an e-mail to describe that the customization setting is not executed because of inconsistent capability information, is created and replied from the e-mail transmitting and receiving unit  521 . 
     The customization setting function unit  520  does not analyze the customization content in the customization processing. 
     For example, in the case of creating a shortcut key for the sending function described with reference to  FIG. 4 , the customization information (i.e. the content executed by the shortcut key) is given to the sending function as it is without analyzing the content related to the sending function. 
     The customizing unit  526  stores an assigned key (key  401  in this case) and the pointer information of the customization information in the user information storing unit  550 , and the content executed by the shortcut key is held in the sending function. 
     Here, when the shortcut key is pressed by the user, the pointer information stored in the user information storing unit  550  is given to the sending function. The sending function extracts the customization information from the received pointer information and executes the customization processing. 
     The processing performed as above by the customization setting function unit  520  enables a customization target function (i.e. the send function in this example) and a customization function to be held independently. Further, comparing the capability information by the comparing unit  525  enables the inconsistency between the customization information and the capability of the device  110  to be detected in an easy manner. 
     Also, in the device  110 , a print processing unit  540  executes a print process using a print engine and a reading processing unit  541  executes a reading process using a scanner. These print engine and scanner correspond to the function (FUNC)  310  in  FIG. 3 . 
     An image control unit  598  in the device  110  controls the user interface (UI)  309 . A network control unit  599  controls the network interface card (NIC)  308  and realizes communication between the device  110  and other information devices (e.g. the PC  120 ). A main control unit  530  controls each function unit of the device  110 . 
     It should be noted that the device  110  is naturally configured to utilize many other functions than those described above with reference to  FIG. 5  and their image displaying units. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a basic process of the device of  FIG. 3 . 
     The present process is executed by the CPU  301  in the device  110 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , first, if the power supply is turned on (YES to step S 600 ), the initialization process is executed (step S 601 ). 
     Next, after waiting for various request commands input by the user via the user interface (UI)  309  or various request instructions from the outside via a network, it is determined which of an e-mail reception request, another request, and a termination request is received (step S 602 ). 
     As a result of the determination of the step S 602 , if an e-mail reception request is received from the PC  120  (YES to the step S 602 ), an e-mail process of  FIG. 7  described later is executed, followed by returning to the step  602  to wait for a request from the PC  120  (NO to the step S 602 ). 
     As a result of the determination of the step S 602 , a request command input by the user via the user inter (UI)  309  or a request instruction from the outside via the network is another request (YES to the step S 602 ), the another request is executed (step S 620 ), followed by returning to the step S 602 . 
     As a result of the determination of the step S 602 , a request command input by the user via the user interface (UI)  309  or a request instruction from the outside via the network (YES to the step S 602 ), a termination process is executed (step S 630 ), followed by terminating the present process. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing the procedure of an e-mail process executed in step S 610  of  FIG. 6 . 
     The present process is executed by the CPU  301  in the device  110 . 
     In  FIG. 7 , first, in each of the e-mail box receiving processes, it is determined whether or not a customization request e-mail is received or other e-mail is received (step S 701 ). The customization request e-mail describes customization information in  FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B  described later. 
     As a result of the determination of the step S 701 , if the customization request e-mail is received, it is identified to which user the customization request e-mail derived from the “FROM” line of the e-mail header (step S 710 ), followed by executing the decoding process in  FIG. 8  described later (step S 711 ). 
     Next, it is determined whether or not the received data is valid without tampering (step S 712 ), and, if it is valid without tampering (YES to the step  712 ), the reference capability information  515  described in the received e-mail and the own device-capability information  527  are compared with each other (step S 713 ). The reference capability information  515  and the own device capability information  527  will be described in detail using  FIG. 10 . 
     As a result of the comparison of the step S 713 , if the reference capability information  515  described in the received e-mail and the own device-capability information  527  are consistent with each other, the identified user is customized according to information of the received e-mail (step S 714 ). That is, the user information  550  is set according to customization information is executed. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a user-specific shortcut key is generated. 
     After the process of the step S 714  has been executed or if the received data is not valid with tampering (NO to the step S 712 ), or if the reference capability information  515  described in the received e-mail and the own device-capability information  527  are inconsistent with each other (NO to the step S 713 ), the result is replied to the source without generating a shortcut key (step S 715 ), followed by terminating the process. 
     According to the process of  FIG. 7 , in a case where the received data is valid without tampering (YES to the step S 712 ) and the received reference capability information  515  and the own device-capability information  527  are consistent with each other (YES to the step S 713 ), the results and the success of customization are described in an e-mail to reply to the source (step S 715 ). 
     In contrast, in a case where the received data is not valid with tampering (NO to the step S 712 ), or the received reference capability information  515  and the own device-capability information  527  are inconsistent with each other (NO to the step S 713 ), the result and the failure of customization are described in an e-mail to reply to the source (step S 715 ). 
     After the process of the step S 715 , the process returns to the step S 701  again to wait until an e-mail is transmitted to e-mail boxes. 
     As a result of the determination of the step S 701 , if an e-mail other than a customization request e-mail is received, other e-mail process is executed (step S 720 ), followed by returning to the step S 701 . 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a decoding process executed in step S 711  of  FIG. 7 . 
     The present process is executed by the CPU  301  in the device  110 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , first, it is determined, based on contents described in the customization request e-mail, whether or not the received e-mail is an encryption e-mail, requiring the decoding process (step S 801 ). 
     As a result of the determination of the step S 801 , if the received e-mail is an encryption e-mail, a common key held by the user identified in the step S 710  is acquired from the user information  550  (step S 810 ) and subsequently an encrypted part of the encryption e-mail is decoded using the common key acquired in the step S 810  (step S 811 ), followed by returning to the step S 801 . 
     As a result of the determination of the step S 801 , if the received e-mail is not an encryption e-mail (NO to the step S 801 ), the process immediately terminates. 
       FIG. 9A  is a view which is useful in explaining customization information described in a customization request e-mail received in the step S 701  of  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 9B  is a view showing a case where the customization information in  FIG. 9A  is decoded. 
     In  FIG. 9A , a tag  901  shows that the customization request e-mail is directed to a request of generating the shortcut key in  FIG. 4 . A tag  902  shows that an application assigned to the shortcut key is directed to a sending function. A tag  903  shows information of an application ID as an identifier of the sending function. A tag  904  shows setting content of the shortcut key in  FIG. 4 , where the setting value is displayed to be surrounded by a tag  905 . 
     This customization information is, when encrypted, displayed as shown in  FIG. 9B .  FIG. 9B  is different from  FIG. 9A  in tag  905   b ,  906   b . In  FIG. 9B , the tag  905   b  shows that the setting content of the shortcut key is encrypted, and the tag  906   b  shows the result obtained by inputting the tags  902  to  904 , and  905  in a hash function. 
     The value of the tag  906   b  and the result of decoding the tags  902  to  904 , and  905  using the user-specific common key and inputting decoded tags  902  to  904 , and  905  in the hash function are targeted for comparison to check data tampering in the step S 712  of  FIG. 7 . This comparison result is used to check the validity of the shortcut key setting content. This validity check shows that, if the comparison result of the input realizes consistency, the data is valid without tampering; if not, the data is tampered. 
       FIG. 10  is a view which is useful in explaining capability information compared in the step S 713  of  FIG. 7 . 
     In  FIG. 10 , a tag  1010  shows a range of settable resolutions, and shows that the range includes 200×200 dpi, 200×400 dpi, 300×300 dpi, 400×400 dpi and 600×600 dpi. 
     In  FIG. 10 , a tag  1020  shows a range of settable color modes, and shows that the range includes full color, black and white and gray scale. It should be noted that  FIG. 10  merely shows two examples, and hence the device  110  according to the present embodiment may include many other items of capability information. 
     In short, in a network system having this image processing apparatus, the user operates a personal computer to execute customization by utilizing a shortcut key registration function of the image processing device connected to each other via the network. 
     The PC  120  includes the reference capability information  515 , which is capability information specific to each device  110  as image processing apparatuses targeted for customization, the customization information creating unit  511  and the e-mail transmitting and receiving unit  512 . 
     A control unit of the PC  120  uses its PC application to make the customization information creating unit  511  set customization information based on the reference capability information specific to each device  110  according to a user input command. Further, the control unit of the PC  120  makes the e-mail transmitting and receiving unit  512  transmit an e-mail including the generated customization information and the used reference capability information to the device  110 . It should be noted that the PC  120  is capable of transmitting and receiving the e-mail with the e-mail with e-mail encrypted. 
     The device  110  of operated target, having received the e-mail including the customization information and the reference capability information from the PC  120 , includes a shortcut key registration function and various functions such as a copy function. Further, the device  110  includes the screen  400  of the user interface (UI)  309 , the e-mail transmitting and receiving unit  521 , the analyzing unit  522 , the user identifying unit  523 , and the customization setting function  520  by e-mail. In addition, the device  110  includes the own device-capability information  527 , the comparing unit  525 , the security processing unit  524 , and a content determination function utilizing a hush function and so on. 
     A control unit of the device  110  reads the customization information and the reference capability information from the received e-mail. In addition, the control unit of the device  110  specifies a user interface of the customization target (i.e. a transmitter from the PC  120 ) in the user identifying unit  523 . 
     Further, if it is determined that the comparing unit  525  of the device  110  compares the received reference capability information and the own device-capability information  527  with each other. Then, if the consistency is realized, the control unit of the device  110  makes the customization setting function  520  execute a customization setting process based on the customization information for the specified user interface. In association with this, the control unit of the device  110  transmits a response e-mail of “customization normal completion” to the PC  120 . 
     In contrast, if it is determined that the reference capability information received in the comparing unit  525  and the own device-capability information  527  are inconsistent with each other, the control unit of the device  110  does not execute a screen customization process. In association with this, the e-mail transmitting and receiving unit  521  in the device  110  transmits a response e-mail of “error” to the PC  120 . 
     Next, a case will be explained where e-mail content is encrypted and then transmitted and received between the PC  120  and the device  110 . In this case, the received e-mail is encrypted, and therefore the control unit of the device  110  determines whether or not information decoding is necessary. 
     If it is determined that decoding is necessary, a common key of the user identified in the user identifying unit  523  is specified. Then, the control unit of the device  110  makes the security processing unit  524  use this common key to decode the customization information and the reference capability information. 
     Further, based on the content determination function utilizing the hush function and so on, the control unit of the device  110  determines the validity of content of the decoded customization information and the reference capability information. 
     Then, if the validity is determined to be realized, the comparing unit  525  of the device  110  compares the reference capability information and the own device-capability information. Then, if the consistency is realized, the control unit of the device  110  makes the customization setting function  520  execute a customization setting process based on the customization information for the specified user interface. In association with this, the control unit of the device  110  transmits a response e-mail of “customization normal completion” to the PC  120 . 
     In contrast, based on the content determination function utilizing the hush function and so on, if the control unit of the device  110  determines that content of the decoded customization information and the reference capability information is invalid, it does not execute the screen customization process. 
     Further, if the comparing unit  525  of the device  110  determines that the received reference capability information and the own device-capability information  527  are inconsistent with each other, the control unit of the device  110  does not execute the screen customization process. 
     In association with this, even if there is not executed any one of the screen customization processes described above, the device  110  makes the e-mail transmitting and receiving unit  521  transmit a response e-mail of “error” to the PC  120 . 
     Therefore, the user intending to customize the user interface of the device  110  can check whether the customization succeeds or the customization fails using the PC  120 . Further, if the customization succeeds, operating a shortcut key on the UI screen of the device  110  makes it possible to provide reassurance to the user that a function set in the shortcut key is reliably operated. 
     The user executes a customization process of the device  110  via the Internet using the PC  120 , so that other uses can utilize a copy function and so on of the device  110  during this customization process, which improves the convenience. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications, equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Applications No. 2010-184170, filed Aug. 19, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.