Patent Publication Number: US-10333774-B2

Title: Image forming apparatus that cooperates with management server, method of controlling image forming apparatus, and storage medium

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus that cooperates with a management server, a method of controlling the image forming apparatus, and a storage medium. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Heretofore, a system in which a management server sends a notification to a dispatcher, a service person, a person in charge of consumables, or the like of a vendor according to event information (error, alarm, or jam) notification of which is given from an image forming apparatus has been proposed. 
     The image forming apparatus of related art sends the information as mentioned above to the management server, and displays the notification from the management server on a panel, thereby prompting a user to deal with the image processing apparatus. For example, when a small toner remaining amount is displayed, the user requests a call center to check a delivery state, or deliver a toner. 
     The panel of the image forming apparatus is provided with a display area for displaying the state of the image forming apparatus. For example, there is a display area called a status bar. The status bar is constantly displayed even when the screen is shifted. The status bar displays, for example, an error indicating that the toner remaining amount or the amount of remaining paper in a cassette is small. Further, the image processing apparatus is capable of causing the status bar to display the presence or absence of a notification from the management server. 
     Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-268650 discloses a system for managing consumable for the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-268650 detects that it is about time to exchange consumables, displays the detection result on a screen. Then, when a client sends an order instruction on the screen, the image forming apparatus sends order data to the management server, receives delivery time data from the management server, and displays the data on the screen. Accordingly, there is a need for a technique for facilitating ordering of consumables and confirmation of a delivery time in an image processing apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is an image forming apparatus that communicates with a management server, the image forming apparatus including: an operation unit, and at least one hardware processor, when the at least one hardware processor executes instructions, which acts as, an inquiry unit configured to periodically make an inquiry about an instruction to the management server, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not to display a notification indicating that a message has arrived, based on information about a registered time of the message acquired by the management server as a result of the inquiry, and information about a time when the message is displayed on the image forming apparatus, the information being stored in the image forming apparatus, and a display control unit configured to control the notification indicating that a message has arrived to be displayed in a predetermined display area on the operation unit in accordance with at least a determination, by the determination unit, that the notification indicating that the message has arrived is displayed, and control not to display the notification indicating that the message has arrived in the predetermined display area on the operation unit in accordance with at least a determination, by the determination unit, that the notification indicating that the message has arrived is not displayed. 
     Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an example of a block diagram of a system including an image forming apparatus and a management server according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate an example of a hardware configuration diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus and the management server according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A  is an example of a software configuration diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  is an example of a software configuration diagram illustrating the management server according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an example of a diagram illustrating an architecture of the image forming apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating information processing of each of the management server and the image forming apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6A  is a diagram (No. 1) illustrating an example of SOAP data to be transmitted and received by the image forming apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6B  is a diagram (No. 2) illustrating an example of SOAP data to be transmitted and received by the image forming apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6C  is a diagram (No. 3) illustrating an example of SOAP data to be transmitted and received by the image forming apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for a status bar display that is displayed on the image forming apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are diagrams each illustrating an example of a massage list and a message screen according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen when a message from the image forming apparatus is deleted according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is an example of a flowchart of instruction confirmation reception processing performed by the management server according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is an example of a flowchart of instruction confirmation transmission processing performed by a device information control unit according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is an example of a flowchart of status display processing performed by a status display control unit according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is an example of a flowchart of message display processing performed by a message display control unit according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     In this exemplary embodiment, a mechanism for displaying, on a status bar, that a notification has arrived when the notification from the management server is not checked by a user so that the presence or absence of the notification from the management server can be appropriately displayed on the status bar. Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a system including an image forming apparatus and a management server. 
     An image forming apparatus  102 , a proxy server  103 , a firewall  104 , and a personal computer (PC)  105  are connected to each other via a LAN  101  in such a manner that they can communicate with each other. The firewall  104  is installed to enhance the security of the Internet. The PC  105  is a computer used for a general user to perform work and the like, and may be, for example, a tablet terminal or a smartphone. The Internet environment  107  represents the Internet environment in which the image forming apparatus  102 , the proxy server  103 , and the firewall  104  are connected to each other via the LAN  101 . A management server (also referred to as a maintenance system server)  106  has a function of managing the operation state in a centralized manner based on the counter and operation information about the image forming apparatus  102 , and a function of performing a stock management of consumables based on consumable status information about the image forming apparatus  102 . The information about the image forming apparatus  102  is hereinafter referred to as device information. Note that the Internet environment  107  and the management server  106  are connected to each other via the Internet  108 . The image forming apparatus  102  transmits the device information about the image forming apparatus  102  to the management server  106  which is set as a transmission destination of the device information such as the operation information about the image forming apparatus  102 . Note that in the example of  FIG. 1 , only one Internet environment  107  is described, but in practice, a plurality of Internet environments  107  and the management server  106  are connected to each other via the Internet  108 . For example, a digital multifunction machine, a facsimile, a printer, a scanner device, and an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) can be applied as the image forming apparatus  102 . A digital medical device, a network camera, a car navigation system, and various network home electronics may be applied as the image forming apparatus  102 . A firmware management server  109  remotely delivers firmware for updating the firmware of the image forming apparatus  102 . A vendor user PC  110  and a delivery system  111  of a delivery company, which is an external system, are connected to the Internet  108 . The vendor user PC  110  is a PC to be used by a user of a vendor. The vendor user PC  110  may be a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or the like. The delivery system  111  manages a consumable delivery status. 
     Further, in this exemplary embodiment, protocols such as HTTP and HTTPS are assumed as communication protocols, but the communication protocols are not particularly limited. For example, the example of  FIG. 1  is described assuming that the image forming apparatus  102  uses HTTPS to transmit data to the management server  106  via the proxy server  103  and the firewall  104 . However, the present disclosure is not limited to this example. 
       FIG. 2A  is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus  102 . 
     The image forming apparatus  102  includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  201 , a RAM (Random Access Memory)  202 , a ROM (Read Only Memory)  203 , a storage device  204 , a network I/F  205 , an internal bus  206 , a device control unit  207 , a print unit  208 , an input/output I/F  209 , an input/output device  210 , a toner remaining amount detection unit  211 , and a sensor unit  212 . The CPU  201  performs overall control of each device via the internal bus  206 . The internal bus  206  is connected to the CPU  201 , the RAM  202 , the ROM  203 , the storage device  204 , the network I/F  205 , the device control unit  207 , the input/output I/F  209 , the toner remaining amount detection unit  211 , the sensor unit  212 , and the like. The ROM  203  stores programs (including a program for implementing a software configuration of  FIG. 3A  described below). The RAM  202  functions as a memory or a work area for the CPU  201 . The CPU  201  performs processing of executing programs with the RAM  202  and the ROM  203 , and performs processing of recording image data in a recording medium such as the storage device  204 . The ROM  203  stores destination information indicating an area to which the image forming apparatus  102  is shipped, and the like, in addition to programs. A language and the like to be displayed by the input/output device  210  are determined according to the destination information. The storage device  204  functions as an external storage device, stores image data and the like, and can also store counter information, system information, and monitoring information, instead of the RAM  202 . The network I/F  205  performs unidirectional or bidirectional data exchange with an external network device or a PC via the LAN  101 . The device control unit  207  controls the print unit  208 , and forms an image on a sheet such as paper. The print unit  208  is, for example, an electrophotographic print unit, and includes an exposure unit, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit. Note that an inkjet method and the like can be employed as the image forming method of the print unit  208 . The input/output device  210  indicates a plurality of components that input and output signals in the image forming apparatus  102 . More specifically, the input/output device  210  accepts an input (button input etc.) from a user, and the input/output I/F  209  transmits the signal corresponding to the input to each processing unit described above. In addition, the input/output device  210  provides the user with necessary information, and includes a display device (a touch panel etc.) for accepting a user operation. Further, a scan device for reading a document and accepting electronic data as an input may be included in the input/output device  210 . The toner remaining amount detection unit  211  detects the toner remaining amount of the print unit  208  using a sensor, and generates a signal for an alert, alarm, or the like. The sensor unit  212  detects an attachment/detachment or the like of a toner bottle, and can read the serial number of the set toner bottle. Although a toner is illustrated as an example of consumables for the image forming apparatus  102 , other consumables may be used. 
     The CPU  201  executes processing based on the program stored in the ROM  203  or the storage device  204 , thereby implementing the software configuration of the image forming apparatus  102  illustrated in  FIG. 3A  described below, processing of the image forming apparatus  102  illustrated in  FIG. 5 , and processing of flowcharts illustrated in  FIGS. 11 to 13 .  FIG. 2A  illustrates an example in which one CPU is provided as the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus  102 . However, a plurality of CPUs may be provided. The software configuration of the image forming apparatus  102  illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the processing of the image forming apparatus  102  illustrated in  FIG. 5 , and the processing of flowcharts illustrated in  FIGS. 11 to 13  as described below may be implemented by causing a plurality of processors and a plurality of RAMs, ROMs, and storages to cooperate with each other. Further, a part of the processing in the flowcharts or the like may be executed using a hardware circuit. 
       FIG. 2B  is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the management server  106 . 
     A CPU  251  performs overall control of each device via an internal bus  256 . The internal bus  256  is connected to the CPU  251 , a RAM  252 , a ROM  253 , a storage device  254 , a network I/F  255 , an input/output I/F  257 , and the like. The ROM  253  and the storage device  254  store programs (including a program for implementing the software configuration illustrated in  FIG. 3B  described below). The RAM  252  functions as a memory or a work area for the CPU  251 . The CPU  251  performs processing of executing programs with the RAM  252 , the ROM  253 , and the storage device  254 , and processing of recording data in a recording medium such as the storage device  204 . The storage device  254  is a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD). The storage device  254  functions as an external storage device, stores management information about the image forming apparatus  102 , and can also store system information and processing information, instead of the RAM  252 . The input/output I/F  257  includes, for example, a PS2 or Universal Serial Bus (USB I/F), and an analog or digital display I/F. The input/output device  258  is a keyboard, a mouse, a CRT, or a liquid crystal display, and is connectable to the management server  106  via the input/output I/F  257 . The management server  106  performs communication via the LAN  101 , the Internet environment  107 , and the Internet  108  using the network I/F  255 , thereby making it possible to communicate with the image forming apparatus  102 , the PC  105 , and the PC  110 . Note that the hardware configuration of the firmware management server  109  is similar to that of the management server  106  described above. The hardware configuration of each of the PC  105 , the vendor user PC  110 , and the delivery system  111  is also similar to that of the management server  106  described above. 
     The CPU  251  executes processing based on the program stored in the ROM  253  or the storage device  254 , thereby implementing the software configuration of the management server  106  illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the processing of the management server  106  illustrated in  FIG. 5 , and the processing of the flowchart illustrated in  FIG. 10  as described below. 
       FIG. 3A  is a diagram illustrating an example of the software configuration of the image forming apparatus  102 . 
     The image forming apparatus  102  includes, as the software configuration, a communication unit  301 , a storage unit  302 , an image forming unit  303 , a firmware update unit  304 , a device information control unit  305 , an operation unit  308 , and a JAVA® application  309 . The communication unit  301  transmits device information about the image forming apparatus  102  to the management server  106 . Further, the communication unit  301  receives the instruction and information transmitted from the management server  106 . The transmission and reception is performed by communication using SMTP, HTTP/HTTPS, or the like. The storage unit  302  exchanges information with the storage area of each of the RAM  202 , the ROM  203 , and the storage device  204 . The storage unit  302  stores, in the storage area, the operation history of the image forming apparatus  102 , data representing various abnormal states, and the like as device information. Note that the device information includes image forming apparatus identification information such as a device ID, and communication information such as an IP address. Further, the device information includes counter information, abnormal state occurrence information, and various pieces of device information. The storage unit  302  also stores, in the storage area, communication information, such as the IP address of the management server  106  that manages the image forming apparatus  102  as management server information. The image forming unit  303  has a function of generating and outputting print data. The firmware update unit  304  performs update management of the firmware information about the image forming apparatus  102 . More specifically, the firmware update unit  304  accepts a firmware update instruction from the management server  106  via the device information control unit  305 , and updates the firmware. During updating of the firmware, the firmware update unit  304  makes an inquiry to the firmware management server  109 , acquires firmware from the firmware management server  109 , and updates the firmware. Note that the firmware update unit  304  transmits the execution result to the management server  106  via the firmware management server  109  or the device information control unit  305 . The device information control unit  305  manages the print control or abnormal state of the image forming apparatus  102 , and also manages the counter information and notification information. Further, the device information control unit  305  performs control for a color adjustment, a print mode, and setting of other functions. The device information control unit  305  includes an operation information management unit  306  and an instruction information management unit  307 . The operation information management unit  306  generates failure information to be transmitted to the management server  106  when a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus  102 . Note that the operation information management unit  306  manages not only the failure information, but also information (consumable information) about consumables such as a toner or a component. The operation information such as the failure information, the consumable information, and the counter information about the image forming apparatus  102  is transmitted to the management server  106  via the network I/F  205 . The type, transmission timing, and the like of the information to be transmitted are set according to an instruction from the management server  106 . The instruction information management unit  307  carries out the instruction from the management server  106 , and notifies the management server  106  of the result. In other words, the instruction information management unit  307  functions as an acquisition unit that acquires an instruction from the management server  106 . In addition, the instruction information management unit  307  functions as a transmission unit that transmits information to the management server. Depending on the content of the instruction, the instruction information management unit  307  sends an instruction to each unit, and notifies the management server  106  of the execution result in each unit. The operation unit  308  is an interface capable of sending an operation instruction to the image forming apparatus  102 , including a print instruction from the user. The JAVA application  309  includes a status display control unit  310  and a message display control unit  311 . The status display control unit  310  determines whether or not to display a status bar. The message display control unit  311  starts a Web browser function (a Web browser etc.) according to a user operation, and controls the display of a message or the like from the management server  106 . A Web server  312  operates as an HTTP server, and, for example, registers or executes a CGI function. A JAVA-Native conversion unit  313  is an API for performing transmission and reception of information between a JAVA application and a Native application. A status display unit  314  controls the display of a notification indicating state information about the image forming apparatus  102  in a status display area, such as the status bar, of the input/output device  210 . Further, the status display unit  314  also controls, for the status bar or the like, the display of a notification indicating an incoming call of a message, upon acquisition of instruction information or the like from the management server  106 . The status display area, such as the status bar, of the input/output device  210 , is an example of a predetermined display area of the display unit. 
       FIG. 3B  is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of the management server  106 . 
     The management server  106  includes, as the software configuration, a communication unit  351 , a storage unit  352 , a display unit  353 , a command analysis unit  354 , a response generation unit  355 , and a maintenance information management unit  356 . The communication unit  351  has a function of performing communication with the image forming apparatus  102 . The communication unit  351  receives device information transmitted from the image forming apparatus  102 , and transmits necessary instruction/information to the image forming apparatus  102 . The counter value indicates the total number of sheets printed by the image forming apparatus  102 . The storage unit  352  exchanges information with the storage area of each of the RAM  252 , the ROM  253 , and the storage device  254 , and stores device information, vendor information, client information, and the like in the storage area. The display unit  353  performs processing for displaying the device information stored in the storage unit  352  as a Web screen. A WWW server operates within the management server  106 , and the Web screen is provided to a Web browser in response to a request from the Web browser. With this configuration, a service person or the like of a vendor can browse information using the Web browser on the vendor user PC  110 . A Web site for, for example, browsing the Web screen is hereinafter referred to as a portal site. The command analysis unit  354  analyzes a command transmitted from the image forming apparatus  102 . The command analysis unit  354  reflects the analyzed result in the storage unit  352 , the maintenance information management unit  356 , and the display unit  353 . The response generation unit  355  generates a response to the image forming apparatus  102  for the command analyzed by the command analysis unit  354 . The maintenance information management unit  356  has a control function of managing information necessary for monitoring and maintaining the image forming apparatus  102 . The maintenance information management unit  356  includes a notification management unit  357 , a vendor information management unit  358 , a device information management unit  359 , a client information management unit  360 , and a consumable stock management unit  361 . The maintenance information management unit  356  also includes a master information management unit  362 , a message management unit  363 , a device instruction management unit  364 , and a firmware information management unit  365 . The notification management unit  357  generates notification information and designates a notification destination, thereby generating notification data. Examples of the notification by the notification management unit  357  include a maintenance request notification to the service person who maintains the image forming apparatus  102 , and a consumable replenishment request notification. The vendor information management unit  358  manages information about the vendor that manages and supports the image forming apparatus  102  installed on the client. The device information management unit  359  manages the image forming apparatus  102  to be maintained. For example, the device information management unit  359  manages information such as image forming apparatus identification information, abnormal state information about the image forming apparatus, maintenance history, administrator information about the image forming apparatus, and consumable information about the image forming apparatus. Note that the abnormal state information includes operation information such as an error, alarm, and jam, is displayed on the portal site, and is browsed by a dispatcher of a vendor, a service person, or the like. The operation information is used to manage the status such as “unsupported”, “being resolved”, or “already resolved” depending on the handling status of the vendor. The client information management unit  360  manages information about the client where the image forming apparatus  102  is installed. The information managed by the client information management unit  360  includes information about a maintenance contract with the vendor. The consumable stock management unit  361  performs consumable stock management for the image forming apparatus  102 , such as toner/ink and components. More specifically, the consumable stock management unit  361  performs stock subtraction processing based on information indicating the toner/ink remaining amount transmitted from the image forming apparatus  102 , and information indicating component replacement, and coordinates with the notification management unit  357  when the processing result exceeds a set threshold, thereby performing a notification such as a consumable replenishment request notification. The master information management unit  362  manages master information necessary for display of, for example, apparatus model information, operation information, and component information. Examples of the master information include the product name of a certain apparatus model, information about a consumable to be used, an explanation of a content of operation information transmitted from the image forming apparatus  102 , and a lifetime value of each component. The message management unit  363  generates and manages a message to be displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus  102 . The message indicates an HTML to be displayed on the message display control unit  311  of the image forming apparatus  102 . The content displayed by the message indicates the general maintenance of the image forming apparatus  102 , such as a delivery status of a consumable, a dispatch status of a service person, and an announcement of execution of system maintenance or firmware update. The device instruction management unit  364  manages instructions to the image forming apparatus  102 . The content of instructions managed by the device instruction management unit  364  includes a change of a schedule for information transmission to the management server  106 , firmware update, and reboot. The instructions to the image forming apparatus  102  are accepted on the portal site or the like by a vendor user, and are stored in the storage unit  352  as instructions to the target image forming apparatus  102 . Further, the device instruction management unit  364  manages the execution result of the image forming apparatus  102  in response to the instructions as a status, such as “success”, “failure”, or “unknown”. The firmware information management unit  365  displays the received firmware version information about the image forming apparatus  102  on the portal site, and performs settings for firmware delivery in cooperation with the firmware management server  109 . When the firmware management server  109  performs settings for firmware deliver, the firmware information management unit  365  registers a firmware update instruction for the device instruction management unit  364 . 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of an architecture of the image forming apparatus  102 . 
     Software for the image forming apparatus  102  operates on an OS  1301 . A controller  1302  and a JAVA platform  1304  operate on the OS  1301 . The JAVA platform  1304  functions as a virtual machine that operates on the OS  1301 . A Native application  1303  operates on the controller  1302 . A JAVA application  1305  operates on the JAVA platform  1304 . Since the Native application  1303  and the JAVA application  1305  operate using different resources, it is necessary to transmit and receive information through loopback communication or the JAVA-Native conversion unit  313 . 
       FIG. 5  is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of information processing from registration of a message in the management server  106  to display of the message by the message display control unit  311  of the image forming apparatus  102 . 
     The management server  106  accepts the registration of the message from the vendor user PC  110  on the portal site. When the registration of the message from the vendor user PC  110  is accepted, in step S 401 , the management server  106  generates a message, and registers a message acquisition instruction in the target image forming apparatus  102 . In step S 402 , the image forming apparatus  102  confirms whether or not there are periodic instructions, by sending an SOAP message as illustrated in  FIG. 6A  to the management server  106 . 
       FIG. 6A  is a diagram illustrating an example of the SOAP message transmitted in step S 402  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     An SOAP message  501  is an SOAP message transmitted by the device information control unit  305 . A getInstruction tag indicates an instruction check. A client tag or a device tag indicates device information. 
     In step S 402 , when the presence or absence of an instruction from the image forming apparatus  102  is checked, in step S 403 , the management server  106  confirms an instruction management history table of the corresponding image forming apparatus  102 . 
     As a result of the confirmation, when there is a “message acquisition” instruction with an instruction status of “unprocessed”, in step S 404 , the management server  106  includes the “message acquisition” instruction in the SOAP message illustrated in  FIG. 6B  in response to the confirmation from the image forming apparatus  102 . On the other hand, as a result of the confirmation, when the “message acquisition” instruction indicating that the instruction status indicates “unprocessed” is not present, in step S 404 , the management server  106  returns a response indicating that the confirmation as to whether or not there is an instruction from the image forming apparatus  102  is normally received. 
       FIG. 6B  is a diagram illustrating an example of the SOAP message returned in step S 404  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     An SOAP message  502  is an SOAP message transmitted by the management server  106 . A getInstructionResponse tag indicates an instruction check response. A notice tag indicates that there is a “message acquisition” instruction. A key tag indicates that a value tag is latest message registration time information. The value tag indicates the latest message registration time information. 
     Note that the SOAP message returned in step S 404  is not limited to “message acquisition”. For example,  FIG. 6C  illustrates the SOAP message indicated by the “firmware update” instruction. An SOAP message  503  is an SOAP message transmitted by the management server  106 . The getInstructionResponse tag indicates an instruction check response. A download tag indicates that the “firmware update” instruction is present. A URL tag indicates the URL of the firmware management server. A userID tag and a password tag indicate a user name and password which are used for authentication. 
     In step S 404 , when the “message acquisition” instruction is received from the management server  106 , the device information control unit  305  of the image forming apparatus  102  stores the latest message registration time information. The device information control unit  305  registers, in the Web server  312 , the CGI function for returning the latest message registration time information in advance. In step S 405 , the status display control unit  310  acquires the latest message registration time information by periodic polling. The status display control unit  310 , which is a JAVA application, accesses the CGI function registered by the device information control unit  305  by loopback communication, and acquires the latest message registration time information from the device information control unit  305 . The status display control unit  310  compares the acquired latest message registration time information with time information indicating a time when a message list is displayed by the message display control unit  311 . When the latest message registration time information is newer than the time information, the processing proceeds to step S 406 . In step S 406 , the status display control unit  310  sends an instruction to display the status to the status display unit  314  through the JAVA-Native conversion unit  313 . Further, in the status display unit  314 , the input/output device  210  displays that a message has arrived on the status bar (see  FIG. 7 ). Only one word can be displayed on the status bar. Accordingly, if a request for displaying words with a priority equal to or higher than the same value is made, there is a possibility that the words saying that the message has arrived may be immediately deleted. Accordingly, the status display control unit  310  continuously makes a display request for one minute at intervals of five seconds, so that the words saying that the message has arrived can be continuously displayed on the input/output device  210  for at least one minute. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an example of the status bar display on the screen displayed on the input/output device  210  of the image forming apparatus  102 . 
     A status bar  600  is capable of displaying information indicating that a message has arrived, as indicate by information  601 . An icon  602  is an icon indicating that a message has arrived. An “announcement function” icon  603  is an icon for using the “announcement function”. In step S 407 , the message display control unit  311  starts the browser function when the user selects the “announcement function” icon  603  through the input/output device  210 . The term “icon” described herein refers to an image representing a content of a function, which is provided by selection, using a character, a diagram, or a picture. The “announcement function” icon  603  is an example of an object for confirming the message displayed on the display unit. Note that the input/output device  210  is an example of the display unit. The information  601  is an example of a character string indicating that a message has arrived. The icon  602  is an example of the object indicating that the message has arrived. 
     Next, in step S 408 , the message display control unit  311  requests the management server  106  to send data (HTML etc.) including the message. In this case, authentication processing is performed between the image forming apparatus  102  and the management server  106 . In step S 409 , the management server  106  returns data including the target message to the message display control unit  311  in response to the request in step S 408 . The message display control unit  311  receives the data. In step S 410 , the message display control unit  311  uses the browser function based on the data received in step S 409 , and controls the display of the message on the input/output device  210 . As a result, for example, a message list as illustrated in  FIG. 8A  is displayed. The massage list is an example of a list of messages. 
       FIG. 8A  is a diagram illustrating an example of the message list displayed in step S 410  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Each message is displayed in a list, and a subject  701  indicates a subject of a message. Registered date and time  702  indicates the date and time when the message is registered in the management server  106 . A status  703  indicates the status of a message, and represents “unread” or “read”. A button  704  indicates a button for page transition that is started when the number of messages exceeds an upper limit of display on the screen. A button  705  indicates a button to be pressed in the case of returning from the screen for the massage list. A button  706  indicates a button for acquiring the latest massage list screen. After the message list is displayed in step S 410 , in step S 411 , the message display control unit  311  stores the time information about a time when the massage list is displayed. Note that the stored time information may be time information about a time when the message list is successfully acquired from the management server  106 . When a certain message is selected by the user on the screen for the message list displayed in step S 410 , in step S 412 , the message display control unit  311  displays the selected message detail screen as illustrated in, for example,  FIG. 8B . 
       FIG. 8B  is a diagram illustrating an example of a message detail screen displayed when a certain message is selected from the massage list. 
     A subject  710  indicates a subject of a message. A message detail  711  indicates the content of the message, and corresponds to the content of the message input on the registration screen of the management server  106 . Registered date and time  712  indicates the date and time when the message is registered in the management server  106 . Display end date  713  indicates the message display end date, which corresponds to the display end date of the message input on the registration screen of the management server  106 . When the user selects an OK button  714 , the screen returns from the detail screen illustrated in  FIG. 8B  to the message list screen illustrated in  FIG. 8A , and the status  703  of the message shifts to the “read” state. 
     As described above, the message display control unit  311  displays messages on the input/output device  210  by using the browser function, thereby making it possible to display various messages associated with the maintenance management work of the image forming apparatus. Note that messages can be updated on the registration screen of the management server  106 . Messages can be deleted by both the management server  106  and the image forming apparatus  102 . The user can select a check box for a message to be deleted, as illustrated in a check box  801  in  FIG. 9 , on the massage list screen, and can delete the message by selecting a delete button  802 . 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen when a message is deleted on the massage list screen. In addition, messages can be deleted by other methods such as a method of deleting message in chronological order when the number of messages reaches an upper limit, and a method of automatically deleting messages when the display end date is reached. 
     Note that instead of using the time information, sequence numbers may be given to messages, respectively, and the sequence numbers may be transmitted and received by communication, to thereby determine whether or not to display the status bar. In this case, the device information control unit  305  acquires the sequence number of the registered latest message from the management server  106 . The message display control unit  311  stores the sequence number of the latest message displayed on the massage list. In this case, the message display control unit  311  compares the sequence number of the registered latest message with the sequence number of the latest message displayed on the massage list, and when the sequence number of the registered latest message is larger, the status bar is displayed. 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating an example of instruction confirmation reception processing of the management server  106 . In step S 901 , when the management server  106  receives the confirmation as to whether or not there is an instruction from the device information control unit  305 , the processing proceeds to step S 902 . 
     In step S 902 , the management server  106  confirms the instruction management history table corresponding to the image forming apparatus  102  of the device information control unit  305  which has received the confirmation as to the presence or absence of an instruction in step S 901 . Next, in step S 903 , the management server  106  determines whether or not the instruction with the instruction status of “unprocessed” is present in the corresponding instruction management history table. When the management server  106  determines that the instruction with the instruction status of “unprocessed” is present (YES in step S 903 ), the processing proceeds to S 904 . 
     In step S 904 , the management server  106  includes the instruction with the instruction status of “unprocessed” in the response to the device information control unit  305 , and the processing proceeds to step S 905 . 
     On the other hand, when the management server  106  determines that the instruction with the instruction status of “unprocessed” is not present (NO in step S 903 ), the instruction is not included in the response to the device information control unit  305 , and the processing directly proceeds to step S 905 . 
     In step S 905 , the management server  106  returns a response to the device information control unit  305 . In this case, a plurality of instructions with the status of “unprocessed” may be present. In that case, first, the management server  106  manages the transmission sequence of the plurality of instructions. Further, an instruction to be transmitted first and having the status of “unprocessed”, and a command for causing the device information control unit  305  to confirm, again, whether or not an instruction is present are included in the response in step S 905 . Thus, the processing is repeated in the order of instructions until all instructions are sent to the device information control unit  305  from the management server  106 . Note that in the case where a plurality of instructions with the status of “unprocessed” is present, the management server  106  may include all the instructions in one response. Then, the management server  106  terminates the processing of the flowchart. 
     Next, control executed by the image forming apparatus  102  will be described with reference to flowcharts of  FIGS. 11 to 13 . 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating an example of instruction confirmation transmission processing performed by the device information control unit  305 . 
     In step S 1001 , the device information control unit  305  confirms the presence or absence of an instruction sending the SOAP message as illustrated in  FIG. 6A  to the management server  106 . Inquiry transmission for confirmation from the device information control unit  305  to the management server  106  is carried out periodically, such as every several hours. 
     In step S 1002 , when the device information control unit  305  receives a response using the SOAP message as illustrated in  FIG. 6B , the processing proceeds to step S 1003 . 
     In step S 1003 , the device information control unit  305  determines whether or not the instruction content included in the response is message acquisition. Further, when the device information control unit  305  determines that the instruction content is message acquisition (YES in step S 1003 ), the processing proceeds to S 1004 . 
     In step S 1004 , the instruction information management unit  307  within the device information control unit  305  stores the latest message registration time information. Then, the instruction information management unit  307  terminates the processing of the flowchart. 
     On the other hand, when the device information control unit  305  determines that the instruction content is not message acquisition (NO in step S 1003 ), the processing proceeds to S 1005 . 
     In step S 1005 , the device information control unit  305  carries out processing according to the instruction content. More specifically, the processing includes processing (change of a setting for the monitoring function) that reflects the instruction content including the designation of the type of the operation information about the image forming apparatus  102  to be monitored by the device information control unit  305 , and designation of a transmission timing and the like. In addition, processing of controlling the power supply of the image forming apparatus  102  according to the instruction content (turning ON again after power OFF) is also included. After the processing of S 1005  is finished, the device information control unit  305  terminates the processing of the flowchart. 
       FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating an example of status display processing for the status display control unit  310 . 
     In step S 1101 , the status display control unit  310  transmits a request for acquiring the latest message registration time information to the device information control unit  305 . The status display control unit  310 , which is a JAVA application, accesses the CGI function, which is registered by the device information control unit  305 , by loopback communication, and acquires the latest message registration time information from the device information control unit  305 . 
     In step S 1102 , the status display control unit  310  receives the latest message registration time information from the device information control unit  305 . 
     In step S 1103 , the status display control unit  310  compares the acquired latest message registration time information with the time information about a time when the message list is displayed by the message display control unit  311  to know which is newer. When the latest message registration time information is newer, the status display control unit  310  proceeds the processing to S 1104 . On the other hand, when the time information about a time when the message list is displayed is newer, the status display control unit  310  terminates the processing of the flowchart. 
     In step S 1104 , the status display control unit  310  sends an instruction to display the status to the status display unit  314  through the JAVA-Native conversion unit  313 . Since only one word can be displayed in the status bar, when a request for displaying words with a priority equal to or higher than the same height is made, the words saying that the message has arrived may be immediately deleted. Accordingly, a display request is continuously made by the status display control unit  310  for one minute at intervals of five seconds, so that the words saying that the message has arrived can be continuously displayed for at least one minute. Then, the status display control unit  310  terminates the processing of the flowchart. 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating an example of message display processing performed by the message display control unit  311 . 
     In step S 1201 , the message display control unit  311  determines whether or not an “announcement” function icon is selected by the user. When the icon is selected (YES in step S 1201 ), the message display control unit  311  proceeds the processing to step S 1202 . When the icon is not selected (NO in step S 1201 ), the message display control unit  311  terminates the processing of the flowchart. In step S 1202 , the message display control unit  311  starts the browser. 
     In step S 1203 , the message display control unit  311  acquires a message for the management server  106 . 
     In step S 1204 , the message display control unit  311  receives a message from the management server  106 . 
     In step S 1205 , the message display control unit  311  displays the message list as illustrated in  FIG. 8A . 
     In step S 1206 , the message display control unit  311  stores a time when the massage list is displayed. Note that time information to be stored may be time information about a time when the message list is successfully acquired from the management server  106 . 
     In step S 1207 , the message display control unit  311  determines whether or not a message display request is received from the user. When the request is received (YES in step S 1207 ), the message display control unit  311  proceeds the processing to step S 1208 . When the request is not received (NO in step S 1207 ), the message display control unit  311  terminates the processing of the flowchart. 
     In step S 1208 , the message display control unit  311  displays the message as illustrated in  FIG. 8B  on the input/output device  210 . 
     As described above, in this exemplary embodiment, as a method of confirming whether or not there is a message, the image forming apparatus  102  acquires the latest message registration time from the management server  106 . Further, the image forming apparatus  102  compares the held message browsing time and the acquired latest message registration time. When the latest message registration time is newer than the message browsing time, it is determined that there is a new message. 
     Accordingly, the image forming apparatus  102  can display the notification content on the status bar only when the user does not confirm the notification content. The image forming apparatus  102  can delete the notification of the status bar based on browsing of the message by the user, and thus can send a notification of a message with high convenience for the user. 
     Further, in this exemplary embodiment, it is possible to notify the user that a new message has arrived, without increasing the traffic required for communication during polling, unlike in a case where the text of a registered message is acquired during polling periodically performed via a network. In practice, the image forming apparatus  102  acquires the text of a message from the management server  106  when the user selects the “announcement function” icon. Accordingly, a time zone in which communication occurs by polling and a time zone in which communication occurs when the text of a message is acquired can be distributed, and the notification to the user can be performed appropriately while distributing the network traffic. According to the processing of the exemplary embodiments described above, it is possible to provide a mechanism for displaying the presence or absence of a notification from a server device on a status bar, only when the user does not confirm the content of the notification. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions recorded on a storage medium (e.g., non-transitory computer-readable storage medium) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) of the present disclosure, and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU), or other circuitry, and may include a network of separate computers or separate computer processors. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like. 
     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, the scope of the following claims are to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-204379, filed Oct. 18, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.