Patent Publication Number: US-2023146069-A1

Title: Image forming apparatus, method for controlling same, and storage medium

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus, a method for controlling the same, and a storage medium. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Digital signage to provide information using network-connected displays at various locations including the outdoors, storefronts, public spaces, and transportation facilities is becoming widespread. The use of digital signage in corporate offices to help share information between staff members and implement corporate information control is also attracting attention. 
     Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-3991 discusses printing of a file in web content displayed on a web browser using a print function of an image forming apparatus. 
     Conventional digital signage techniques enable only viewing content displayed on an apparatus, and information about the displayed content is unable to be taken out for checking. 
     There has thus been a demand to print content information as a means for taking out the information about the displayed content. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-3991 is not predicated on the display of web content as digital signage, and does not provide a means to print a file in the web content. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure describes aspects of providing an image forming apparatus that can easily print content related to content being displayed. 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an image forming apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to, if a predetermined event related to a user operation is received, acquire first content that has been set, a display control unit configured to control display of the acquired first content on a display unit, and a control unit configured to, if second content associated with the first content is selected in the displayed first content, control printing of the second content. 
     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 a diagram illustrating an overall configuration example of an image forming system. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of an image forming apparatus. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating a software configuration example of an image forming apparatus. 
         FIG.  4 A  is a flowchart illustrating content print processing according to a first exemplary embodiment.  FIG.  4 B  ( 4 B- 1  and  4 B- 2 ) is a flowchart illustrating display trigger issuance processing. 
         FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  are diagrams illustrating examples of screens displayed in setting content. 
         FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  are diagrams illustrating examples of screens displayed in setting content. 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram illustrating an example of screen displayed in setting content. 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram illustrating an example of a content setting management table. 
         FIGS.  9 A to  9 D  are diagrams illustrating examples of setting screens for user authentication. 
         FIG.  10    is a diagram illustrating a screen example in a state where content is displayed. 
         FIGS.  11 A  ( 11 A- 1  and  11 A- 2 ),  11 B ( 11 B- 1  and  11 B- 2 ), and  11 C ( 11 C- 1  and  11 C- 2 ) are diagrams illustrating screen transitions. 
         FIGS.  12 A  ( 12 A- 1  and  12 A- 2 ), and  12 B are diagrams illustrating screen transitions. 
         FIG.  13    is a diagram illustrating an example of an error screen. 
         FIG.  14    is a diagram illustrating an example of a content error management table. 
         FIG.  15    illustrates diagrams of screen examples in a state where content is displayed. 
         FIG.  16    is a diagram illustrating an example of a print dialog. 
         FIGS.  17 A and  17 B  ( 17 B- 1  and  17 B- 2 ) are diagrams illustrating screen transitions according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  18    is a diagram illustrating an example of screen displayed in setting content. 
         FIG.  19    is a diagram illustrating an example of a content setting management table. 
         FIG.  20    is a diagram illustrating screen transitions according to a second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  21 A  is a flowchart illustrating download processing.  FIG.  21 B  is a flowchart illustrating content print processing according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Similar components will be described with the same reference numerals. 
     &lt;Overall Configuration of System&gt; 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a configuration example of an image forming system according to a first exemplary embodiment. The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus  100 , a client personal computer (PC)  102 , and a content server  120 . The image forming apparatus  100  is connected to the Internet  110  via a network  101 , such as a local area network (LAN). The client PC  102  is connected to the image forming apparatus  100  via the network  101 . The content server  120  is a server apparatus storing various types of content. The content server  120  is connected to the Internet  110  via a network  121 , such as a LAN. 
     The image forming apparatus  100  can acquire content from the content server  120  via the Internet  110 . In the example illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the image forming system includes one image forming apparatus  100 , one client PC  102 , and one content server  120 . However, more than one of each of the apparatuses may be included. Instead of acquiring the content from the content server  120 , the image forming apparatus  100  may be configured to store various types of content in a hard disk drive (HDD)  204  ( FIG.  2   ) of the image forming apparatus  100  and display the content acquired from the HDD  204 . 
     &lt;Hardware Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus&gt; 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus  100  according to the present exemplary embodiment. 
     The image forming apparatus  100  includes a control unit  200 , an operation unit  209 , a printer  210 , and a scanner  211 . The control unit  200  is connected to the operation unit  209 , the printer  210 , and the scanner  211 , and controls these units. The control unit  200  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  201 , a read-only memory (ROM)  202 , a random access memory (RAM)  203 , the HDD  204 , an operation unit interface (I/F)  205 , a printer I/F  206 , a scanner I/F  207 , and a network I/F  208 . These units are connected to each other via a system bus  212 . 
     The CPU  201  controls the entire image forming apparatus  100 . Various functions of the image forming apparatus  100  to be described below and the processing of flowcharts to be described below are implemented by the CPU  201  executing programs stored in the ROM  202  and the HDD  204 . The ROM  202  stores programs, such as a system boot program. The RAM  203  is used as a main memory of the CPU  201  and a temporary storage area for various types of data. The HDD  204  stores image data, various programs, and various information tables to be described below. The HDD  204  can also store content to be displayed on the operation unit  209 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the HDD  204  is an example of a storage unit. 
     The operation unit I/F  205  is an I/F for connecting the operation unit  209  and the control unit  200 . The operation unit  209  includes a touchscreen display having the functions of both an input unit and a display unit, and a keyboard serving as an input unit. The control unit  200  outputs information to be displayed on the operation unit  209  and accepts input of operations on the operation unit  209  via the operation unit I/F  205 . 
     The printer I/F  206  is an I/F for connecting the printer  210  and the control unit  200 . The control unit  200  outputs image data to be printed to the printer  210  via the printer I/F  206 . The image data transmitted from the control unit  200  is printed on a recording medium (sheet) by the printer  210 . 
     The scanner I/F  207  is an I/F for connecting the scanner  211  and the control unit  200 . The scanner  211  reads an image on a document to generate image data, and inputs the generated image data to the control unit  200  via the scanner I/F  207 . 
     The network I/F  208  is an I/F for connecting the control unit  200  to the network  101 . The control unit  200  transmits and receives information to/from external apparatuses connected to the Internet  110  via the network I/F  208 . 
     The image forming apparatus  100  has functions, such as a copy function, a print function, a scan and send function, a scan and store function, an access stored files function, and a browser function. The copy function is a function of printing image data generated by the scanner  211  reading an image on a document on the printer  210 . The print function is a function of printing image data on the printer  210  based on a print job submitted from an external apparatus, such as the client PC  102 . The scan and send function is a function of transmitting image data generated by the scanner  211  reading an image on a document to an external apparatus via the network I/F  208 . The scan and store function is a function of storing image data generated by the scanner  211  reading an image on a document into the HDD  204 . The access stored files function is a function of printing image data stored in the HDD  204  on the printer  210  or transmitting the image data to an external apparatus via the network I/F  208 . The browser function is a function of browsing, printing, and storing data on a web server (not illustrated) via a web browser. 
     &lt;Software Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus&gt; 
       FIG.  3    illustrates a software configuration of the image forming apparatus  100  according to the present exemplary embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the image forming apparatus  100  includes, as software modules, an application  311 , a screen control unit  303 , an authentication processing unit  308 , an auto clear processing unit  309 , and a print management unit  310 . The functions of the software modules are implemented by the CPU  201  executing programs stored in the ROM  202  or the HDD  204 . 
     The application  311  includes, as software modules, a signage application  300 , a copy application  312 , a facsimile application  313 , and a print application  314 . The application  311  may also include not-illustrated other applications corresponding to various functions of the image forming apparatus  100  described above. 
     The copy application  312  is an application having a copy function. The copy application  312  performs high-speed high-quality copying by using the scanner  211  having high resolution and the printer  210  capable of high-speed printing. The copy application  312  makes a large number of copies by performing consecutive reading using the HDD  204 . The copy application  312  also performs cascade copy by transmitting scanned image data to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via the network I/F  208 . 
     The facsimile application  313  is an application having a facsimile function. The facsimile application  313  performs Group 3 (G3) and Group 4 (G4) facsimile transmission and reception, and converts received facsimile data into an email communication protocol and transfers the resulting data using a transfer function. The facsimile application  313  also performs Internet facsimile for performing facsimile transmission and reception using the Internet  110  instead of using conventional telephone lines. 
     The print application  314  is an application having a print function. 
     The print application  314  receives print data described in a page description language (PDL) from an external apparatus, such as the client PC  102 , and prints the print data. The print application  314  also receives data in a Business Machine Linkage Service (BMLinkS) format that is a common format for various printers from an external apparatus, and prints the data. The print application  314  also receives application data, such as Portable Document Format (PDF) data, from an external apparatus without the intervention of a printer driver, and prints the application data. 
     The signage application  300  includes, as software modules, an external communication unit  301 , a content display unit  302 , a content setting unit  304 , a content management unit  305 , a content setting management table  306 , and an event reception unit  307 . 
     The external communication unit  301  communicates with the content server  120  to acquire content from the content server  120 . A communication protocol the external communication unit  301  uses in communicating with the content server  120  is Server Message Block (SMB). Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) and the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) may also be used. Aside from the foregoing communication protocols, other communication protocols, such as an email and the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), may be used. 
     The content display unit  302  reads content to be displayed stored in the content server  120  or the HDD  204  into the RAM  203 , and displays the read content on the operation unit  209 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the content to be displayed is data in a format displayable by a web browser. Examples of the data include text data, a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) file, an image file (e.g., Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG), Graphics Interchange Format (GIF), Portable Network Graphics (PNG), and bitmap (BMP) files), and a moving image file. 
     The content setting unit  304  sets the content to be displayed. In the present exemplary embodiment, a signage setting screen ( FIG.  7   ) to be described below is displayed when the client PC  102  accesses a web server (not illustrated) of the image forming apparatus  100  using a web browser on the client PC  102 . The content setting unit  304  sets the content to be displayed upon reception of a specific event notification, based on inputs made via the signage setting screen. 
     The content setting management table  306  is a management table ( FIG.  8   ) for managing setting values of respective setting items set on the signage setting screen. The content setting management table  306  is stored in the HDD  204  of the image forming apparatus  100  or in the content server  120 . The CPU  201  of the image forming apparatus  100  reads the content setting management table  306  as appropriate for use. 
     The content management unit  305  acquires the setting values based on keys assigned to the respective setting items of the content setting management table  306 . 
     The event reception unit  307  receives notifications indicating the occurrence of an event (hereinafter, referred to as event notifications) from the authentication processing unit  308 , the auto clear processing unit  309 , and the print management unit  310 . The event reception unit  307  can also receive event notifications from not-illustrated other modules. 
     The screen control unit  303  preforms display control on the screen displayed on the operation unit  209 . Specifically, the screen control unit  303  switches display of screens managed for the respective modules of the application  311 , and outputs the result to the operation unit  209 . 
     The authentication processing unit  308  displays an authentication screen on the operation unit  209  and/or the client PC  102 , and performs user authentication using authentication information, such as a user identifier (ID) and a password, input by the user via the authentication screen. If the user authentication is successful, the authentication processing unit  308  performs login processing for the user to log in to the image forming apparatus  100 . If a logout instruction is given, the authentication processing unit  308  performs logout processing for the login user to log out of the image forming apparatus  100 . The logout instruction is issued if a logout button displayed on the operation unit  209  is pressed by the user or auto clear processing to be described is performed. When the login processing or logout processing is performed, the authentication processing unit  308  transmits an event notification (login event or logout event) indicating the execution of the processing to the event reception unit  307 . As will be described below, the authentication processing unit  308  also controls the display timing of the authentication screen based on a display setting of the authentication screen. 
     The auto clear processing unit  309  performs the auto clear processing if the operation unit  209  is not operated for a predetermined time (this predetermined time will hereinafter be referred to as an “auto clear transition time”). The auto clear processing is processing for clearing the setting values and setting states on the screen displayed on the operation unit  209  and restoring initial values. Suppose, for example, that the user leaves the image forming apparatus  100  while setting a copy screen for making various copy-related settings, and the auto clear transition time elapses. In such a case, the setting values being made are reset. The auto clear function can prevent the settings of the previous user from being unintentionally inherited, or settings not to be disclosed from being viewed by the next user. The auto clear processing unit  309  transmits an event notification indicating that the auto clear processing has been performed (auto clear event) to the event reception unit  307 . 
     When the auto clear processing is performed, the authentication processing unit  308  performs the logout processing for the login user to log out. The auto clear transition time can be freely set by the user. The screen to transition to upon the auto clear processing can also be set. If an initial screen is set as the screen to transition to upon the auto clear processing, the display of the operation unit  209  is switched to the initial screen in response to the execution of the auto clear processing. The initial screen refers to a screen set by the user in advance as the screen to be displayed upon power-on. 
     Examples of the initial screen to be set include a main menu screen for selecting a function to be used from a plurality of functions (applications) of the image forming apparatus  100 , and application screens corresponding to the respective functions. The following description deals with a case where the initial screen is set as the screen to transition to upon the auto clear processing, and the main menu screen is set as the initial screen. 
     The print management unit  310  performs a print job start operation. When performing the print job start operation, the print management unit  310  transmits an event notification indicating the start of the print job (print job start event) to the event reception unit  307 . 
     The screen control unit  303 , the authentication processing unit  308 , the auto clear processing unit  309 , and the print management unit  310  may function as common processing units and management units for the modules included in the application  311 , and are mutually associated with the modules. Such units may be mutually associated with not-illustrated other functional units functioning as common processing units and management units. 
     &lt;Content Setting&gt; 
     Next, content setting will be described with reference to  FIGS.  5 A to  8   . In the present exemplary embodiment, screens illustrated in  FIGS.  5 A to  7    are displayed on the client PC  102  under the control of the image forming apparatus  100  in setting content. If the client PC  102  accesses the web server (not illustrated) of the image forming apparatus  100  using the web browser on the client PC  102 , the authentication screen is initially displayed on the client PC  102 . 
       FIG.  5 A  illustrates an example of the authentication screen. If authentication information, such as a username and a password, is input to an authentication screen  500  of  FIG.  5 A  and a login button  501  is pressed, the authentication processing unit  308  performs the user authentication and the login processing based on the input authentication information. If a user having administrator rights logs in, a system management screen for making various settings related to the image forming apparatus  100  is displayed on the client PC  102 . 
       FIG.  5 B  illustrates an example of the system management screen displayed if the user having the administrator rights logs in. A system management screen  510  of  FIG.  5 B  lists setting items on the left. If one of the setting items is selected, detailed setting items corresponding to the selected setting item are displayed on the right of the system management screen  510 .  FIG.  5 B  illustrates a state where a license/others  512  is selected. Detailed setting items related to the license/others  512  are listed on the right of the system management screen  510 . If a signage  513  is selected from the detailed setting items, a setting screen of the signage application  300  illustrated in  FIGS.  6 A to  7    is displayed on the client PC  102 . 
     If a user having no administrator rights logs in on the authentication screen  500  of  FIG.  5 A , the license/others  512  displayed on the system management screen  510  of  FIG.  5 B  is not displayed. The setting screen of the signage application  300  is therefore not displayed on the client PC  102  of the user having no administrator rights. 
     As described above, the setting screen of the signage application  300  is displayed only on the client PC  102  of the user having the administrator rights. This can limit users who can set content to those having the administrator rights. While in the present exemplary embodiment the users who can set content are limited to those having the administrator rights over the entire image forming apparatus  100 , general users having no administrator rights may be permitted to set content. Alternatively, an administrator right specific to the signage application  300  may be provided aside from the administrator rights over the entire image forming apparatus  100 , and the users who can set content may be limited to those having that right. 
       FIGS.  6 A to  7    illustrate examples of a signage setting screen  600  that is the setting screen of the signage application  300  according to the present exemplary embodiment. A checkbox  601  is used to switch on and off a setting to display the screen of the signage application  300 . If the checkbox  601  is not checked, user interface (UI) components on the signage setting screen  600  are shaded and not enterable. If the checkbox  601  is checked, the UI components are unshaded and become enterable. 
     The signage setting screen  600  includes radio buttons  610  and  620 . The communication protocol between the external communication unit  301  and the content server  120  can be selected by selecting either one of the radio buttons  610  and  620 . If the radio button  610  for selecting SMB is selected, the setting items related to SMB are unshaded and become enterable as illustrated in  FIG.  6 A . If the radio button  620  for selecting the HTTP/WebDAV is selected, the setting items related to the HTTP/WebDAV are unshaded and become enterable as illustrated in  FIG.  6 B . 
     Next, the setting items related to SMB will be described with reference to  FIG.  6 A .  FIG.  6 A  illustrates the signage setting screen  600  in a state where the checkbox  601  is checked and the radio button  610  is selected. 
     A textbox  611  is an input field for inputting a path indicating the storage location of content to be displayed if the communication protocol is set to SMB. A character string including a computer name, a folder name, and a filename delimited by \ (backslash) is input into the textbox  611  as a path. A file stored in the HDD  204  or a file stored in the content server  120  is thereby set as the content to be displayed. A textbox  612  is an input field for inputting a username to be used in accessing the content set in the textbox  611 . A textbox  613  is an input field for inputting a password to be used in accessing the content set in the textbox  611 . 
     Next, the setting items related to the HTTP/WebDAV will be described with reference to  FIG.  6 B .  FIG.  6 B  illustrates the signage setting screen  600  in a state where the checkbox  601  is checked and the radio button  620  is selected. 
     A textbox  621  is an input field for inputting a path indicating the storage location of content to be displayed if the communication protocol is set to the HTTP/WebDAV. 
     A character string including a computer name, a folder name, and a filename delimited by/(slash) is input into the textbox  621  as a path. A file stored in the HDD  204  or a file stored in the content server  120  is thereby set as the content to be displayed. A textbox  622  is an input field for inputting a username to be used in accessing the content set in the textbox  621 . A textbox  623  is an input field for inputting a password to be used in accessing the content set in the textbox  621 . 
     Checkboxes  624  and  625  are used to switch settings of encrypted communication if the communication protocol is set to the HTTP/WebDAV. 
     Next, other setting items set on the signage setting screen  600  will be described with reference to  FIG.  7   .  FIG.  7    is a diagram illustrating a state where the signage setting screen  600  illustrated in  FIG.  6 B  is displayed in its entirety. 
     Radio buttons  630  are used to set the display timing of the content if the authentication screen is set to be displayed at the start of operation of the image forming apparatus  100 . With the authentication screen set to be displayed at the start of operation of the image forming apparatus  100 , whether to display the content after a login or after an auto clear is switched by selecting either one of the radio buttons  630 . 
     A checkbox  640  is used to switch on and off a setting to display content under printing. If the checkbox  640  is checked, the content is displayed during printing. 
     A checkbox  650  is used to switch on and off a setting to display an error screen if an error is detected at the display timing of the content. If the checkbox  650  is checked, the error screen is displayed if an error is detected at the display timing of the content. 
     An OK button  661  is a button for accepting the inputs made via the signage setting screen  600 . If the OK button  661  is pressed, the content setting unit  304  updates the setting values of the setting items in the content setting management table  306  with the inputs made on the signage setting screen  600 . Moreover, the image forming apparatus  100  switches the display of the client PC  102  from the signage setting screen  600  to the system management screen  510 . 
     A cancel button  662  is a button for discarding the inputs made via the signage setting screen  600 . If the cancel button  662  is pressed, the inputs made via the signage setting screen  600  are discarded. The image forming apparatus  100  switches the display of the client PC  102  from the signage setting screen  600  to the system management screen  510 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the settings related to the content to be displayed on the operation unit  209  are described to be made from the client PC  102 . However, the foregoing settings may be made on the operation unit  209  of the image forming apparatus  100 . 
       FIG.  8    is a diagram illustrating an example of the content setting management table  306  according to the present exemplary embodiment. 
       FIG.  8    illustrates an example of the content setting management table  306  generated or updated by making inputs on the signage setting screen  600  as illustrated in  FIG.  7   . 
     A key  801  corresponds to the setting items of the signage application  300 . 
     A setting value  802  lists the setting values corresponding to the respective setting items listed in the key  801 . 
     A setting item  803  is an item indicating whether the setting to display the screen of the signage application  300  is ON or OFF, where 0 represents OFF and 1 represents ON. The setting value is switched by operating the checkbox  601 . 
     A setting item  804  is an item indicating the setting of the communication protocol between the external communication unit  301  and the content server  120 , where 0 represents SMB and 1 represents the HTTP/WebDAV. The setting value is switched according to the selection of the radio buttons  610  and  620 . 
     A setting item  805  is an item indicating the setting of path information about the content to be displayed if the communication protocol is set to SMB. The path input into the textbox  611  is set in the value. 
     A setting item  806  is an item indicating the setting of the username used in accessing the path of the content to be displayed if the communication protocol is set to SMB. The username input into the textbox  612  is set in the value. 
     A setting item  807  is an item indicating the setting of the password used in accessing the path of the content to be displayed if the communication protocol is set to SMB. The password input into the textbox  613  is set in the value. 
     A setting item  808  is an item indicating the setting of path information about the content to be displayed if the communication protocol is set to the HTTP/WebDAV. The path input into the textbox  621  is set in the value. 
     A setting item  809  is an item indicating the setting of the username used in accessing the path of the content to be displayed if the communication protocol is set to the HTTP/WebDAV. The username input into the textbox  622  is set in the value. 
     A setting item  810  is an item indicating the setting of the password used in accessing the path of the content to be displayed if the communication protocol is set to the HTTP/WebDAV. The password input into the textbox  623  is set in the value. 
     Setting items  811  and  812  are items indicating the settings in performing encrypted communication if the communication protocol is set to the HTTP/WebDAV. The settings are switched by operating the checkboxes  624  and  625 . 
     A setting item  813  is an item indicating the setting of the timing to display the content if the authentication screen is set to be displayed at the start of operation of the image forming apparatus  100 . The setting is switched according to the selection of the radio buttons  630 . 
     A setting item  814  is an item indicating whether the setting to display the content during printing is ON or OFF. The setting is switched by operating the checkbox  640 . 
     A setting item  815  is an item indicating whether the setting to display the error screen when an error is detected is ON or OFF. The setting is switched by operating the checkbox  650 . 
     &lt;Display Settings of Authentication Screen&gt; 
     Next, setting screens for making display settings of the authentication screen will be described with reference to  FIGS.  9 A to  9 D . In the present exemplary embodiment, the setting screens illustrated in  FIGS.  9 A to  9 D  are displayed on the operation unit  209  or the client PC  102  under the control of the authentication processing unit  308 . The setting screens illustrated in  FIGS.  9 A to  9 D  are screens that can be displayed only when the user having the administrator rights is logged in. 
       FIG.  9 A  illustrates a setting screen for setting whether to enable or disable the user authentication. A setting screen  900  of  FIG.  9 A  includes an ON button  901  for enabling the user authentication and an OFF button  902  for disabling the user authentication. If the ON button  901  is selected, the user authentication is performed to use the functions of the image forming apparatus  100 . In such a case, an authentication screen  1100  for inputting authentication information, illustrated in  FIG.  11 A  ( 11 A- 1  and  11 A- 2 ), is displayed on the operation unit  209  at the display timing set on a setting screen  910  of  FIG.  9 B . If the OFF button  902  is selected, the user authentication is not needed to use the functions of the image forming apparatus  100 , and the authentication screen  1100  illustrated in  FIG.  11 A  is not displayed on the operation unit  209 . 
       FIG.  9 B  illustrates a setting screen for setting the display timing of the authentication screen  1100 . The setting screen  910  of  FIG.  9 B  includes buttons  911  and  912 . The button  911  is intended to make a setting to display the authentication screen at the start of operation of the image forming apparatus  100 . The button  912  is intended to make a setting to display the authentication screen in selecting a specific function of the image forming apparatus  100 .  FIG.  9 B  illustrates a state where the button  911  is selected. If the button  911  is selected, the authentication screen  1100  is displayed at the start of operation of the image forming apparatus  100 . In other words, if the authentication screen is set to be displayed at the start of operation, the user authentication is initially performed regardless of which function is used. If the button  912  is selected, a function selection menu  920  for selecting functions to perform the user authentication for pops up as illustrated in  FIG.  9 C . If a button  921  in the function selection menu  920  is selected, the display of the operation unit  209  is switched from the setting screen  910  to a setting screen  930  of  FIG.  9 D . 
       FIG.  9 D  illustrates a setting screen for selecting a function or functions to perform the user authentication for from the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus  100 . The image forming apparatus  100  performs the user authentication in using the function(s) selected on the setting screen  930  of  FIG.  9 D . In the example illustrated in  FIG.  9 D , the user authentication is performed in using the “copy”, “access stored files”, and “print” functions. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus  100  does not need the user authentication in using the function(s) not selected on the setting screen  930  of  FIG.  9 D . In the example illustrated in  FIG.  9 D , the user authentication is not needed in using the “scan and store”, “scan and send”, and “browser” functions. 
     &lt;Display Timing of Content&gt; 
     Next, the display timing of content will be described. 
       FIG.  10    illustrates a display example of content. In the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus  100  acquires an HTML file set in the textbox  621  of the signage setting screen  600  as web content  1000  from the content server  120 . The image forming apparatus  100  displays the acquired web content  1000  on the operation unit  209 . If the user presses a close button  1002 , the image forming apparatus  100  hides the web content  1000 . For example, the web content  1000  displays a disaster drill announcement as information to be notified to users who use the image forming apparatus  100 . In the present exemplary embodiment, announcements to staff members are registered as content and displayed on the operation unit  209  using the signage application  300 . This can help share information among the staff members and implement corporate information control. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the settings on the signage setting screen  600  and the various setting screens  900 ,  910 , and  930  are made by the administrator of the image forming apparatus  100 . The image forming apparatus  100  controls switching of the screen of the operation unit  209  based on the settings. The screen transition of the operation unit  209  based on the settings will now be described in detail. 
     The screen transition of the operation unit  209  in cases where the setting to display content on the operation unit  209  and the setting to perform the user authentication are made will be described with reference to  FIGS.  11 A to  11 C  ( 11 C- 1  and  11 C- 2 ). Specifically, the checkbox  601  of  FIG.  7    is checked and the ON button  901  of  FIG.  9 A  is selected here. 
       FIG.  11 A  illustrates the screen transition in a case where the setting to perform the user authentication at the start of operation of the image forming apparatus  100  and the setting to display the content after a login are made. Specifically, in this case, the button  911  of  FIG.  9 B  is selected and the setting of the display timing is switched to display the content after a login by using the radio buttons  630  of  FIG.  7   . 
     The authentication screen  1100  is initially displayed on the operation unit  209 . The image forming apparatus  100  then performs the user authentication using the authentication information input on the authentication screen  1100 , and if the user authentication is successful, performs the login processing. After the login processing, the image forming apparatus  100  acquires the web content  1000  from the content server  120  and displays the acquired web content  1000  on the operation unit  209 . If the close button  1002  on the web content  1000  is pressed, the image forming apparatus  100  displays the main menu screen  1102  that is the initial screen on the operation unit  209 . If the user presses any of the function buttons on the main menu screen  1102 , the image forming apparatus  100  displays a screen corresponding to the selected function button on the operation unit  209 . For example, if a function button  1121  corresponding to the copy function is selected, the image forming apparatus  100  displays an application screen  1103  for making copy-related settings on the operation unit  209 . If a function button  1122  corresponding to the scan and store function is selected, the image forming apparatus  100  displays a setting screen  1104  for making settings related to the scan and store function on the operation unit  209 . In contrast, if the auto clear transition time has elapsed without the user operating the operation unit  209 , the image forming apparatus  100  performs the auto clear processing. The image forming apparatus  100  then performs the logout processing, and switches the display of the operation unit  209  to the authentication screen  1100 . 
     As described above, with the settings of  FIG.  11 A , the web content  1000  is displayed to the user succeeded in user authentication when the user starts operating the image forming apparatus  100 . This can successfully attract the user&#39;s attention to effectively inform the user of the company announcement, for example. 
       FIG.  11 B  ( 11 B- 1  and  11 B- 2 ) illustrates the screen transition in a case where the setting to perform the user authentication at the start of operation of the image forming apparatus  100  and the setting to display the content after an auto clear are made. Specifically, in this case, the button  911  of  FIG.  9 B  is selected and the setting of the display timing is switched to display the content after an auto clear by using the radio buttons  630  of  FIG.  7   . 
       FIG.  11 B  is different from  FIG.  11 A  mainly in that the image forming apparatus  100 , if the auto clear transition time has elapsed and the auto clear processing is performed, displays the web content  1000  on the operation unit  209  instead of the authentication screen  1100 . If the close button  1002  is pressed on the web content  1000 , the image forming apparatus  100  displays the authentication screen  1100  on the operation unit  209 . Then, if the login processing is performed, the image forming apparatus  100  switches the display of the operation unit  209  to the main menu screen  1102  that is the initial screen. 
     As described above, with the settings of  FIG.  11 B , the web content  1000  is displayed after an auto clear. 
     The web content  1000  is thus displayed before the user operates the image forming apparatus  100 . This increases the opportunities for the web content  1000  to be noticed even by users who are not intended to operate the image forming apparatus  100  but simply passing in front of the image forming apparatus  100 , and improves the advertising function. 
       FIG.  11 C  illustrates the screen transition in a case where the setting to perform the user authentication in selecting a specific function of the image forming apparatus  100  and the setting to display the content after an auto clear are made. Specifically, in this case, the button  912  of  FIG.  9 B  is selected and the setting of the display timing is switched to display the content after an auto clear by using the radio buttons  630  of  FIG.  7   . Suppose also that the “copy”, “access stored files”, and “print” functions are selected as the functions to perform the user authentication for as illustrated in  FIG.  9 D . 
       FIG.  11 C  is different from  FIG.  11 B  mainly in that the image forming apparatus  100 , if the close button  1002  on the web content  1000  is pressed, displays the main menu screen  1102  that is the initial screen on the operation unit  209  instead of the authentication screen  1100 . If the user presses a function button corresponding to a function to perform the user authentication for on the main menu screen  1102 , the image forming apparatus  100  displays the authentication screen  1100  on the operation unit  209 . For example, if the function button  1121  corresponding to the copy function is selected, the image forming apparatus  100  displays the authentication screen  1100  on the operation unit  209 . If the user inputs authentication information and the user authentication is successful, the image forming apparatus  100  displays the application screen  1103  for making the copy-related settings on the operation unit  209 . In contrast, if the function button  1122  corresponding to the scan and store function is selected, the image forming apparatus  100  displays the setting screen  1104  for making the settings related to the scan and store function on the operation unit  209  without displaying the authentication screen  1100 . 
     As described above, with the settings of  FIG.  11 C , if the authentication screen  1100  is set to be displayed in selecting a specific function, the web content  1000  is not displayed after the user login but after an auto clear. If the web content  1000  were set to be displayed after a login as with the setting of  FIG.  11 A  and the specific function were selected, the web content would be displayed. In contrast, if a function other than the specific one were selected, the web content  1000  would not be displayed. This could reduce the opportunities for users who, for example, frequently use the scan and store function but not the copy function to see the web content  1000 . By contrast, the setting to display the web content  1000  after an auto clear enables the image forming apparatus  100  on standby to be used as a signage display device regardless of the functions used. Company announcements can thereby be made widely known to users. 
     Next, the screen transition of the operation unit  209  in a case where the screen display of the signage application  300  is set to ON and a setting not to perform the user authentication is made will be described with reference to  FIG.  12 A  ( 12 A- 1  and  12 A- 2 ). Specifically, in this case, the checkbox  601  of  FIG.  7    is checked and the OFF button  902  of  FIG.  9 A  is selected. 
     With the settings of  FIG.  12 A , the image forming apparatus  100  displays the web content  1000  after an auto clear as in  FIG.  11 C , but does not display authentication screen  1100  at the start of operation or when a function is selected. The image forming apparatus  100  can thus be effectively used as a signage display device as is the case with  FIG.  11 C . 
     Next, the screen transition in a case where the content is set to be displayed during printing will be described with reference to  FIG.  12 B . Specifically, in this case, the checkbox  640  of  FIG.  7    is checked. 
     The user initially selects a function button  1123  corresponding to the print function on the main menu screen  1102 . The image forming apparatus  100  displays an application screen  1105  for making settings related to the print function. If the user selects a print start button  1107  on the application screen  1105 , the image forming apparatus  100  displays the web content  1000  on the operation unit  209 . Then, if the printing is completed or the close button  1002  is pressed on the web content  1000 , the image forming apparatus  100  switches the display of the operation unit  209  from the web content  1000  to the application screen  1105 . Now, suppose that the checkbox  640  of  FIG.  7    is not checked. In such a case, the image forming apparatus  100  does not display the web content  1000  on the operation unit  209  even if the print start button  1107  is selected on the application screen  1105 . If an instruction to start a print job is accepted without displaying the application screen  1105 , the image forming apparatus  100  does not display the web content  1000  on the operation unit  209 , either. 
     &lt;Display of Error Screen&gt; 
       FIG.  13    illustrates a display example of the error screen displayed on the operation unit  209  if an error is detected at the display timing of the content. An error screen  1301  displays an error message  1302  describing details of the detected error. For example,  FIG.  13    illustrates an error message for notifying of a “communication error” when a communication error is detected. The error type is not limited thereto. The error screen  1301  displays error messages  1302  corresponding to a plurality of error types to be described with reference to  FIG.  14   . 
       FIG.  14    is a diagram illustrating an example of an error management table  1400  for managing errors occurring in displaying the content. The error management table  1400  may be stored in the HDD  204  of the image forming apparatus  100  or in the content server  120 . 
     An error code  1401  lists numbers (error codes) for identifying the types of error detected. 
     An error type  1402  lists error types corresponding to the error codes. 
     An error item  1403  is an item indicating a “no-file error” resulting from a failure in acquiring the content due to reasons, such as the absence of the content in the set path, when acquiring the content. 
     An error item  1404  is an item indicating an “authentication error” resulting from a failure of authentication performed based on the inputs to the textboxes  612  and  613  if a setting to perform authentication for the path input into the textbox  611  of the signage setting screen  600  is made. 
     The error item  1404  also indicates an “authentication error” resulting from a failure of authentication performed based on the inputs to the textboxes  622  and  623  if a setting to perform authentication for the path input into the textbox  621  is made. 
     An error item  1405  is an item indicating a “communication error” resulting from a failure in acquiring the content due to a network fault when acquiring the content. 
     An error item  1406  is an item indicating a “system error” resulting from a failure of the image forming apparatus  100  other than the errors corresponding to the error items  1403  to  1405  or error items  1407  to  1409 . 
     The error item  1407  is an item indicating an “oversized data error” resulting from a data size exceeding a predetermined upper limit value in acquiring the content. 
     The error item  1408  is an item indicating an “inconsistent format error” resulting from the acquired content lacking a format displayable by the content display unit  302 . 
     The error item  1409  is an item indicating an “auto clear time error” resulting from a failure of content display after an auto clear due to the setting of the auto clear transition time. 
     &lt;Screen Transition in Printing Content&gt; 
       FIG.  15    illustrates a display example of the web content. Unlike the web content  1000  illustrated in  FIG.  10   , web content  1500  illustrated in  FIG.  15    includes a hyperlink  1501 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the web content  1500  is an example of first content. 
     The hyperlink  1501  includes embedded information specifying linked content. In the present exemplary embodiment, the linked content is content to be printed  1510 . 
     If the user selects the hyperlink  1501 , the image forming apparatus  100  prints the content to be printed  1510 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the content to be printed  1510  is an example of second content. The web content  1500  includes link information indicating the storage location of the content to be printed  1510 , and the content to be printed  1510  is associated with the web content  1500 . 
     Next, the screen transition of the operation unit  209  in a case where the web content  1500  is acquired will now be described. 
       FIG.  17 A  illustrates the screen transition in a case where the same settings as with  FIG.  11 A  are made. 
     The authentication screen  1100  is initially displayed on the operation unit  209 . If the image forming apparatus  100  performs the user authentication using authentication information input on the authentication screen  1100  and the user authentication is successful, the image forming apparatus  100  performs the login processing. After the login processing, the image forming apparatus  100  acquires the web content  1500  from the content server  120  and displays the acquired web content  1500  on the operation unit  209 . If the hyperlink  1501  in the web content  1500  is selected, the image forming apparatus  100  displays a print dialog on the web content  1500 . 
       FIG.  16    illustrates an example of the print dialog. A print dialog  1601  includes an OK button  1603  serving as an instruction button for issuing an instruction to perform printing, and a cancel button  1602  for cancelling printing. The image forming apparatus  100  starts to download the content to be printed  1510  at the same time as the display of the print dialog, and stores the content to be printed  1510  in the HDD  204 . Here, the content to be printed  1510  is assumed to be, but not limited to, a file in the PDF format. If the user presses the OK button  1603  on the print dialog  1601 , the image forming apparatus  100  prints the content to be printed  1510  and hides the print dialog  1601 . In contrast, if the user presses the cancel button  1602  on the print dialog  1601 , the image forming apparatus  100  cancels printing and hides the print dialog  1601 . 
       FIG.  17 B  ( 17 B- 1  and  17 B- 2 ) illustrates the screen transition in a case where the same settings as with  FIG.  11 B  are made. 
     In  FIG.  17 B , if the auto clear transition time has elapsed and the auto clear processing is performed, the image forming apparatus  100  displays the web content  1500  on the operation unit  209 . If the hyperlink  1501  in the web content  1500  is selected, the image forming apparatus  100  displays the content to be printed  1510  on the operation unit  209 . In  FIG.  17 B , the hyperlink  1501  is pressed in an unauthenticated state before authentication, and the image forming apparatus  100  does not print the content to be printed  1510 . If a close button  1511  on the content to be printed  1510  is then pressed, the image forming apparatus  100  displays the authentication screen  1100  on the operation unit  209 . If the signage application  300  detects an error when the hyperlink  1501  is selected, the image forming apparatus  100  displays the error screen  1301  of  FIG.  13    on the operation unit  209  instead of the content to be printed  1510 . 
     &lt;Content Print Processing&gt; 
       FIG.  4 A  is a flowchart illustrating content print processing performed by the image forming apparatus  100  according to the present exemplary embodiment. The processing of this flowchart is regularly performed after the image forming apparatus  100  is powered on, for example. 
     In step S 401 , the CPU  201  initially performs issuance processing (display trigger issuance processing) for issuing, if an event notification is received, a display trigger to display content based on the type of event notification received and the settings of the signage application  300 . Details of the processing in step S 401  will be described below with reference to  FIG.  4 B  ( FIGS.  4 B- 1  and  4 B- 2   ). 
     In step S 402 , the CPU  201  determines whether a display trigger is issued in step S 401 . If the CPU  201  determines that a display trigger is issued (YES in step S 402 ), the processing proceeds to step S 403 . If the CPU  201  determines that no display trigger is issued (NO in step S 402 ), the processing returns to step S 401  to wait for the issuance of a display trigger. 
     In step S 403 , the CPU  201  acquires the path information about the content set on the setting screen of the signage application  300 . Specifically, the content management unit  305  refers to the content setting management table  306  and acquires the path information about the content. 
     In step S 404 , the CPU  201  acquires the content to be displayed from the content server  120  based on the path information about the content, acquired in step S 403 , and reads the acquired content into the RAM  203 . 
     In step S 405 , the CPU  201  controls display of the screen of the signage application  300  on the operation unit  209 . The screen of the signage application  300  displays the content acquired in step S 404 , e.g., the web content  1500 . 
     In step S 406 , the CPU  201  determines whether linked content is selected in the content displayed in step S 405 . Specifically, the CPU  201  determines whether the hyperlink  1501  to the web content  1500  is pressed. If the CPU  201  determines that the linked content is selected (YES in step S 406 ), the processing proceeds to step S 407 . If CPU  201  determines that the linked content is not selected (NO in step S 406 ), the processing of this flowchart ends. 
     In step S 407 , the CPU  201  determines whether the image forming apparatus  100  is in an authenticated state. In the present exemplary embodiment, the content is permitted to be printed if the image forming apparatus  100  is in the authenticated state. If the image forming apparatus  100  is in an unauthenticated state, the content is not permitted to be printed. If the CPU  201  determines that the image forming apparatus  100  is in the authenticated state (YES in step S 407 ), the processing proceeds to step S 408 . If the CPU  201  determines that the image forming apparatus  100  is in the unauthenticated state (NO in step S 407 ), the processing of this flowchart ends. 
     In step S 408 , the CPU  201  acquires the content to be printed from a server storing the linked content (e.g., the content server  120 ) and stores the content to be printed into the HDD  204 . Specifically, the CPU  201  acquires the content to be printed  1510  based on the link information specified by the hyperlink  1501  and downloading the content to be printed  1510  into the HDD  204 . 
     In step S 409 , the CPU  201  determines whether the download processing in step S 408  is successful. If the CPU  201  determines that the download processing is successful (YES in step S 409 ), the processing proceeds to step S 410 . If the CPU  201  determines that the download processing is failed (NO in step S 409 ), the processing proceeds to step S 413 . Examples of an error causing the failure of the download processing may include an oversized data error and a communication error. 
     In step S 413 , the CPU  201  displays an error screen on the operation unit  209 . For example, the CPU  201  displays the error message  1302  indicating details of the error as with the error screen  1301 . 
     The CPU  201  may display an error screen if the downloaded content to be printed is not in a printable format. The processing of this flowchart ends. 
     In step S 410 , the CPU  201  displays a print dialog on the content displayed on the operation unit  209 . For example, the CPU  201  displays the OK button  1603  for issuing an instruction to print the content to be printed and the cancel button  1602  for cancelling printing, similarly to the print dialog  1601 . 
     In step S 411 , the CPU  201  determines whether an instruction to perform printing is given using the print dialog displayed in step S 410 . Specifically, the CPU  201  determines which button is pressed, the OK button  1603  or the cancel button  1602 . If the CPU  201  determines that the instruction to perform printing is issued (YES in step S 411 ), the processing proceeds to step S 412 . If the CPU  201  determines that an instruction to cancel printing is issued (NO in step S 411 ), the processing of this flowchart ends. 
     In step S 412 , the CPU  201  prints the content to be printed downloaded into the HDD  204  in step S 408 . Specifically, the CPU  201  prints the content to be printed  1510 . The processing of this flowchart then ends. 
     Next, details of the display trigger issuance processing performed in step S 401  of  FIG.  4 A  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG.  4 B . 
     In step S 421 , the CPU  201  determines whether an event notification is received. Specifically, the CPU  201  determines whether the event reception unit  307  receives a login event from the authentication processing unit  308 , an auto clear event from the auto clear processing unit  309 , or a print job start event from the print management unit  310 . If the CPU  201  determines that an event notification is received (YES in step S 421 ), the processing proceeds to step S 422 . If the CPU  201  determines that no event notification is received (NO in step S 421 ), the processing returns to step S 421  to wait for the reception of an event notification. 
     In step S 422 , the CPU  201  determines whether the setting to display content acquired by the signage application  300  is made. Specifically, the content management unit  305  acquires the setting value corresponding to the setting item  803  from the content setting management table  306 , and determines whether the display of the signage application  300  is set to ON. If the CPU  201  determines that the display of the signage application  300  is set to OFF (NO in step S 422 ), the processing returns to  FIG.  4 A . If the CPU  201  determines that the display of the signage application  300  is set to ON (YES in step S 422 ), the processing proceeds to step S 423 . 
     In step S 423 , the CPU  201  determines whether the event notification received in step S 421  is a print job start event. If the CPU  201  determines that the received event notification is a print job start event (YES in step S 423 ), the processing proceeds to step S 424 . If the CPU  201  determines that the received event notification is not a print job start event (NO in step S 423 ), the processing proceeds to step S 426 . 
     In step S 424 , the CPU  201  determines whether the setting to display content during printing is made. Specifically, the content management unit  305  acquires the setting value corresponding to the setting item  814  from the content setting management table  306 , and determines whether the display during printing is set to ON. If the CPU  201  determines that the display during printing is set to ON (YES in step S 424 ), the processing proceeds to step S 425 . If the CPU  201  determines that the display during printing is set to OFF (NO in step S 424 ), the processing returns to  FIG.  4 A . 
     In step S 425 , the CPU  201  determines whether the application screen  1105  of  FIG.  12 B  is displayed on the operation unit  209 . If the CPU  201  determines that the application screen  1105  is not displayed (NO in step S 425 ), the processing returns to  FIG.  4 A . If the CPU  201  determines that the application screen  1105  is displayed (YES in step S 425 ), the processing proceeds to step S 432 . 
     In step S 426 , the CPU  201  determines whether the event notification received in step S 421  is a login event or an auto clear event. If the CPU  201  determines that the received event notification is a login event (YES in step S 426 ), the processing proceeds to step S 427 . If the CPU  201  determines that the received event notification is an auto clear event (NO in step S 426 ), the processing proceeds to step S 429 . 
     In step S 427 , the CPU  201  determines whether the image forming apparatus  100  is set to perform user authentication at the start of operation. If the CPU  201  determines that the image forming apparatus  100  is not set to perform user authentication at the start of operation, i.e., is set to perform user authentication in selecting a specific function (NO in step S 427 ), the processing returns to  FIG.  4 A . If the CPU  201  determines that the image forming apparatus  100  is set to perform user authentication at the start of operation (YES in step S 427 ), the processing proceeds to step S 428 . 
     In step S 428 , the CPU  201  determines whether the setting to display content after a login is made. Specifically, the content management unit  305  acquires the setting value corresponding to the setting item  813  from the content setting management table  306 , and determines whether the display timing of content is after a login. If the CPU  201  determines that the setting to display content after an auto clear is made (NO in step S 428 ), the processing returns to  FIG.  4 A . If the CPU  201  determines that the setting to display content after a login is made (YES in step S 428 ), the processing proceeds to step S 432 . 
     In step S 429 , the CPU  201  determines whether the image forming apparatus  100  is set to perform user authentication at the start of operation. If the CPU  201  determines that the image forming apparatus  100  is not set to perform user authentication at the start of operation (NO in step S 429 ), the processing proceeds to step S 431 . If the CPU  201  determines that the image forming apparatus  100  is set to perform user authentication at the start of operation (YES in step S 429 ), the processing proceeds to step S 430 . 
     In step S 430 , the CPU  201  determines whether the setting to display content after an auto clear is made. Specifically, the content management unit  305  acquires the setting value corresponding to the setting item  813  from the content setting management table  306 , and determines whether the display timing of content is after an auto clear. If the CPU  201  determines that the setting to display content after a login is made (NO in step S 430 ), the processing returns to  FIG.  4 A . If the CPU  201  determines that the setting to display content after an auto clear is made (YES in step S 430 ), the processing proceeds to step S 432 . 
     In step S 431 , the CPU  201  determines whether the image forming apparatus  100  is either set to perform user authentication in selecting a specific function or set to not perform user authentication. If the CPU  201  determines that the image forming apparatus  100  is either set to perform user authentication in selecting a specific function or set to not perform user authentication (YES in step S 431 ), the processing proceeds to step S 432 . If the CPU  201  determines that the image forming apparatus  100  is set to perform user authentication at the start of operation (NO in step S 431 ), the processing returns to  FIG.  4 A . 
     In step S 432 , the CPU  201  issues a content display trigger. The processing then returns to  FIG.  4 A . 
     According to the first exemplary embodiment described above, the linked content to be printed  1510  can be easily printed by simply selecting the hyperlink  1501  in the web content  1500  displayed on the operation unit  209 . The user using the image forming apparatus  100  can thus easily take out and check the information about the web content  1500 . Moreover, the content to be printed  1510  is permitted to be printed if the web content  1500  is displayed in the authenticated state, but is not permitted to be printed if the web content  1500  is displayed in the unauthenticated state. In terms of security measures, this can avoid a situation where the content to be printed  1510  is permitted to be printed by anybody. In addition, a print log can be kept. As illustrated in  FIG.  17 B , in the unauthenticated state, the CPU  201  may display the linked content to be printed  1510  on the operation unit  209 . 
     In the first exemplary embodiment, a method for printing the content to be printed by selecting a hyperlink in the content to be displayed has been described. The method according to the first exemplary embodiment is mostly effective in printing content on a web server, and is based on the embedment of the information about the content to be printed in the content to be displayed. However, the signage application  300  can handle content such as that on an SMB server, aside from that on the web server. In a second exemplary embodiment, a method capable of easily printing content to be printed regardless of the type of content to be displayed will be described. 
     &lt;Content Setting&gt; 
       FIG.  18    illustrates an example of a signage setting screen  600  according to the present exemplary embodiment. Differences from  FIG.  7    will be mainly described below. 
       FIG.  18    is different from  FIG.  7    in that a textbox  1801  and a checkbox  1802  are added. The textbox  1801  is an input field for inputting a path indicating the storage location of the content to be printed. Setting the path of the content to be printed enables specification of the content to be printed in association with the content to be displayed without a need to embed the information about the content to be printed in the content to be displayed in advance. The checkbox  1802  is used to switch a setting to print the content to be displayed on and off. If the checkbox  1802  is checked, the content specified by the path set in the textbox  621 , i.e., the content to be displayed is handled as the content to be printed. 
       FIG.  19    is a diagram illustrating an example of a content setting management table  306  according to the present exemplary embodiment.  FIG.  19    is different from  FIG.  8    in that a setting item  1901  is added. The setting item  1901  is an item indicating the setting of the path information about the content to be printed. The path input into the textbox  1801  is set in the value. 
     &lt;Screen Transition in Printing Content&gt; 
       FIG.  20    illustrates screen transition in a case where the same settings as with  FIG.  11 A  are made and the path of the content to be printed is set in the textbox  1801  of  FIG.  18   . 
     An authentication screen  1100  is initially displayed on an operation unit  209 . The image forming apparatus  100  performs user authentication using authentication information input on the authentication screen  1100 . If the user authentication is successful, the image forming apparatus  100  performs login processing. After the login processing, the image forming apparatus  100  acquires web content  1000  from a content server  120 , and displays the acquired web content  1000  on the operation unit  209 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the web content  1000  is an example of first content. Here, if a path of content to be printed is set in the textbox  1801  of  FIG.  18   , a print dialog  1601  is displayed on the web content  1000 .  FIG.  20    illustrates an example where the print dialog  1601  is displayed to hide the web content  1000 . However, a print instruction button may be displayed at a position not interfering with the visibility of the web content  1000  (e.g., beside a close button  1002  outside the content display area). If the user presses an OK button  1603  on the print dialog  1601 , the image forming apparatus  100  prints the content to be printed and hides the print dialog  1601 . In contrast, if the user presses a cancel button  1602  on the print dialog  1601 , the image forming apparatus  100  cancels printing and hides the print dialog  1601 . 
     &lt;Content Print Processing&gt; 
       FIG.  21 A  is a flowchart illustrating processing for downloading content to be printed in advance if the path of the content to be printed is set in the textbox  1801  of  FIG.  18   . The processing of this flowchart is regularly performed after the image forming apparatus  100  is powered on, for example. 
     In step S 2101 , the CPU  201  determines whether the content settings of the signage application  300  are updated. Specifically, the CPU  201  determines whether an OK button  661  on the signage setting screen  600  is pressed. If the CPU  201  determines that the content settings are updated (YES in step S 2101 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2102 . If the CPU  201  determines that the content settings are not updated (NO in step S 2101 ), the processing of this flowchart ends. 
     In step S 2102 , the CPU  201  acquires the setting values set on the setting screen of the signage application  300 . Specifically, a content management unit  305  reads the setting values of the content setting management table  306 . 
     In step S 2103 , the CPU  201  determines whether path information about the content to be printed is set, based on the result of acquisition in step S 2102 . If the CPU  201  determines that the pass information is set (YES in step S 2103 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2104 . If the CPU  201  determines that the pass information is not set (NO in step S 2103 ), the processing of this flowchart ends. 
     In step S 2104 , the CPU  201  performs processing for acquiring the content to be printed from a server storing the content to be printed (e.g., content server  120 ) and downloading the content to be printed into the HDD  204 . Specifically, the CPU  201  acquires the content specified in the textbox  1801  of  FIG.  18   . The processing of this flowchart ends. 
     According to the processing of the flowchart illustrated  FIG.  21 A  described above, the content to be printed is downloaded when the content settings are updated. The image forming apparatus  100  can thus start to print the content immediately after a print instruction. The content to be printed may be downloaded at other timing, not necessarily upon the update of the content settings. For example, the content to be printed may be downloaded when a logout instruction is accepted or when auto clear processing is received. 
       FIG.  21 B  is a flowchart illustrating content print processing performed by the image forming apparatus  100  according to the present exemplary embodiment. Suppose that the path information about the content to be printed is set before the execution of this flowchart. The processing of the flowchart is regularly performed after the image forming apparatus  100  is powered on, for example. 
     The processing of steps S 2111  to S 2115  is similar to that of steps S 401  to S 405 . A description thereof will thus be omitted. 
     In step S 2116 , the CPU  201  determines whether the image forming apparatus  100  is in an authenticated state. In the present exemplary embodiment, the content is permitted to be printed if the image forming apparatus  100  is in the authenticated state, and not permitted to be printed if the image forming apparatus  100  is in an unauthenticated state. If the CPU  201  determines that the image forming apparatus  100  is in the authenticated state (YES in step S 2116 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2117 . If the CPU  201  determines that the image forming apparatus  100  is in the unauthenticated state (NO in step S 2116 ), the processing of this flowchart ends. 
     In step S 2117 , the CPU  201  determines whether path information about content to be printed is set on the setting screen of the signage application  300  and there is content to be printed downloaded in step S 2104 . If the CPU  201  determines that path information about content to be printed is set and there is downloaded content to be printed (YES in step S 2117 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2118 . In contrast, if the CPU  201  determines that no path information about content to be printed is set or if the CPU  201  determines that there is no downloaded content to be printed (NO in step S 2117 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2121 . 
     In step S 2121 , the CPU  201  displays an error screen on the operation unit  209 . For example, an error screen  1301  displays an error message  1302  indicating the absence of the content to be printed, for example. The processing of this flowchart ends. 
     In step S 2118 , the CPU  201  displays a print dialog on the content displayed on the operation unit  209 . For example, the OK button  1603  for issuing an instruction to print the content to be printed and the cancel button  1602  for cancelling printing are displayed, similarly to the print dialog  1601 . 
     In step S 2119 , the CPU  201  uses the print dialog displayed in step S 2118  to determine whether an instruction to perform printing is given. Specifically, the CPU  201  determines which button is pressed, the OK button  1603  or the cancel button  1602 . If the CPU  201  determines that the instruction to perform printing is issued (YES in step S 2119 ), the processing proceeds to step S 2120 . If the CPU  201  determines that an instruction to cancel printing is issued (NO in step S 2119 ), the processing of this flowchart ends. 
     In step S 2120 , the CPU  201  prints the downloaded content if the setting to print the displayed content on the setting screen of the signage application  300  is OFF. In contrast, if the setting to print the displayed content is ON, the CPU  201  prints the content displayed in step S 2115 . In such a case, the CPU  201  may handle the content displayed in step S 2115  as the content to be printed instead of the downloaded content, or handle the content displayed in step S 2115  and the downloaded content as the content to be printed. The processing of this flowchart then ends. 
     As described above, in the second exemplary embodiment, the path information about the content to be printed  1510  is set aside from the path information about the web content  1000  to be displayed. The information about the content to be printed  1510  therefore does not need to be embedded in the web content  1000 . This enables printing of content on an SMB server in association with the web content  1000 . The user using the image forming apparatus  100  can thus easily take out and check the information about the web content  1000 . Moreover, the content to be printed  1510  is downloaded in advance like when the content settings are updated. The printing can thus be quickly performed without needing time to download the content after a print instruction is issued. 
     In the foregoing exemplary embodiments, the image forming apparatus  100  having a plurality of functions, such as a copy function and a scanner function, has been described as an example. However, the exemplary embodiments are also applicable to an image forming apparatus having only some of the functions. The exemplary embodiments may also be applied to other information processing apparatuses, such as a PC, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a facsimile (FAX), a camera, a video camera, and other image viewers. 
     OTHER EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiment(s) of the present disclosure can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), 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) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. 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, it is to be understood that the disclosure 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 such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-182644, filed Nov. 9, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.