Patent Publication Number: US-9906677-B2

Title: Web content display system, image forming apparatus, web page providing method, and computer program

Description:
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-196860 filed on Oct. 2, 2015 including description, claims, drawings, and abstract are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a technique of providing web content to a terminal apparatus executing remote access to an image forming apparatus. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     An image forming apparatus having integrated functions of a copier, a network printer, a fax machine, a scanner, a file server, or the like, is widely available. This type of image forming apparatus is referred to as a “combined machine” or a “multi-function peripheral (MFP)”. 
     A display of an image forming apparatus in recent years has increased its size and resolution. In addition, there has emerged an image forming apparatus equipped with a web browser. 
     Along with this trend, there is a proposed technique of providing, as a server-side support, dynamic web content linked with a function or state unique to the image forming apparatus (JP 2009-238232 A). Furthermore, there is also a proposed technique of providing data by converting the web content into data that can be displayed on an operation panel (JP 2008-139981 A). 
     Using a miniaturized mobile-type terminal apparatus such as a smartphone, it is possible to execute remote access to an image forming apparatus and to remotely operate the image forming apparatus. 
     Using a remote access technique, it is possible to use, from the terminal apparatus, a web browser on the image forming apparatus. 
     Unfortunately, in a case where the web browser from the image forming apparatus is used on the terminal apparatus with conventional methods, it is not always possible to comfortably view the web content such as an obtained web page. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of this issue, and an object thereof is to provide a function to display web content more suitably than before in a case where a user browses the web content by executing remote access from a terminal apparatus having a miniaturized display, such as a smartphone, to an image forming apparatus. 
     To achieve the abovementioned object, according to an aspect, an image forming apparatus that can be remotely accessed from a terminal apparatus reflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises: a display; a display control unit configured to control display of the display and to transmit image data of an image to the terminal apparatus in order to display the image to be displayed on the display, onto the terminal apparatus; an attribute information acquisition unit configured to obtain first attribute information related to an attribute of the terminal apparatus; a web content acquisition unit configured to obtain web content by issuing a notification of second attribute information related to an attribute of the image forming apparatus to a server in a case where remote access is not being executed from the terminal apparatus, and by issuing a notification of the first attribute information to the server in a case where remote access is being executed from the terminal apparatus; and a browser unit configured to generate an image based on the obtained web content, wherein the display control unit displays, on the display, an image based on the web content that corresponds to the second attribute information, generated by the browser unit, in a case where remote access is not being executed from the terminal apparatus, and transmits, to the terminal apparatus, the image data of an image based on the web content that corresponds to the first attribute information, generated by the browser unit, in a case where remote access is being executed from the terminal apparatus. 
     To achieve the abovementioned object, according to an aspect, a web content display system reflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises: the above image forming apparatus; and a server configured to provide web content to the image forming apparatus, wherein the server includes a web content transmission unit configured to transmit, to the image forming apparatus, web content that corresponds to one of the first attribute information and the second attribute information, notified from the image forming apparatus, as the web content. 
     To achieve the abovementioned object, according to an aspect, an image forming apparatus that can be remotely accessed from a terminal apparatus reflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises: a display; a display control unit configured to control display of the display and to transmit image data of an image to the terminal apparatus in order to display the image to be displayed on the display, onto the terminal apparatus; an attribute information acquisition unit configured to obtain first attribute information related to an attribute of the terminal apparatus; a web content acquisition unit configured to obtain web content from a server by issuing a notification of second attribute information related to an attribute of the image forming apparatus to a server; and a browser unit configured to generate an image based on the obtained web content, wherein the display control unit displays, on the display, the image based on the web content that corresponds to the second attribute information, generated by the browser unit, in a case where remote access is not being executed from the terminal apparatus, and transmits, to the terminal apparatus, the image data of the obtained web content that have been adjusted on a basis of the first attribute information, in a case where remote access is being executed from the terminal apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary overall configuration of a web page browsing system; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware configuration of a terminal apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating exemplary functional configurations of an image forming apparatus and a terminal apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a sequence diagram illustrating an exemplary processing flow of an image forming apparatus, a terminal apparatus, and a web server, at the time of remote access; 
         FIG. 6  is a sequence diagram illustrating an exemplary processing flow of an image forming apparatus, a terminal apparatus, and a web server, at the time of remote access; 
         FIG. 7  is a sequence diagram illustrating an exemplary processing flow of an image forming apparatus, a terminal apparatus, and a web server, at the time of remote access; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary menu screen; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary large-sized web page; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary small-sized web page; 
         FIGS. 11A to 11C  are diagrams for illustrating exemplary web page adjustment processing; 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary processing flow based on a server program; 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary processing flow based on a web browser program; and 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary processing flow based on a web browser program. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary overall configuration of a web page browsing system  100 .  FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus  1 .  FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware configuration of a terminal apparatus  2 .  FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating exemplary functional configurations of the image forming apparatus  1  and the terminal apparatus  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the web page browsing system  100  includes the image forming apparatus  1 , the terminal apparatus  2 , a web server  3 , and a communication line  4 . 
     The image forming apparatus  1 , the terminal apparatus  2 , and the web server  3  can communicate with each other via a communication line  4 . The Internet, a local area network (LAN) line, a fixed telephone line, a mobile telephone line, or the like, is used as the communication line  4 . 
     The image forming apparatus  1  is an apparatus having integrated function of a copier, a network printer, a fax machine, a scanner, a file server, or the like. This apparatus is also referred to as a “combined machine” or a “multi-function peripheral (MFP)”. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the image forming apparatus  1  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  10   a , a random access memory (RAM)  10   b , a read only memory (ROM)  10   c , an auxiliary storage apparatus  10   d , a touch panel display  10   e , an operation key panel  10   f , a network interface card (NIC)  10   g , a short-distance radio communication apparatus  10   h , a modem  10   i , a scan unit  10   j , and a print unit  10   k.    
     The touch panel display  10   e  displays a screen indicating a message for a user, a screen for inputting a command or information by the user, a screen indicating a result of processing executed by the CPU  10   a , or the like. The touch panel display  10   e  also transmits a signal indicating a touched position, to the CPU  10   a . Hereinafter, the touch panel display  10   e  will be described with an exemplary case of using a touch panel display having resolution of 800×480 pixels. 
     By causing the terminal apparatus  2  to remotely access the image forming apparatus  1 , the user can remotely operate the image forming apparatus  1  using the terminal apparatus  2  instead of the touch panel display  10   e.    
     The operation key panel  10   f  represents a hardware keyboard, and includes a ten-key pad, a start key, a stop key, and function keys. 
     The NIC  10   g  communicates with the terminal apparatus  2  or the web server  3  using a protocol such as transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP). 
     The short-distance radio communication apparatus  10   h  performs communication using radio waves having a travel range from several to a dozen meters. An apparatus conforming to a standard that is Bluetooth (registered trademark), a universal serial bus (USB), or the like, is used as the short-distance radio communication apparatus  10   h.    
     The modem  10   i  transmits/receives image data to/from a facsimile terminal, using a protocol such as G 3 . 
     The scan unit  10   j  reads an image on a sheet set on a platen glass base and generates image data. 
     The print unit  10   k  prints, on a sheet, an image read by the scan unit  10   j  and other image received from the terminal apparatus  2 , the web server  3 , or the like, via the NIC  10   g , the short-distance radio communication apparatus  10   h , or the modem  10   i.    
     The ROM  10   c  or the auxiliary storage apparatus  10   d  stores a program for enabling the above-described functions such as copying, and a server program  1 P 1  for accepting remote access from the terminal apparatus  2 . Moreover, a web browser program  1 P 2  is stored as a program for enabling the web browser. 
     These programs are loaded onto the RAM  10   b  and executed by the CPU  10   a , as required. A hard disk, a solid state drive (SSD), or the like, is used as the auxiliary storage apparatus  10   d.    
     The terminal apparatus  2  is a client for remotely using the above-described functions of the image forming apparatus  1 . As the terminal apparatus  2 , a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a mobile telephone terminal, or the like, is used. Hereinafter, the terminal apparatus  2  will be described with an exemplary case of using a smartphone as the terminal apparatus  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the terminal apparatus  2  includes a CPU  20   a , a RAM  20   b , a ROM  20   c , a flash memory  20   d , a touch panel display  20   e , an operation button group  20   f , a digital camera  20   g , a wireless LAN communication apparatus  20   h , a short-distance radio communication apparatus  20   i , a mobile telephone communication apparatus  20   j , or the like. 
     The touch panel display  20   e  displays a screen indicating a message for a user, a screen for inputting a command or information by the user, a screen indicating a result of processing executed by the CPU  20   a . During remote access to the image forming apparatus  1 , the touch panel display  20   e  displays a screen that should be displayed on the touch panel display  10   e  of the image forming apparatus  1 . The touch panel display  20   e  also transmits a signal indicating a touched position, to the CPU  20   a . Hereinafter, the touch panel display  20   e  will be described with an exemplary case of using a touch panel display having resolution of 480×320 pixels. 
     The operation button group  20   f  includes a button to return to a home screen, a button to verify something, a button to adjust sound volume, a button to switch power on/off. The digital camera  20   g  captures various images. 
     The wireless LAN communication apparatus  20   h  performs communication with the image forming apparatus  1  using a protocol such as TCP/IP via a base station that constitutes the communication line  4 . 
     The short-distance radio communication apparatus  20   i  performs short-distance radio communication on a basis of a standard same as the standard of the short-distance radio communication apparatus  10   h  of the image forming apparatus  1 . The mobile telephone communication apparatus  20   j  performs communication via a mobile telephone network. 
     The ROM  20   c  or the flash memory  20   d  stores a driver and an application program enabling the use of the above-described functions of the image forming apparatus  1 . In addition, a client program  2 P 1  is stored as a program for executing remote access to the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     These programs are loaded onto the RAM  20   b  and executed by the CPU  20   a , as required. 
     The web server  3  provides a web page to a client, namely, the image forming apparatus  1 , the terminal apparatus  2 , or the like. In some cases, the web server  3  transmits one or more prepared files to the client. In other cases, the web server  3  generates a web page using a common gateway interface (CGI), or the like, according to the data given by the client and transmits a generated web page file to the client. These files are typically described with a hypertext markup language (HTML), JavaScript (registered trademark), or the like. An image file with an image format of the graphics interchange format (GIF), the joint photographic experts group (JPEG), or the like, is transmitted as an image file to form a web page. 
     The web server  3  provides a web page according to an attribute of the client, as a web page corresponding to one uniform resource locator (URL). 
     For example, in a case where display resolution is predetermined resolution or above, the web server  3  provides a web page designed for a personal computer or a tablet computer. In a case where display resolution is below the predetermined resolution, the web server  3  provides a web page designed for a smartphone. This mechanism is well known. 
     With the server program  1 P 1 , the web browser program  1 P 2 , and the client program  2 P 1 , the user can browse a web page suitable for the terminal apparatus  2  instead of the image forming apparatus  1  even in a case where the user executes remote access from the terminal apparatus  2  to the image forming apparatus  1  and browse the web page. Hereinafter, this mechanism will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 , or the like. 
     With the server program  1 P 1 , functions of a remote operation handling unit  101 , a screen data generation unit  102 , a screen data transmission unit  103 , or the like, illustrated in  FIG. 4 , are enabled on the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     With the web browser program  1 P 2 , the functions including a mode storage unit  121 , a mode switching unit  122 , a user agent data acquisition unit  123 , a web page data acquisition unit  124 , a web page adjustment unit  125 , a web page display unit  126 , or the like, illustrated in  FIG. 4 , are enabled on the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     With the client program  2 P 1 , functions of an operation data transmission unit  201 , a display processing unit  202 , a user agent data transmission unit  203 , or the like, illustrated in  FIG. 4 , are enabled on the terminal apparatus  2 . 
     In addition to these, the server program  1 P 1  and the client program  2 P 1  enables functions for connecting the image forming apparatus  1  with the terminal apparatus  2  to execute remote access from the terminal apparatus  2  to the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     [Outline of Individual Portions] 
     After the image forming apparatus  1  and the terminal apparatus  2  are connected with each other for remote access, the operation data transmission unit  201  of the terminal apparatus  2  transmits operation data  5 A indicating operation details to the image forming apparatus  1  each time the user performs operation on the terminal apparatus  2  until specific operation (for example, input of a remote access finish command) is performed. 
     When the operation data  5 A are transmitted from the terminal apparatus  2 , the remote operation handling unit  101  of the image forming apparatus  1  handles user operation of the terminal apparatus  2  on a basis of the operation data  5 A. 
     The screen data generation unit  102  generation data  5 B used to display a screen to be displayed on the touch panel display  10   e , on the terminal apparatus  2 . 
     The screen data transmission unit  103  transmits the screen data  5 B to the terminal apparatus  2  each time the screen data  5 B are generated by the screen data generation unit  102 . 
     The display processing unit  202  of the terminal apparatus  2  displays a screen on the touch panel display  20   e  on a basis of the screen data  5 B each time the screen data  5 B is transmitted from the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     The mode storage unit  121  stores current mode data  5 C. The current mode data  5 C indicates a current mode related to displaying of a web page. Prepared modes related to displaying of the web page include three modes, namely, a “normal mode”, a “remote access mode” and an “adjustment mode”. The default mode is a normal mode. 
     The normal mode is a mode of obtaining a web page suitable for the touch panel display  10   e  and displaying the web page. The remote access mode is a mode of obtaining a web page suitable for the display of the apparatus that has remotely accessed to the image forming apparatus  1  and displaying the obtained web page. The adjustment mode is a mode of obtaining a web page suitable for the touch panel display  10   e , adjusting the web page in accordance with a display of another apparatus (for example, terminal apparatus  2 ) that has remotely accessed the image forming apparatus  1 , and displaying the adjusted web page. 
     In addition, the mode storage unit  121  stores default mode data  5 D. The default mode data  5 D represents a default mode to be applied at the time when the image forming apparatus  1  is remotely accessed. As a default mode, any one of the remote access mode and the adjustment mode is preset by the user. 
     The mode switching unit  122  switches the mode by updating the current mode data  5 C stored in the mode storage unit  121 . 
     The user agent data acquisition unit  123  obtains user agent data  5 E indicating a user agent (UA) of the terminal apparatus  2 . 
     The user agent data transmission unit  203  of the terminal apparatus  2  transmits the user agent data  5 E to the image forming apparatus  1 . Details of the user agent data  5 E will be described below. 
     The web page data acquisition unit  124  of the image forming apparatus  1  obtains a file of a user-specified web page or a homepage (web page set to be displayed immediately after start of web browser) from the web server  3 . 
     The web page adjustment unit  125  adjusts, as required, a configuration of a web page for which the file has been obtained by the web page data acquisition unit  124 . 
     The web page display unit  126  displays a web page on the touch panel display  10   e  in a case where remote access is not being executed. 
     [Exemplary Processing on Individual Portions at Remote Access] 
       FIGS. 5 to 7  are sequence diagrams illustrating exemplary flows of processing of the image forming apparatus  1 , the terminal apparatus  2 , and the web server  3 , at remote access.  FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary menu screen  61 .  FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary large-sized web page  62 .  FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary small-sized web page  63 .  FIGS. 11A to 11C  are diagrams for illustrating exemplary web page adjustment processing. 
     Next, processing on individual portions in  FIG. 4  will be described more specifically with an exemplary case where the terminal apparatus  2  remotely accesses the image forming apparatus  1  and uses the web browser of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     A user starts the client program  2 P 1  on the terminal apparatus  2  in advance. Subsequently, the user inputs an identifier (for example, IP address) of the image forming apparatus  1  and a remote access command. 
     In response to this, a remote access request is issued from the terminal apparatus  2  to the image forming apparatus  1  (# 731  and # 701  in  FIG. 5 ), and thus, the image forming apparatus  1  and the terminal apparatus  2  establish (# 702  and # 732 ) connection (remote connection) with each other in a known method. 
     Once the connection is established, the touch panel display  10   e  is locked (# 703 ) in parallel with remote operation of the image forming apparatus  1 . With this mechanism, the touch panel display  10   e  stops receiving operation until it is unlocked. 
     The screen data generation unit  102  transmits, as screen data  5 B, screen data for displaying a predetermined screen, to the terminal apparatus  2 . In the present embodiment, the screen data of the menu screen  61  are transmitted (# 704 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , buttons  611  are arranged on the menu screen  61 . The buttons  611  are used to select from the functions included in the image forming apparatus  1 , such as copier, a fax machine, and a web browser. 
     On the terminal apparatus  2 , the display processing unit  202  receives the screen data  5 B (# 733 ), and thereafter, displays the menu screen  61  on the touch panel display  20   e  (# 734 ) on a basis of the screen data  5 B. The user touches the button  611  that corresponds to the web browser. 
     In response to this, the operation data transmission unit  201  receives the operation details (# 735 ), and transmits data indicating the operation to the image forming apparatus  1  (# 736 ) as operation data  5 A. In this case, data indicating the touch and the position of the touch are transmitted. 
     Upon receiving the operation data  5 A (# 705 ), the remote operation handling unit  101  on the image forming apparatus  1  handles user operation on a basis of the operation data  5 A. In this case, the web browser program  1 P 2  is started (# 706 ). 
     In a case where the web browser program  1 P 2  is started in response to the user operation on another apparatus (terminal apparatus  2  in the present embodiment) that is executing remote access, the mode switching unit  122  and the user agent data acquisition unit  123  execute the following processing. 
     The mode switching unit  122  switches a display mode to the mode displayed as the default mode data  5 D (# 707 ). Specifically, in a case where the remote access mode is displayed as the default mode data  5 D, the current mode data  5 C is updated to display the remote access mode. In a case where the adjustment mode is displayed, the current mode data  5 C is updated to display the adjustment mode. 
     The user agent data acquisition unit  123  issues a request for the user agent data  5 E to the terminal apparatus (# 708 ), and receives the requested data (# 709 ). 
     On the terminal apparatus  2 , when the user agent data transmission unit  203  receives a request for the user agent data  5 E from the image forming apparatus  1  (# 737 ), the user agent data transmission unit  203  transmits the requested data (# 738 ). The user agent data  5 E indicates the product name and the version of the web browser of the terminal apparatus  2 , an IP address of the terminal apparatus  2 , together with resolution and pixel density of the touch panel display  20   e . The unit of pixel density is “PPI” representing “pixel per inch”. 
     In a case where no remote access is being executed, the display mode remains to be the normal mode. In this case, the user agent data  5 E are not obtained. 
     On the image forming apparatus  1 , the web page data acquisition unit  124  obtains a web page file from the web server  3  in a manner described below. 
     The web page data acquisition unit  124  issues a request for a web page to the web server  3  (# 710  in  FIG. 6 ) according to the URL. Specifically, in a case where, immediately after the start of the web browser program  1 P 2 , there is a web page set as a homepage, the web page data acquisition unit  124  issues a request for this web page, to the web server  3 . In another case where there is no web page set as a homepage, the web page data acquisition unit  124  issues a request, to the web server  3 , for a web page specified with URL, or the like, later by the user by operating the terminal apparatus  2 . Although not illustrated in the sequence diagrams in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , data indicating operation details are transmitted, as the operation data  5 A, from the terminal apparatus  2  to the image forming apparatus  1  and request for this web page is issued to the web server  3 . 
     A web page request is issued with a known method. For example, the web page data acquisition unit  124  transmits a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request to the web server  3 . The HTTP request indicates a web page address, a user agent of the client, or the like. In a case where the user agent data  5 E has been obtained by the user agent data acquisition unit  123 , the web page data acquisition unit  124  writes the user agent indicated on the user agent data  5 E, into the HTTP request. With this operation, a portion or whole of the user agent data  5 E would be transmitted to the web server  3 . In a case where the user agent data  5 E has not been obtained by the user agent data acquisition unit  123 , the web page data acquisition unit  124  writes the user agent of the image forming apparatus  1  itself, into the HTTP request. 
     When the web server  3  receives the HTTP request (# 751 ), the web server  3  issues a request (# 752 ) toward the request-originating side for other information that is not indicated in the HTTP request, and obtains the information (# 753 ), as required. 
     The web page data acquisition unit  124  receives the request (# 711 ), and then, returns attribute data  5 F indicating requested information, to the web server  3  in the following manner (# 712 ). In a case where the user agent data  5 E has been obtained by the user agent data acquisition unit  123 , the web page data acquisition unit  124  transmits data indicating information indicated on the user agent data  5 E to the web server  3 , as the attribute data  5 F. In other cases, the web page data acquisition unit  124  transmits data indicating the attribute of the image forming apparatus  1 , as the attribute data  5 F. 
     By steps # 710  to # 712  and steps # 751  to # 753 , information, particularly on the web page address, and on display resolution, is issued for notification from the image forming apparatus  1  to the web server  3 . Hereinafter, the resolution notified from the image forming apparatus  1  will be referred to as “resolution Ra”. 
     Subsequently, the web server  3  transmits a file  5 G of the web page according to the HTTP request to the image forming apparatus  1  (# 754 ) in the following manner, and then, the web page data acquisition unit  124  of the image forming apparatus  1  receives the file  5 G (# 713 ). 
     When the web server  3  receives a request for a web page for managing data stored in a cloud storage, for example, the web server  3  transmits a file for displaying a large-sized web page  62  illustrated in  FIG. 9 , as the file  5 G, in a case where the resolution Ra is predetermined resolution Rb (for example, 600×480 pixel) or more. In contrast, in a case where the resolution Ra is below the predetermined resolution Rb, the web server  3  transmits a file for displaying the small-sized web page  63  as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , as the file  5 G. 
     The large-sized web page  62  is designed to match the resolution of the display of a personal computer or a tablet computer, and the small-sized web page  63  is designed to match the resolution of the display of a smartphone. Accordingly, there are more objects arranged on the large-sized web page  62  than the case of the small-sized web page  63 . 
     With the above-described processing, in the normal mode or adjustment mode, the web page data acquisition unit  124  obtains a file of the large-sized web page  62 , as the file  5 G, from the web server  3 . In the remote access mode, the web page data acquisition unit  124  obtains a file of the small-sized web page  63 , as the file  5 G. 
     When the file  5 G has been obtained by the web page data acquisition unit  124  on the image forming apparatus  1  and in a case where the display mode is the adjustment mode, web page adjustment processing is executed by the web page adjustment unit  125  (# 714 ). This processing will be described with an exemplary case of adjusting the web page  64  in  FIG. 11A . 
     The web page adjustment unit  125  rewrites the file  5 G so as to enlarge the web page  64 . Magnification of enlargement may be preset or may be set to (Db/Da) times. where, “Da” represents the pixel density of the touch panel display  10   e  of the image forming apparatus  1 , and “Db” represents the pixel density of the touch panel display  20   e  of the terminal apparatus  2 . 
     For example, in a case where (Da/Db) is “4”, the web page adjustment unit  125  rewrites the file  5 G such that the web page  64  is vertically and horizontally enlarged four times, as illustrated in  FIG. 11B . Hereinafter, the enlarged web page  64  will be referred to as a “web page  65 ”. 
     Alternatively, it is allowable to enlarge the web page  64  according to individual resolution of the touch panel display  10   e  and the touch panel display  20   e . For example, in a case where the resolution of the touch panel display  10   e  is (Wa×Ha) and the resolution of the touch panel display  20   e  is (Wb×Hb), it is allowable to vertically and horizontally enlarge a button  641  (Wa/Wb) times. Alternatively, it is allowable to enlarge the size (Ha/Hb) times. Still alternatively, it is allowable to vertically enlarge the size (Wa/Wb) times, and horizontally enlarge the size (Ha/Hb) times. 
     Returning to  FIG. 6 , the screen data generation unit  102  generates the screen data  5 B in the following manner (# 715 ). 
     In a case where the display mode is the remote access mode, the screen data generation unit  102  generates bitmap data by rendering the web page on a basis of the file  5 G obtained by the web page data acquisition unit  124 . In a case where the display mode is the adjustment mode, the screen data generation unit  102  generates bitmap data by rendering the web page on a basis of the file  5 G rewritten by the web page adjustment unit  125 . The data generated in this manner are the screen data  5 B. 
     Subsequently, the screen data transmission unit  103  transmits the screen data  5 B to the terminal apparatus  2  (# 716 ). 
     On the terminal apparatus  2 , the display processing unit  202  receives the screen data  5 B (# 739 ), and then, displays the web page on the touch panel display  20   e  (# 740 ) on the basis of the screen data  5 B. 
     At this time, in a case where the display mode is the remote access mode, a web page for the smartphone, such as the small-sized web page  63  (refer to  FIG. 10 ) is displayed on the touch panel display  20   e.    
     In contrast, in a case where the display mode is the adjustment mode, an enlarged web page, such as the web page  65  (refer to  FIG. 11B ), is displayed on the touch panel display  20   e . Since it is enlarged, merely a portion of the web page might be displayed at a time in some cases, as illustrated in  FIG. 11C . In this case, the user can display the remaining portions by scrolling the web page  65  with drag or flick operation. 
     Thereafter, each time the user specifies a web page by selecting a hyperlink, or with other methods, data for the operation details are transmitted as the operation data  5 A from the terminal apparatus  2  to the image forming apparatus  1 . Subsequently, the selected web page is requested from the image forming apparatus  1  to the web server  3 , a web page corresponding to the current display mode (one of the remote access mode and the adjustment mode) is provided to the terminal apparatus  2 . 
     When finishing the remote access, the user inputs a disconnect instruction into the terminal apparatus  2 . When the terminal apparatus  2  receives the instruction (# 741 ), the image forming apparatus  1  and the terminal apparatus  2  disconnect (# 717  and # 742 ) connection (remote connection) established in steps # 702  and # 732 . 
     In response to this, the mode switching unit  122  switches, on the image forming apparatus  1 , the display mode to the normal mode (# 718 ). 
     After disconnection, remote operation toward the image forming apparatus  1  by the terminal apparatus  2  is finished, and then, the touch panel display  10   e  is unlocked (# 719  in  FIG. 7 ). 
     The web page data acquisition unit  124  issues a request for the web page being displayed on the terminal apparatus  2  immediately before disconnection, to the web server  3  (# 720 ). Thereafter, the web page data acquisition unit  124  and the web server  3  execute processing (# 722  to # 724 , and # 755  to # 758 ) similar to steps # 711  to # 713  and steps # 751  to # 754 , respectively. 
     Note that the image forming apparatus  1  issues a notification of resolution of the touch panel display  10   e  of the image forming apparatus  1  itself, instead of the resolution of the touch panel display  20   e  of the terminal apparatus  2 , to the web server  3 . In response to this, the web server  3  transmits, to the image forming apparatus  1 , a web page file for a personal computer, such as the large-sized web page  62  (refer to  FIG. 9 ) instead of the web page file for a smartphone, such as the small-sized web page  63  (refer to  FIG. 10 ). 
     Then, when the web page data acquisition unit  124  receives the web page file (# 723 ) on the terminal apparatus  2 , the web page display unit  126  displays the received web page on the touch panel display  10   e  as usual according to the file (# 724 ). 
       FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary processing flow based on the server program  1 P 1 .  FIGS. 13 to 14  are flowcharts illustrating exemplary processing flows based on the web browser program  1 P 2 . 
     Next, an overall processing flow of the image forming apparatus  1  will be described with reference to the flowchart. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the image forming apparatus  1  executes processing of providing a remote access service to the terminal apparatus  2  on a basis of the server program  1 P 1 . 
     After receiving request for remote access from the terminal apparatus  2  (# 11 : Yes), the image forming apparatus  1  establishes connection with the terminal apparatus  2  (# 12 ). Subsequently, the image forming apparatus  1  transmits data for displaying the menu screen  61  (refer to  FIG. 8 ) as the screen data  5 B, to the terminal apparatus  2  (# 13 ), and together with this, locks the touch panel display  10   e  (# 14 ). 
     Connected with the terminal apparatus  2 , the image forming apparatus  1  receives the operation data  5 A from the terminal apparatus  2  (# 15 : Yes), and executes the processing in the following manner according to the information indicated by the operation data  5 A. 
     In a case where the operation data  5 A indicates the pressing of the button  611  that starts the web browser (# 16 : Yes), the image forming apparatus  1  starts the web browser program  1 P 2  (# 17 ). The image forming apparatus  1  subsequently executes the web browser program  1 P 2  in parallel with the server program  1 P 1 . The processing flow executed by the web browser program  1 P 2  will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 13  to  14 . 
     Alternatively, in a case where information displayed as the operation data  5 A is related to operation of the web browser (# 18 : Yes), the operation data  5 A is passed to the web browser program  1 P 2  (# 19 ). 
     In a case where the file  5 G of the web page is obtained by the web browser program  1 P 2  (# 20 : Yes) after processing of step # 17  or step # 19 , and when remote access is not being executed by the terminal apparatus  2  (# 21 : No), this web page is displayed by the touch panel display  10   e  on a basis of the file  5 G (# 22 ). In contrast, when remote access is being executed by the terminal apparatus  2  (# 21 : Yes), bitmap data of this web page is generated on a basis of the file  5 G (# 23 ), and the data is transmitted as the screen data  5 B to the terminal apparatus  2  (# 24 ). 
     In a case where connection established in step # 12  is disconnected (# 25 : Yes), the image forming apparatus  1  issues a notification of disconnection to the web browser program  1 P 2  (# 26 ), and together with this, unlocks the touch panel display  10   e  (# 27 ). 
     While providing remote access service, the image forming apparatus  1  appropriately executes processing of steps # 11  to # 26 . 
     Moreover, the image forming apparatus  1  executes processing in the following manner with a method illustrated in  FIGS. 13 to 14  on the basis of the web browser program  1 P 2 . 
     After starting of the web browser program  1 P 2  (# 31 : Yes), in a case where the image forming apparatus  1  is remotely accessed by the terminal apparatus  2  (# 32 : Yes), the image forming apparatus  1  issues a request for the user agent data  5 E, to the terminal apparatus  2  (# 33 ), and receives the requested data (# 34 ). Then, the image forming apparatus  1  switches the display mode to one of the remote access mode and the adjustment mode (# 35 ). 
     In a case where a homepage is set on the web browser program  1 P 2  (# 36 : Yes), the image forming apparatus  1  issues a request for the web page as the homepage, to the web server  3  (# 37 ). 
     The image forming apparatus  1  transmits a user agent, or the like, to the web server  3  at the time of issuance of the request for the web page, or in response to the request from the web server  3  (# 40  to # 42 ). Specifically, in a case where the display mode is the remote access mode (# 40 : Yes), the image forming apparatus  1  transmits (# 41 ) a user agent (at least resolution of the touch panel display  20   e  in the present embodiment) of the terminal apparatus  2 , received in step # 34 . In a case where the display mode is not the remote access mode (# 40 : No), the image forming apparatus  1  transmits (# 42 ) a user agent of itself (at least resolution of the touch panel display  10   e  in the present embodiment). 
     The image forming apparatus  1  receives the file  5 G of the requested web page, from the web server  3  (# 43 ). 
     In a case where the display mode is the adjustment mode (# 44 : Yes in  FIG. 14 ), the image forming apparatus  1  rewrites the received file  5 G (# 45 ) to adjust the web page. Exemplary adjustment methods are as described in  FIGS. 11A to 11C . 
     The file  5 G is rewritten as required and thereafter is used by the server program  1 P 1  so as to display the web page onto the touch panel display  10   e , or onto the touch panel display  20   e  of the terminal apparatus  2  (# 46 ). The usage is as described in steps # 21  to # 24  in  FIG. 12 . 
     Processing in steps # 32  to # 34  is executed merely once after the start of the web browser program  1 P 2 . Automatic access to a homepage (# 37  to  46 ) is fundamentally executed merely once after the start of the web browser program  1 P 2 . 
     Alternatively, when the operation data  5 A is given from the server program  1 P 1 , and in a case where operation to move from a current web page (or, a blank page) to other web page is indicated in the operation data  5 A (# 38 : Yes), the image forming apparatus  1  issues a request for the other web page, to the web server  3  (# 39 ). Thereafter, processing is similar to the processing in accessing to the homepage (# 40  to # 46 ). 
     Alternatively, when disconnection of the connection is notified from the server program  1 P 1  (# 47 : Yes), the image forming apparatus  1  switches the display mode to the normal mode (# 48 ). Subsequently, the image forming apparatus  1  issues a request for the web page being displayed by the touch panel display  20   e  of the terminal apparatus  2  immediately before disconnection of the connection, to the web server  3  (# 49 ). Thereafter, processing is similar to the processing in accessing to the homepage (# 40  to # 46 ). As a result, the web page is displayed on the touch panel display  10   e  of the image forming apparatus  1  itself, as usual. 
     Processing in steps # 38  to # 49  is appropriately executed until the web browser program  1 P 2  is finished. 
     According to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide web content more suitably than before to the terminal apparatus  2  in a case where the terminal apparatus  2  remotely accesses the image forming apparatus  1  to use the web browser of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     In the present embodiment, the server program  1 P 1  and the web browser program  1 P 2  are configured as independent programs. It is, however, allowable to configure them as one program. 
     In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus  1  issues a notification of display resolution to the web server  3 , and the web server  3  provides the file  5 G of the web page corresponding to the resolution. Alternatively, however, it is also allowable to configure such that the image forming apparatus  1  issues a notification of another attribute and the web server  3  provides the file  5 G of the web page corresponding to that attribute. 
     For example, the image forming apparatus  1  issues a notification of the name of the operating system (OS) of the terminal apparatus  2  in a case where the mode is the remote access mode, and issues a notification of the name of the OS of the image forming apparatus  1  itself in cases where the mode is other than the remote access mode. The web server  3  determines whether the OS is for a smartphone on a basis of the notified name of the OS. In a case where the OS is for a smartphone, the web server  3  transmits the file  5 G of a web page for a smartphone (for example, the small-sized web page  63  in  FIG. 10 ). In a case where the OS is not for smartphones, the web server  3  transmits the file  5 G for a web page for a personal computer (for example, the large-sized web page  62  in  FIG. 9 ). 
     Alternatively, the image forming apparatus  1  issues a notification of the size (inch) of the touch panel display  20   e  of the terminal apparatus  2  in a case where the mode is the remote access mode, and issues a notification of the size of the touch panel display  10   e  of the image forming apparatus  1  itself in cases where the mode is other than the remote access mode. In a case where the size is below a predetermined size, the web server  3  transmits the file  5 G of a web page for a smartphone. In a case where the size is the predetermined size or above, the web server  3  transmits the file  5 G for a web page for a personal computer. 
     In the present embodiment, the web page adjustment unit  125  executes web page adjustment processing in the adjustment mode alone. It is, however, allowable to configure such that the web page adjustment unit  125  executes the processing in a case where remote access is being executed and resolution of the touch panel display  20   e  of the terminal apparatus  2  is below predetermined resolution (for example, resolution of the touch panel display  10   e ). 
     In the present embodiment, the touch panel display  10   e  of the image forming apparatus  1  is locked during a period of remote access by the terminal apparatus  2  to the image forming apparatus  1 . Alternatively, the touch panel display  10   e  need not be locked. In this case, it would be appropriate to display the web page also on the touch panel display  10   e.    
     In the present embodiment, the web server  3  distributes a web page, as web content, to the image forming apparatus  1 . The present invention is also applicable to the case where a moving image, or the like, is distributed as web content. 
     Other than the above, it is possible to appropriately modify a configuration, processed content, processing order, screen configuration, or the like, of overall portions or an individual portion of the web page browsing system  100 , the image forming apparatus  1 , and the terminal apparatus  2 , according to the scope of the present invention. 
     Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustrated and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present invention being interpreted by terms of the appended claims.