Patent Publication Number: US-2013238984-A1

Title: Display control device, display control method, and computer program product

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-050945 filed in Japan on Mar. 7, 2012. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a display control device, a display control method, and a computer program product. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventional web browsers are installed in apparatuses with different display screen sizes, such as a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, and a tablet terminal, so as to display web pages on a display screen of each of the apparatuses. It is possible, with user operation, to change a window size (screen size) of a web page displayed by the web browser on a display screen of a PC. The font size of letters contained in a web page, etc. is set to be various values according to a kind of the web browser; and the setting can be changed with user operation. 
     Thus, the layout of a web page is changed depending on a display environment (display screen size), and a web page in layout not intended by a creator thereof is possibly provided to a user. Therefore, it is desired to form a web page so that it is displayed in layout intended by a creator thereof regardless of a display environment. 
     As a technique for forming a web page exhibiting same appearance regardless of a display environment, there are known layout methods such as a “fixed width layout” and a “liquid layout”. Moreover, there is known a technique in which, when a web page formed for PC is displayed on a display screen whose size is relatively small, such as of a smartphone and a tablet terminal, the entire size of the web page for PC is reduced, and the reduced web page is displayed. 
     However, when the screen size of a web page is smaller than a size assumed by a creator of the web page, the fixed width layout involves a problem of significantly deteriorating usability because vertical and horizontal scroll bars are displayed. 
     In the case of liquid layout, the sizes of arrangement areas of texts, icons, etc. are changed depending on a screen size. This causes a problem that a web page in layout intended by a creator thereof is not displayed. 
     Moreover, when the entire size of a web page is reduced because the original size thereof does not fit into a browser screen, the sizes of letters, icons, etc. become smaller, which causes a problem of making it difficult for a user to read the letters or push buttons, for example. 
     In the portable device such as a smartphone, a case may occur in which a web page deteriorated in operability and visibility, such as a web page generated with the above-mentioned layout methods and a web page reduced in entire size, is displayed. In such cases, in general, a part that a user desires to view or operate is displayed in a display screen with enlarging operation or moving operation such as scrolling made by the user. 
     However, when a web page is displayed on an operation display panel of a printer, for example, it is not preferable to require user operation same as in the case of a smartphone, etc., and the display of a web page excellent in operability and visibility is desired. 
     Then, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-277120 discloses a technique in which, in order to display a web page for PC on an operation display panel, when the web page stored in a server outside of an apparatus is to be displayed with a web browser in the operation display panel, the web browser analyzes the web page, and HyperText Markup Language (HTML), Cascadeing Style Sheet (CSS), and JavaScript (registered trademark) are dynamically generated so as to form a web page appropriate for display on the operation display panel. 
     An apparatus having a device configuration such as of an operation panel of a multifunction peripheral (MFP) normally involves operation employing the combination of a touch panel and a hard key. In operation of such a device, an area for notifying a user of information (display area) and an area for receiving input operation to a screen (operation area) made by a user are generally displayed in the web browser. 
     However, the size and the layout of the operation area are preliminarily determined depending on the kind of an operation item arranged in the operation area; and in accordance with them, the size and the layout of the display area are determined. Therefore, when there are many items to be displayed in the display area, there occur a problem that all of the items cannot be displayed in the display area because the display area is too small, and a problem that the visibility is deteriorated because the sizes of the items become too small. 
     There is a need to provide a display control device, a display control method, and a computer program product that allow the display of display information excellent in operability and visibility on a display device regardless of a screen size of the display device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to at least partially solve the problems in the conventional technology. 
     According to an embodiment, provided is a display control device that includes: an acquiring unit that acquires a request for display of display information regarding an apparatus on a display screen; an operation item determining unit that determines, based on a type of the display information, a kind of an operation item that receives user operation while the display information is displayed; an arrangement determining unit that determines, based on the determined kind of the operation item, arrangement positions of an operation area in which the operation item is displayed and a display area in which the display information is displayed in the display screen; a size determining unit that determines, based on the arrangement positions and a screen size of the display screen, sizes of the operation area and the display area; and a display information generating unit that generates display information including the operation area and the display area having the sizes determined. 
     According to another embodiment, provided is a display control method performed by a display control device. The display control method includes: acquiring a request for display of display information regarding an apparatus on a display screen; determining, based on a type of the display information, a kind of an operation item that receives user operation while the display information is displayed; determining, based on the determined kind of the operation item, arrangement positions of an operation area in which the operation item is displayed and a display area in which the display information is displayed in the display screen; determining, based on the arrangement positions and a screen size of the display screen, sizes of the operation area and the display area; and generating display information including the operation area and the display area having the sizes determined. 
     According to still another embodiment, provided is a computer program product that includes a non-transitory usable medium having computer-readable program codes embodied in the medium for display control in a display control device, the program codes when executed causing the display control device to execute: the display control method described above. 
     The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an entire configuration of an image forming system of a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a page for independent scaling; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a page for document storage; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram schematically illustrating a data configuration of a rule table stored by a storage unit; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an area layout “pattern  1 ”; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an area layout “pattern  2 ”; 
         FIG. 7  is a sequence diagram illustrating processing of the image formation system; 
         FIG. 8  is a sequence diagram illustrating processing of the image formation system; 
         FIG. 9A  is a diagram illustrating an HTTP request transmitted from a web browser at S 100 ; 
         FIG. 9B  is a diagram illustrating a screen size confirmation page sent back to the web browser at S 104 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a request transmitted from the web browser at S 106 ; 
         FIG. 11A  is a diagram illustrating a request transmitted from the web browser at S 117 ; 
         FIG. 11B  is a diagram illustrating an example of CSS file data for web page sent back to the web browser at S 128 ; 
         FIG. 12A  is a diagram illustrating a request transmitted from the web browser at S 129 ; 
         FIG. 12B  is a diagram illustrating a JavaScript file for web page sent back to the web browser at Step S 135 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating specific processing of a CSS file generating unit in CSS file generation processing (Step S 126 ); 
         FIG. 14A  is a diagram illustrating an example of the layout of a CSS file generated at S 204 ; 
         FIG. 14B  is a diagram illustrating an example of the layout of the CSS file after size recalculation; 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram illustrating another example of the layout of the CSS file generated at S 204 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram illustrating an entire configuration of an image forming system of a second embodiment; and 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram illustrating an example of HTML data generated by a copy page generating unit of an image forming apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     in the following, embodiments of a display control device, display control method, and a computer program product are described in detail with reference to the enclosed drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an entire configuration of an image forming system  1  of a first embodiment. The image forming system  1  has an image forming apparatus  10 , and three operation terminals  20  connected to the image forming apparatus  10  through a network  3 . The operation terminal  20  is exemplified by a PC, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, etc. The number of the operation terminals  20  in the image forming system  1  is not limited to a specific number described in the embodiment. The image forming system  1  may have one or two operation terminals, or may have four or more operation terminals. 
     The image forming apparatus  10  has a web server  100 , an operation display panel  120 , a copy application  130 , a scanner application  131 , a system control unit  132 , a memory control unit  133 , an engine control unit  134 , a user control unit  135 , a plotter  136 , a scanner  137 , and an application program interface (API)  140 . 
     Receiving a web page display request from an apparatus having a web browser function, the web server  100  generates a web page of the display request, and transmits the generated web page to the apparatus as a sender of the display request. The web server  100  generates a web page regarding an application (copy application  130  and scanner application  131 ) installed in the image forming apparatus  10 , for example. 
     In the image forming system  1 , the operation terminal  20  and the operation display panel  120  have a web browser function. The operation terminal  20  and the operation display panel  120  transmit requests for display of various web pages to the web server  100 . In addition, the operation terminals  20  and the operation display panel  120  receive web pages from the web server  100  as a response to the display request, and display the web pages on the display screen. 
     The operation display panel  120  has a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying web pages, a light-emitting diode (LED) or a buzzer for indicating the operating state of the image forming apparatus  10 , a plurality of hard keys for receiving user operation, etc. (any of which is not illustrated). In the image forming apparatus  10 , the operation display panel  120  is connected to the web server  100  through the network  3 , similarly to the operation terminals  20 . 
     The copy application  130  and the scanner application  131  are applications installed in the image forming apparatus  10 . The copy application  130  performs copy job. The copy application  130  also provides information on itself including setting information set to the copy application  130  to the web server  100 . The scanner application  131  performs scan job. The scanner application  131  also provides information thereof including setting information set to the scanner application  131  such as setting of the application to the web server  100 . In the embodiment, the image forming apparatus  10  has the copy application  130  and the scanner application  131 , as an example. However, the number and the kind of application installed in the image forming apparatus  10  are not limited to those described in the embodiment. 
     Here, a web page provided by the web server  100  is described with reference to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a page for independent scaling  200  that is a web page related to a scaling function.  FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a page for document storage  300  that is a web page related to a document storage function. Both of the web pages are web pages related to the copy application  130 . 
     In the page for independent scaling  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a message area  210 , a display area  220 , and an operation area  230  are arranged. The message area  210  is an area in which the character string of a page title is arranged. The display area  220  is an area in which information to be notified to a viewer of a web page is displayed. In the display area  220  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of items (item group  221 ) displaying the height and the width of a document, etc. are arranged. The operation area  230  is an area in which operation buttons for receiving operation by a user are arranged. In the operation area  230  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a numeric keypad  231  for inputting the height of a document, etc. in the display area  220  is arranged. 
     In the page for document storage  300  illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a message area  310 , a display area  320 , an operation area  330  are arranged, similarly to the page for independent scaling  200 . In the display area  320 , a plurality of items (item group  321 ) displaying a document name, etc. are arranged. In the operation area  330 , a keyboard  331  for inputting the document name, etc. in the display area  320  is arranged. 
     In this manner, although the page for independent scaling  200  and the page for document storage  300  both have a display area and an operation area, the size and the layout of such areas relative to an entire page are different. The web server  100  of the embodiment can change the relative size and layout of each area in a web page depending on the type of a web page. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the web server  100  determines the size and the layout of each area of a web page in accordance with a screen size of the apparatus as a sender of the web page request, and generates a web page appropriate for the screen size determined. 
     The web server  100  has, as functions for achieving this, a request processing unit  101 , a copy page generating unit  102 , a scanner page generating unit  103 , a screen size confirming unit  104 , an operation area generating unit  105 , a CSS file generating unit  106 , and a storage unit  111 . 
     The request processing unit  101  acquires, from the operation terminal  20  or the operation display panel  120 , a request such as a display request input by a user on the operation terminal  20  or the operation display panel  120  serving as a web browser. That is, the request processing unit  101  serves as an acquiring unit. The request processing unit  101  refers to a uniform resource locator (URL) in the request, and instructs, depending on the URL, any of the copy page generating unit  102 , the scanner page generating unit  103 , the screen size confirming unit  104 , the operation area generating unit  105 , and the CSS file generating unit  106 , which are sub-modules of the request processing unit  101 , to perform processing in accordance with the request. 
     The copy page generating unit  102  generates HTML data as the web page of the copy application  130 , and sends the generated HTML data back to the web browser (operation terminal  20  or operation display panel  120 ) through the request processing unit  101 . When a user performs operation on the web page, the copy page generating unit  102  sends an instruction in accordance with the operation result to the copy application  130  so as to update display contents of the web page in accordance with the operation result. In addition, the copy page generating unit  102  has CSS file original data that is a template of a CSS file defining the layout of a web page for copy. 
     Similarly to the copy page generating unit  102 , the scanner page generating unit  103  generates HTML data as a web page of the scanner application  131 , and sends the generated HTML data back to the web browser through the request processing unit  101 . When a user performs operation on the web page, the scanner page generating unit  103  sends an instruction in accordance with the operation result to the scanner application  131  so as to update display contents of the web page in accordance with the operation result. In addition, the scanner page generating unit  103  has CSS file original data that is a template of a CSS file defining the layout of a web page for scan. 
     Once the request processing unit  101  acquires the web page display request, the screen size confirming unit  104  confirms a screen size of the apparatus as a sender of the display request. The screen size confirming unit  104  sets the specified screen size in a cookie in the apparatus as a sender of the request through the request processing unit  101 . 
     The operation area generating unit  105  has CSS file original data that is a template of a CSS file defining the layout of the operation area. The CSS file generating unit  106  acquires HTML data as a web page from the copy page generating unit  102  or the scanner page generating unit  103 . In addition, the CSS file generating unit  106  refers to the screen size set in the cookie so as to generate a CSS file appropriate for the screen size based on a rule table stored in the storage unit  111  and the HTML data. The rule table is described later. The CSS file generating unit  106  transmits the generated CSS file to the web browser as a sender of the display request through the request processing unit  101 . 
     The CSS file generating unit  106  has an operation item determining unit  107 , a layout determining unit  108 , a size determining unit  109 , and a web page generating unit  110 . The operation item determining unit  107  refers to the rule table stored in the storage unit  111  so as to determine, based on the type of a web page specified in the display request, an operation item necessary for the web page of the display request. Here, the operation item is an operation icon for receiving user operation. In the embodiment, the numeric keypad  231  illustrated in  FIG. 2  or the keyboard  331  illustrated in  FIG. 3  is specified as the operation item. 
     The layout determining unit  108  refers to the rule table so as to determine the arrangement positions of a display area and an operation area included in a web page, that is, the area layout of the web page. The size determining unit  109  refers to the rule table so as to determine the sizes of the display area and the operation area based on the screen size and the area layout determined by the layout determining unit  108 . The web page generating unit  110  generates a web page based on the information determined by the operation item determining unit  107 , the layout determining unit  108 , and the size determining unit  109 . 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram schematically illustrating a data configuration of a rule table  112  stored in the storage unit  111 . The rule table  112  stores therein information for determining an operation item, an area layout, a display area size, and an operation area size based on the type of a web page. To be more specific, the rule table  112  stores therein a plurality of sets each composed of a type of a web page, an operation item, an area layout, a display area size, a display area standard size, an operation area size, and an operation area minimum size in an associated manner. 
     The operation item is an operation item necessary for user operation on the corresponding web page. That is, the kind of the operation item is defined by the type of a web page. The area layout is defined by the kind of an operation item. In the rule table illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the area layout “pattern  1 ” is defined corresponding to the numeric keypad, and the area layout “pattern  2 ” is defined corresponding to the keyboard. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the area layout “pattern  1 ”. In the area layout “pattern  1 ”, a display area  401  and an operation area  402  are arranged laterally under a message area  400 . 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating the area layout “pattern  2 ”. In the area layout “pattern  2 ”, a display area  411  and an operation area  412  are arranged vertically under a message area  410 . 
     The numeric keypad buttons are generally arranged in a vertically-long rectangular area. Then, the area layout “pattern  1 ” is applied to the operation item of the numeric keypad, and the display area and the operation area are arranged laterally in the display screen, so that a user can operate the numeric keypad buttons without feeling discomfort. 
     By contrast, the keyboard is generally arranged in a laterally-long rectangular area. Then, the area layout “pattern  2 ” is applied to the operation item of the keyboard; and the display area and the operation area are arranged vertically in the display screen, so that a user can operate the keyboard without feeling discomfort. 
     In this manner, by defining the area layout depending on the kind of an operation item, and by operating an operation item arranged in the operation area, a user can operate the numeric keypad and the keyboard as they were physical keys without feeling discomfort. 
     Returning to  FIG. 4 , the display area standard size is a standard size of the display area. The display area standard size is not a size relative to a screen size, but a size specified by an absolute value. The operation area minimum size is a minimum size of the operation area. Similarly to the display area standard size, the operation area minimum size is a size specified by an absolute value. 
     In the embodiment, in a web page for document size setting, the operation area minimum size is associated with the width of one button of the numeric keypad, for example. In a web page for document storage, the operation area minimum size is associated with the length of one row of the keyboard. 
     For example, when the numeric keypad of “pattern  1 ” is displayed in the operation area minimum size, the buttons of the numeric keypad arranged in a single column are displayed, and the rest of the buttons of the keypad are displayed with scrolling operation. When the keyboard of “pattern  2 ” is displayed in the operation area minimum size, the keys arranged in a single row are displayed, and the rest of the keys are displayed with scrolling operation. 
     Thus, in the embodiment, the operation area minimum size is defined regarding either a vertical size or a lateral size thereof. Here, the size of one button of the numeric keypad and the size of one row of the keyboard are set preliminarily with absolute values, respectively. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the system control unit  132  controls the entire state of the image forming apparatus  10 . The memory control unit  133  controls memory, and generates file data through scanning by the scanner  137 , which is described later. The engine control unit  134  controls scanning and printing documents. The user control unit  135  performs user authentication, and controls scanner destinations. The plotter  136  is a device that performs printing. The scanner  137  is a device that performs scanning. The API  140  is an interface between the copy application  130  and the scanner application  131  and the system control unit  132 , the memory control unit  133 , the engine control unit  134 , and the user control unit  135 . 
       FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  are sequence diagrams illustrating processing of the image forming system  1  when a web page display request is transmitted from the operation terminal  20  or the operation display panel  120  as a web browser to the web server  100 .  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  illustrate processing of the image forming system  1  in a case where a request for display of a web page related to an application is transmitted, for example. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a web page request (display request) is transmitted from the operation terminal  20  or the operation display panel  120  as a web browser (Step S 100 ); and the request processing unit  101  of the web server  100  acquires the request. 
       FIG. 9A  is a diagram illustrating an HTTP request transmitted from the web browser at Step S 100 . A cookie field of the request header of the HTTP request does not include the information of a screen size of an apparatus as a sender of the request. 
     Acquiring the HTTP request illustrated in  FIG. 9A , the request processing unit  101  sends an inquiry about screen size confirmation to the screen size confirming unit  104  (Step S 101 ). Once the screen size confirming unit  104  confirms that screen size information is not included in the cookie field of the HTTP request (Step S 102 ), it sends web page data for confirming a screen size (screen size confirmation page) back to the request processing unit  101  (Step S 103 ). The request processing unit  101  sends the screen size confirmation page acquired at S 103 , as a response to the request for a page for document storage, back to the web browser as a sender of the display request (Step S 104 ). 
       FIG. 9B  is a diagram illustrating a screen size confirmation page sent back to the web browser at S 104 . In the screen size confirmation page, a field of the screen size in a cookie is blank as illustrated in  FIG. 9B . The screen size confirmation page includes a JavaScript section. The JavaScript section describes processing for calculating a screen size and setting the screen size in the coolie field. 
     Returning to  FIG. 7 , once the web browser acquires the screen size confirmation page, it interprets the screen size confirmation page, and executes the JavaScript section (see  FIG. 9B ) described in the screen size confirmation page (Step S 105 ). With execution of the JavaScript section, the screen size information of the display screen is set in the cookie; and a web page request is transmitted again from the web browser to the web server  100  (Step S 106 ). The web page request transmitted at S 106  includes screen size information. 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a request transmitted from the web browser at S 106 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the web page request transmitted at S 106  includes the screen size information set in the cookie field. 
     Returning to  FIG. 7 , once the request processing unit  101  acquires the web page request (Step S 106 ), it sends again an inquiry about screen size confirmation to the screen size confirming unit  104  (Step S 107 ). Confirming that the screen size information is included in the cookie field of the request (Step S 108 ), the screen size confirming unit  104  sends the screen size information included in the cookie field back to the request processing unit  101  (Step S 109 ). Acquiring the screen size information, the request processing unit  101  transmits a web page generation request to the copy page generating unit  102  (Step S 110 ). 
     The copy page generating unit  102  sends an inquiry about the current state of the copy application  130  (application state) to the copy application  130  (Step S 111 ). Here, the application state includes information of whether the copy can be performed, which tray is selected as a paper cassette, etc. The information related to the inquiry is information of the application state to be displayed in a web page among other application states. Once the copy page generating unit  102  acquires the information of the application state from the copy application  130  (Step S 112 ), it refers to the application state to generate HTML data of a web page (Step S 113 ). Then, the copy page generating unit  102  sends the generated web page HTML data back to the request processing unit  101  (Step S 114 ). 
     Acquiring the web page HTML data, the request processing unit  101  sends it, as a response to the request acquired from the web browser at S 106 , back to the web browser (Step S 115 ). 
     The HTML data sent back at S 115  includes description of a reading instruction on a CSS file or a JavaScript file, which is processing described later, display areas included in the web page, items to be arranged in each of the display areas, etc. Note that the HTML data does not define the information of whether there is an operation area, the sizes of a display area and an operation area, the area layout, etc. 
     Acquiring the web page HTML data (Step S 115 ) (see  FIG. 7 ), the web browser then interprets the HTML data acquired from the web browser (Step S 116 ), and sends, based on the CSS file reading instruction that is described in the HTML data, a request for a CSS file for web page of the display request to the web server  100  (Step S 117 ), as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 11A  is a diagram illustrating a request transmitted from the web browser at S 117 . As illustrated, the request transmitted at S 117  includes the screen size information set in the cookie field. 
     Returning to  FIG. 8 , the request processing unit  101  sends an inquiry about screen size confirmation to the screen size confirming unit  104  (Step S 118 ). Confirming that the screen size information is included in the cookie field (Step S 119 ), the screen size confirming unit  104  sends the screen size information back to the request processing unit  101  (Step S 120 ). 
     Once the request processing unit  101  acquires the screen size information, it transmits a request for generation of a CSS file for web page to the CSS file generating unit  106  (Step S 121 ). The CSS file generating unit  106  transmits a request for acquisition of CSS file original data for web page to a page generating unit of the copy page generating unit  102  or the scanner page generating unit  103  that corresponds to a web page of the generation request (Step S 122 ). In the example illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the web page of the display request is related to the copy application  130 . Thus, the CSS file generating unit  106  transmits the request for acquisition of CSS file original data to the copy page generating unit  102 . The copy page generating unit  102  sends the CSS file original data for web page back to the CSS file generating unit  106  in response to the acquisition request (Step S 123 ). 
     The CSS file generating unit  106  further transmits a request for acquisition of CSS file original data of an operation area to the operation area generating unit  105  (Step S 124 ). The operation area generating unit  105  sends the CSS file original data of the operation area corresponding to the web page of the display request back to the CSS file generating unit  106  in response to the acquisition request (Step S 125 ). 
     Next, the CSS file generating unit  106  refers to the rule table  112  based on the CSS file original data for web page, the CSS file original data of the operation area, and the screen size, so as to generate a CSS file for web page (Step S 126 ). Note that the processing of generating CSS file data is described later. 
     The CSS file generating unit  106  sends the CSS file data for web page back to the request processing unit  101  (Step S 127 ). The request processing unit  101  sends the CSS file data for web page, as a response to the request from the web browser at S 117 , back to the web browser (Step S 128 ). 
       FIG. 11B  is a diagram illustrating an example of the CSS file data for web page sent back to the web browser at S 128 . The CSS file data for web page illustrated in  FIG. 11B  defines the information of whether there is an operation area, the sizes of a display area and an operation area, the area layout, etc. 
     Returning to  FIG. 8 , the web browser sends a request for a JavaScript file for web page to the web server  100  based on the JavaScript file reading instruction described in the HTML data obtained at Step S 115  (Step S 129 ). 
       FIG. 12A  is a diagram illustrating the request transmitted from the web browser at Step S 129 . As illustrated in  FIG. 12A , a cookie field of the request transmitted at S 129  includes the screen size information set. 
     Returning to  FIG. 8 , the request processing unit  101  sends an inquiry about screen size confirmation to the screen size confirming unit  104  (Step S 130 ). Confirming that the screen size information is included in the cookie field (Step S 131 ), the screen size confirming unit  104  sends the screen size information back to the request processing unit  101  (Step S 132 ). 
     Once the request processing unit  101  acquires the screen size information, it transmits a request for generation of a JavaScript file for web page to the copy page generating unit  102  (Step S 133 ). The copy page generating unit  102  sends the preliminarily-stored JavaScript file data for web page to the request processing unit  101  (Step S 134 ). It is assumed that JavaScript files for web page are generated by a creator of web pages, and preliminarily stored in the copy page generating unit  102 . 
     The request processing unit  101  sends the JavaScript file for web page, as a response to the request from the web browser at S 129 , back to the web browser (Step S 135 ).  FIG. 12B  is a diagram illustrating the JavaScript file for web page sent back to the web browser at S 135 . 
     The web browser displays the JavaScript file for web page acquired at S 135  on the display screen (Step S 136 ). Here, the processing of the image forming system  1  is completed. 
     As another example, it is possible to preliminary set such that the web page request transmitted from the operation display panel  120  always includes a screen size. In this case, when the web browser is the operation display panel  120 , a web page can be displayed with processing at S 106  and the processing following it, omitting the processing at S 100  to S 105 , which has been described with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     The web server  100  of the embodiment generates the HTML data defining display contents of a web page, and the CSS file defining the layout of the HTML data, etc. However, the data format for defining the display contents and the layout, etc. of a web page, is not limited to those described in the embodiment; and the display contents and the layout of a web page may be defined using other data format. 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating specific processing of the CSS file generating unit  106  in CSS file generation processing (Step S 126 ). In CSS file generation processing (Step S 126 ), the operation item determining unit  107  of the CSS file generating unit  106  refers to the rule table  112  so as to confirm whether there is an operation item associated with the type of a web page of the display request. When there is an operation item associated with the type of a web page (Yes at Step S 200 ), the operation item determining unit  107  determines the associated operation item as an operation item to be displayed on a web page (Step S 201 ). 
     Next, the layout determining unit  108  refers to the rule table  112  to determine the area layout associated with the type of the web page as an area layout of a web page to be generated (Step S 202 ). 
     Subsequently, the size determining unit  109  applies an operation area minimum size stored in the rule table  112  to the operation area (Step S 203 ), and generates a CSS file defining the rest of the screen area as a display area based on the screen size (Step S 204 ). 
     Next, when the size of the display area is larger than the display area standard size stored in the rule table  112  in the layout of the CSS file generated at S 203  (Yes at Step S 205 ), the size determining unit  109  changes the sizes of the display area and the operation area so that the size of the display area is reduced to the standard size and the operation area is enlarged by a reduced amount of the display area (Step S 206 ), and generates a CSS file with area sizes changed (Step S 207 ). 
       FIG. 14A  is a diagram illustrating an example of the layout of the CSS file generated at Step S 204 . When there is a blank space in the display area, as illustrated in  FIG. 14A , the sizes of the operation area and the display area are changed at Step S 206  so that the operation area is enlarged, as illustrated in  FIG. 14B . 
     In this manner, it is possible, in the screen layout, to secure an area with a size as close to a standard size as possible for the display area while securing an area with a minimum size for the operation area. 
     In the embodiment, the size of the display area is determined after the minimum size of the operation area is secured. However, it is possible, as another example, to arrange such that the minimum size of the display area is preliminarily set in the rule table  112  and the operation area size is determined after the minimum size of the display area is secured. Thus, it is possible to set preliminarily and arbitrarily the size of each area and which size is preferentially determined. 
     At Step S 200 , when no operation item is associated with the type of a web page in the rule table  112  (No at Step S 200 ), the layout determining unit  108  determines to display only a message area and a display area on a web page, and the size determining unit  109  calculates the size of the display area in accordance with the screen size (Step S 210 ). 
       FIG. 15  is a diagram illustrating another example of the layout of the CSS file generated at S 204 . When there is no blank space in the display layout, as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the sizes of the display area and the operation area are determined based on the CSS file generated at Step S 204 ; and the recalculation of the sizes at S 206  is not performed. 
     When the display area size is smaller than a standard size at Step S 205  (No at Step S 205 ), the processing is finished. Here, the CSS file generation processing (Step S 126 ) is completed. 
     For example, when a web page of the display request is the page for document storage  300 , the keyboard  331  is determined as an operation item, and the pattern  2  is determined as an area layout. Thus, the layout determined as illustrated in  FIG. 3  in which the display area and the operation area are arranged vertically in the display screen. 
     Regarding the size of the display area of a page for document storage, the width is determined to be the same as the screen size based on the definition of the rule table  112 ; and the height is determined to be a value of one fourth of a value obtained by deducting the height of the message area from the screen size based on the definition of the rule table  112 . Regarding the size of the operation area of a page for document storage, the width is determined to be the same as the screen size based on the definition of the rule table  112 ; and the height is determined to be a value of three fourth of a value obtained by deducting the height of the message area from the screen size based on the definition of the rule table  112 . 
     In this manner, in the image forming system  1  of the embodiment, the arrangement position and the size of the operation area in which the operation item is displayed are defined for each type of a web page. Thus, the web server  100  can generate a web page in which an operation area with a size in accordance with the size of the web page is arranged at an appropriate position. 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 16  is a diagram illustrating an entire configuration of an image forming system  2  of a second embodiment. The image forming system  2  has an image forming apparatus  11 , the operation terminals  20 , and an external web server  60  connected to them through the network  3 . A copy page generating unit  151  and a scanner page generating unit  152  of a web server  150  of the image forming apparatus  11  generate web page HTML data. 
     The external web server  60  has a request processing unit  601 , a copy page generating unit  602 , a scanner page generating unit  603 , an operation area generating unit  604 , a CSS file generating unit  606 , and a storage unit  611 . The CSS file generating unit  606  has an operation item determining unit  607 , a layout determining unit  608 , a size determining unit  609 , and a web page generating unit  610 . 
     The request processing unit  601  acquires, from the operation terminal  20  or the operation display panel  120 , a request such as a display request corresponding to the information input by a user on the operation terminal  20  or the operation display panel  120 . The request processing unit  601  refers to a URL in the request, and instructs, depending on the URL, any of the copy page generating unit  602 , the scanner page generating unit  603 , the operation area generating unit  604 , and the CSS file generating unit  606  of the external web server  60  to perform processing in accordance with the request. 
     The copy page generating unit  602  and the scanner page generating unit  603  both have CSS file original data. The copy page generating unit  602  and the scanner page generating unit  603  generate CSS files and transmit JavaScript files. 
     That is, in the image forming system  2  of the second embodiment, the processing at Step S 100  to Step S 115  of the first embodiment, which has been described with reference to  FIG. 7 , is performed by the web server  150 ; and the processing at Step S 117  to Step S 135  thereof, which has been described with reference to  FIG. 8 , is performed by the external web server  60 . 
       FIG. 17  is a diagram illustrating an example of the HTML data generated by the copy page generating unit  151  of the image forming apparatus  11 . As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the HTML data includes description of an instruction to refer to a file in the external web server  60 . Thus, the web browser can transmit a request to the external web server  60  at Step S 117  and Step S 129  illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
     In this manner, in the image forming system  2  of the second embodiment, the image forming apparatus  11  only generates HTML data; and the external web server  60  generates a CSS file and a JavaScript that are related to the layout of a web page. Thus, even when a web page for a new screen size needs to be generated, for example, only the change of software of the external web server  60  is required without the change of software of the web server  150  of the image forming apparatus  11 . 
     Regarding the image forming system  2  of the second embodiment, the configuration and processing other than those described above are the same as of the image forming system  1  of the first embodiment. 
     A program executed in the image forming apparatuses of the embodiments is preliminarily embedded in a read only memory (ROM), etc., to be provided. The program executed in the image forming apparatuses of the embodiments may be recorded, as a file whose format is installable or executable, in a computer readable recording medium such as a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), a flexible disk (FD), a compact disk recordable (CD-R), and a digital versatile disk (DVD), to be provided. 
     The program executed in the image forming apparatuses of the embodiments may be stored in a computer connected to a network such as the Internet, and then provided by download thereof through the network. Alternatively, the program executed in the image forming apparatuses of the embodiments may be provided or distributed through a network such as the Internet. 
     The program executed in the image forming apparatuses of the embodiments is of module configuration including the units described above (request processing unit, copy page generating unit, scanner page generating unit, screen size confirming unit, operation area generating unit, and CSS file generating unit). As actual hardware, the CPU (processor) reads out the program from the ROM and executes it, so that the above-mentioned each unit is loaded into a main memory, and generated on the main memory. 
     The image forming apparatus of the embodiment can be applied to any image forming apparatus having at least two functions among a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, such as an MFP, a copying machine, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile. 
     The embodiments exert effect of displaying display information excellent in operability and visibility on a display device regardless of the screen size of the display device. 
     Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.