Patent Publication Number: US-11388300-B2

Title: Appliance setting apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing appliance setting program

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/907,493, filed on Jun. 22, 2020, which is based upon, and claims the benefit of priority from, corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-119761 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Jun. 27, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to an appliance setting apparatus for adding a button to a screen of an electronic appliance and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing an appliance setting program. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus capable of customizing screen buttons. 
     However, such a conventional image forming apparatus has a problem that a button for executing a workflow by a workflow execution system that executes a workflow cannot be added to a screen. 
     SUMMARY 
     An appliance setting apparatus of the present disclosure includes a display device, an operation device, a layout generation unit configured to generate layout information indicating a layout of a screen of an application program for providing, by an electronic appliance, a function of a workflow execution system configured to execute a workflow, and a layout installation unit configured to install the layout information generated by the layout generation unit on the electronic appliance, in which the layout includes a button for realizing a function executed by the electronic appliance, and if a flow execution button being the button for executing the workflow is arranged in the layout, where the workflow includes a plurality of the workflows, the layout generation unit acquires a list of the workflows from the workflow execution system, displays at least a part of the workflows included in the acquired list on the display device, and associates the workflow selected via the operation device from the workflows displayed on the display device with the flow execution button. 
     In the appliance setting apparatus of the present disclosure, it may be possible that the flow execution button includes a plurality of the flow execution buttons, and the layout generation unit displays the workflows included in the list onto the display device in a state where the workflow already associated with any one of the flow execution buttons already arranged in the layout is excluded. 
     In the appliance setting apparatus of the present disclosure, it may be possible that the electronic appliance stores device setting information indicating a setting value of a setting item of the electronic appliance, the appliance setting apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store setting value information indicating a setting value applied to the device setting information, and when installing the layout information on the electronic appliance, the layout installation unit updates the device setting information of the electronic appliance with a setting value indicated in the setting value information stored in the storage unit. 
     In the appliance setting apparatus of the present disclosure, it may be possible that the storage unit stores authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information indicating presence or absence of a utilization of a function of an authentication and authorization system configured to authenticate and authorize a user, the storage unit stores, as the setting value information, authentication and authorization utilization setting value information indicating a setting value suitable for the electronic appliance to utilize the function of the authentication and authorization system and authentication and authorization non-utilization setting value information indicating a setting value suitable for the electronic appliance not to utilize the function of the authentication and authorization system, and the layout installation unit updates the device setting information with the setting value indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization setting value information if the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information indicates that the function of the authentication and authorization system is utilized, and updates the device setting information with the setting value indicated in the authentication and authorization non-utilization setting value information if the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information indicates that the function of the authentication and authorization system is not utilized. 
     In the appliance setting apparatus of the present disclosure, the layout installation unit may install identical layout information on a plurality of the electronic appliances in a batch. 
     In the appliance setting apparatus of the present disclosure, the layout generation unit may change at least one of an image of an icon in the button, a color of a background area of the icon in the button, and a name displayed in a name area for displaying the name of the button in the button, from a default state. 
     A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of the present disclosure stores an appliance setting program executed by a computer including a display device and an operation device, the appliance setting program causing the computer to execute a layout generation unit configured to generate layout information indicating a layout of a screen of an application program for providing, by an electronic appliance, a function of a workflow execution system configured to execute a workflow, and a layout installation unit configured to install the layout information generated by the layout generation unit on the electronic appliance, in which the layout includes a button for realizing a function executed by the electronic appliance, and if a flow execution button being the button for executing the workflow is arranged in the layout, where the workflow includes a plurality of the workflows, the layout generation unit acquires a list of the workflows from the workflow execution system, displays at least a part of the workflows included in the acquired list on the display device, and associates the workflow selected via the operation device from the workflows displayed on the display device with the flow execution button. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a document processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a document processing system in an example different from an example illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1  when the image forming apparatus is configured by an MFP; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus in an example different from an example illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an administrator terminal illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a table showing an example of device management information illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a document processing flow execution system illustrated in  FIG. 1  when the document processing flow execution system is configured by one computer; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of an operation of the administrator terminal illustrated in  FIG. 5  when authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information is updated; 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart of an operation of the administrator terminal illustrated in  FIG. 5  when the image forming apparatus is registered with the device management information; 
         FIG. 10  is a graphic representation illustrating an example of a device management screen displayed on a display unit illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart of an operation of the administrator terminal illustrated in  FIG. 5  when a client application program is installed on the image forming apparatus; 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart of an operation of the administrator terminal illustrated in  FIG. 5  when a layout generation screen for generating layout information is displayed; 
         FIG. 13  is a graphic representation illustrating an example of an authentication and authorization utilization type client application layout generation screen displayed in the operation illustrated in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a graphic representation illustrating an example of an authentication and authorization utilization type client application layout generation screen in an example different from an example illustrated in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart of an operation of the administrator terminal illustrated in  FIG. 5  when a document processing flow is associated with a flow execution button; 
         FIG. 16  is a graphic representation illustrating an example of an authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application layout generation screen displayed in the operation illustrated in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a flowchart of an operation of the administrator terminal illustrated in  FIG. 5  when layout information is installed on the image forming apparatus; 
         FIG. 18  is a flowchart of an operation of the image forming apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 3  when a screen of an authentication and authorization utilization type client application is displayed according to the layout information; and 
         FIG. 19  is a graphic representation illustrating an example of a screen of the client application program displayed on the display unit illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. 
     First, a configuration of a document processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a document processing system  10  according to the present embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the document processing system  10  includes an image forming apparatus  20  serving as an electronic appliance. The document processing system  10  may include, in addition to the image forming apparatus  20 , at least one image forming apparatus configured in much the same way as in the image forming apparatus  20 . The image forming apparatus in the document processing system  10  includes, for example, a multifunction peripheral (MFP), and a scanner-only machine. 
     The document processing system  10  includes a user terminal  30  used by a user of the document processing system  10 . The document processing system  10  may include, in addition to the user terminal  30 , at least one user terminal configured in much the same way as in the user terminal  30 . The user terminal in the document processing system  10  includes, for example, a computer such as a personal computer (PC). 
     The document processing system  10  includes an administrator terminal  40  used by an administrator on a user side of the document processing system  10  (hereinafter, simply referred to as “administrator”). The document processing system  10  may include, in addition to the administrator terminal  40 , at least one administrator terminal configured in much the same way as in the administrator terminal  40 . The administrator terminal in the document processing system  10  includes, for example, a computer such as a PC. 
     The document processing system  10  includes a document processing flow execution system  50  serving as a workflow execution system configured to execute a document processing flow being a processing workflow of a document. The document processing flow execution system  50  may be configured by one or more computers. The document processing flow executed by the document processing flow execution system  50  includes an input stage in which a document is input, a document processing stage in which various processes are executed on the input document, and an output stage in which a result of the processes executed in the document processing stage is output. Examples of a method of inputting a document in the input stage include various methods such as a method of inputting, as a document, an image read from an original by a scanner of an image forming apparatus, a method of inputting a document saved in a certain folder, and a method of inputting a document attached to a received e-mail. Examples of processes executed on the document in the document processing stage include various processes such as an optical character recognition (OCR) process for generating a text from an image as a document, a process for executing a certain correction such as a tilt correction on an image as a document, and a process for converting a format of an image as a document. Examples of a method of outputting a result of the processes in the output stage include various methods such as a method of outputting a result to a certain folder, and a method of transmitting a result to a certain destination by e-mail. The document processing flow execution system  50  may save a plurality of document processing flows. For example, the document processing flow execution system  50  may save a new document processing flow in response to an instruction from an administrator terminal, and may also change or delete an already stored document processing flow in response to an instruction from an administrator terminal. 
     The document processing system  10  includes an authentication and authorization system  60  configured to authenticate and authorize a user of the document processing system  10 . The authentication and authorization system  60  may be configured by one or more computers. The authentication and authorization system  60  manages restrictions on utilization of various types of functions of the image forming apparatus for each user, and may provide, to the image forming apparatus and the document processing flow execution system  50 , authorization information indicating restrictions on utilization of various types of functions of the image forming apparatus related to an authenticated user, that is, a user logged in to the image forming apparatus. For example, the authentication and authorization system  60  may spool print data transmitted from a user terminal, or output the spooled print data to any image forming apparatus. The authentication and authorization system  60  may also manage utilization of the image forming apparatus by a user of the document processing system  10 . 
     The document processing system  10  includes a user information retention system  70  configured to retain information of a user of the document processing system  10 . The user information retention system  70  may be configured by one or more computers. Examples of the user information retained by the user information retention system  70  include a user name, an account name, and an email address. The user information retention system  70  provides the user information to at least one of the document processing flow execution system  50  and the authentication and authorization system  60 , as necessary. 
     It is possible to communicably connect the image forming apparatus, the user terminal, and the administrator terminal in the document processing system  10  with the document processing flow execution system  50 , the authentication and authorization system  60 , and the user information retention system  70  via a network  11  such as a local area network (LAN). 
     If a user requests to log in from the image forming apparatus, the document processing flow execution system  50  inquires the authentication and authorization system  60  about whether the user is logged in to the image forming apparatus. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the document processing system  10  in an example different from the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the document processing system  10  may be configured without the authentication and authorization system  60  (see  FIG. 1 ) and the user information retention system  70  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus  20  when the image forming apparatus is configured by an MFP. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the image forming apparatus  20  includes: an operation unit  21  being an input device, such as a button, through which various operations are input; a display unit  22  being a display device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), configured to display various information; a printer  23  being a printing device configured to print an image on a recording medium such as a sheet; a scanner  24  being a reading device configured to read an image from an original; a fax communication unit  25  being a fax device configured to perform fax communication via a communication line such as a public telephone line with an external facsimile device (not illustrated); a communication unit  26  being a communication device configured to perform communication with an external device via a network such as a LAN or the Internet, or directly by wire or wirelessly without going through the network; a storage unit  27  being a non-volatile storage device, such as a semiconductor memory or a hard disk device (HDD), configured to store various types of information; and a control unit  28  configured to control the entire image forming apparatus  20 . 
     The storage unit  27  may store an authentication and authorization utilization type client application  27   a  being a client application program for providing a user with functions of the document processing flow execution system  50  (see  FIG. 1 ) and the authentication and authorization system  60  (see  FIG. 1 ). The authentication and authorization utilization type client application  27   a  may be installed on the image forming apparatus  20 , for example, when the image forming apparatus  20  is manufactured, may be additionally installed on the image forming apparatus  20  from an external storage medium such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory, or may be additionally installed on the image forming apparatus  20  through a network. 
     The storage unit  27  may store layout information  27   b  indicating a layout of a screen of the client application program (hereinafter, referred to as the “application screen layout”). 
     The storage unit  27  may store device setting information  27   c  indicating setting values of various types of setting items of the image forming apparatus  20 . Examples of the setting items indicated in the device setting information  27   c  may include: a “panel reset time period” indicating, if no operations are input to the operation unit  21  continuously for a certain time period, a continuous time period during which no operations are input to the operation unit  21  for executing a panel reset to display a default screen on the display unit  22 ; a “sleep transition time period” indicating, if no operations are input to the operation unit  21  continuously for a certain time period, a continuous time period during which no operations are input to the operation unit  21  for executing a sleep transition to transit the image forming apparatus  20  to a sleep state; and a “print output-source IP address” indicating from which device receives print data, by an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the device. If the “panel reset time period” and the “sleep transition time period” are set to have an appropriate time period, the possibility of a user getting logged out because of the panel reset and sleep transition, for example, while the user uses the image forming apparatus, can be reduced. If the “print output-source IP address” is set to receive print data, for example, from only the authentication and authorization system  60 , the possibility of the image forming apparatus performing printing based on print data from a device not managed by the administrator can be reduced. 
     It is possible to designate the setting values indicated in the device setting information  27   c  from a system menu of the image forming apparatus  20  via the operation unit  21 . However, various types of setting items indicated in the device setting information  27   c  are scattered in the system menu of the image forming apparatus  20  because of which a lot of working time and labor are required for designating setting values of all setting items indicated in the device setting information  27   c  from the system menu of the image forming apparatus  20  via the operation unit  21 . 
     The control unit  28  includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM) storing programs and various types of data, and a random access memory (RAM) being a memory serving as a volatile storage device used as a work area of the CPU of the control unit  28 . The CPU of the control unit  28  executes a program stored in the storage unit  27  or in the ROM of the control unit  28 . 
     If executing the authentication and authorization utilization type client application  27   a , the control unit  28  is capable of restricting, in accordance with authorization information acquired from the authentication and authorization system  60 , utilization of various types of functions of the image forming apparatus  20  such as “scanning” for reading images from an original by the scanner  24 , “print output” for printing, on a recording medium by the printer  23 , various images such as images based on print data received via the communication unit  26 , “copying” for printing, on a recording medium by the printer  23 , an image read from an original by the scanner  24 , and “fax transmission” for transmitting, through fax communication by the fax communication unit  25 , an image read from an original by the scanner  24 . 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus  20  in an example different from the example illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the image forming apparatus  20  may store, in the storage unit  27 , an authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application  27   d  being a client application program for providing, to a user, functions of only the document processing flow execution system  50  out of the document processing flow execution system  50  (see  FIG. 1 ) and the authentication and authorization system  60  (see  FIG. 1 ), instead of the authentication and authorization utilization type client application  27   a  (see  FIG. 3 ). The authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application  27   d  may be installed on the image forming apparatus  20 , for example, when the image forming apparatus  20  is manufactured, may be additionally installed on the image forming apparatus  20  from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or may be additionally installed on the image forming apparatus  20  through a network. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the administrator terminal  40 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the administrator terminal  40  includes an operation unit  41  being an operation device, such as a keyboard or a mouse, through which various operations are input; a display unit  42  being a display device, such as an LCD, configured to display various information; a communication unit  43  being a communication device configured to communicate with an external device via a network such as a LAN or the Internet, or directly by wire or wirelessly without going through a network; a storage unit  44  being a non-volatile storage device; such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD, configured to store various types of information; and a control unit  45  configured to control the entire administrator terminal  40 . 
     The storage unit  44  stores an image forming apparatus setting program  44   a  being an appliance setting program for setting a screen of the image forming apparatus being an electronic appliance. The image forming apparatus setting program  44   a  may be installed on the administrator terminal  40 , for example, when the administrator terminal  40  is manufactured, may be additionally installed on the administrator terminal  40  from an external storage medium such as a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), and a USB memory, or may be additionally installed on the administrator terminal  40  through a network. 
     The storage unit  44  stores authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  indicating presence or absence of utilization of a function of the authentication and authorization system  60  (see  FIG. 1 ). The authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  indicates that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is not utilized by default, for example. 
     The storage unit  44  stores device management information  44   c  indicating an image forming apparatus managed in the image forming apparatus setting program  44   a.    
       FIG. 6  is a table showing an example of the device management information  44   c.    
     The device management information  44   c  shown in  FIG. 6  indicates a display name of the image forming apparatus (Display name), a serial number of the image forming apparatus (Serial number), an IP address of the image forming apparatus (IP address), a host name of the image forming apparatus (Host name), and 
     a group to which the image forming apparatus belongs (Group), for each image forming apparatus. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the storage unit  44  stores an authentication and authorization utilization type client application package  44   d  being an installation package for an authentication and authorization utilization type client application, and an authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application package  44   e  being an installation package for an authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application. 
     The storage unit  44  stores, as a setting value to be applied to device setting information of the image forming apparatus, authentication and authorization utilization setting value information  44   f  indicating a setting value suitable for the image forming apparatus to utilize a function of the authentication and authorization system  60 , and as a setting value to be applied to the device setting information of the image forming apparatus, authentication and authorization non-utilization setting value information  44   g  indicating a setting value suitable for the image forming apparatus not to utilize a function of the authentication and authorization system  60 . 
     The storage unit  44  may store layout information  44   h  indicating an application screen layout. The storage unit  44  may store layout information indicating an application screen layout in addition to the layout information  44   h.    
     The control unit  45  includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM storing programs and various types of data, and a RAM serving as a memory used as a work area of the CPU of the control unit  45 . The CPU of the control unit  45  executes a program stored in the storage unit  44  or in the ROM of the control unit  45 . 
     As a result of executing the image forming apparatus setting program  44   a , the control unit  45  realizes an authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information update unit  45   a  configured to update the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b , a device registration unit  45   b  configured to register the image forming apparatus with the device management information  44   c , an application installation unit  45   c  configured to install a client application program on the image forming apparatus, a layout generation unit  45   d  configured to generate layout information indicating an application screen layout, and a layout installation unit  45   e  configured to install layout information on the image forming apparatus. That is, the administrator terminal  40  configures an appliance setting apparatus for setting a screen of the image forming apparatus being an electronic appliance. 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram of the document processing flow execution system  50  when the document processing flow execution system  50  is configured by one computer. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the document processing flow execution system  50  includes an operation unit  51  being an operation device, such as a keyboard or a mouse, through which various operations are input, a display unit  52  being a display device, such as an LCD, configured to display various information, a communication unit  53  being a communication device configured to communicate with an external device via a network such as a LAN or the Internet, or directly by wire or wirelessly without going through a network, a storage unit  54  being a non-volatile storage device, such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD, configured to store various types of information, and a control unit  55  configured to control the entire document processing flow execution system  50 . 
     The storage unit  54  may store a document processing flow  54   a . The storage unit  54  may store a document processing flow in addition to the document processing flow  54   a . In the document processing flow, a display name by which a user identifies the document processing flow is set, and a flow ID being identification information for distinguishing the document processing flow from other document processing flows is assigned. The display name of the document processing flow may be set, for example, according to an instruction from the administrator terminal. 
     The control unit  55  includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM storing programs and various types of data, and a RAM serving as a memory used as a work area of the CPU of the control unit  55 . The CPU of the control unit  55  executes a program stored in the storage unit  54  or in the ROM of the control unit  55 . 
     Next, an operation of the document processing system  10  will be described. 
     First, an operation of the administrator terminal  40  when the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  is updated will be described. 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart of an operation of the administrator terminal  40  when the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  is updated. 
     If being instructed via the operation unit  41  to start a process of updating the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b , the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information update unit  45   a  of the administrator terminal  40  executes the operation illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information update unit  45   a  displays, on the display unit  42 , an authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence designation receiving screen for receiving a designation of presence or absence of utilization of a function of the authentication and authorization system  60  (S 201 ). Here, the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information update unit  45   a  can receive a designation of presence or absence of utilization of a function of the authentication and authorization system  60  on the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence designation receiving screen via the operation unit  41 . For example, if the document processing system  10  includes the authentication and authorization system  60  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the administrator may designate to utilize the function of the authentication and authorization system  60 , on the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence designation receiving screen, and if the document processing system  10  does not include the authentication and authorization system  60  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the administrator may designate not to utilize the function of the authentication and authorization system  60 , on the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence designation receiving screen. 
     After the processing in S 201 , the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information update unit  45   a  determines, until it is determined that designation of presence or absence of utilization of the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is received on the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence designation receiving screen, whether the designation of presence or absence of utilization of the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is received on the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence designation receiving screen (S 202 ). 
     If determining in S 202  that the designation of presence or absence of utilization of the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is received on the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence designation receiving screen, the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information update unit  45   a  updates the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  according to the contents of the received designation (S 203 ), and the operation illustrated in  FIG. 8  ends. 
     Next, an operation of the administrator terminal  40  when the image forming apparatus is registered with the device management information  44   c  will be described. 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart of an operation of the administrator terminal  40  when the image forming apparatus is registered with the device management information  44   c.    
     The device registration unit  45   b  of the administrator terminal  40  executes the operation illustrated in  FIG. 9  at a certain timing, such as a timing at which the image forming apparatus setting program  44   a  is activated, or a timing at which a start of a process of registering the image forming apparatus with the device management information  44   c  is instructed via the operation unit  41 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the device registration unit  45   b  searches for image forming apparatuses existing on the network  11  (S 211 ). 
     Next, the device registration unit  45   b  determines whether an image forming apparatus not registered with the device management information  44   c  exists among the image forming apparatuses searched in S 211  (S 212 ). 
     If the device registration unit  45   b  determines in S 212  that an image forming apparatus not registered with the device management information  44   c  does not exist among the image forming apparatuses searched in S 211 , the operation illustrated in  FIG. 9  ends. 
     If determining in S 212  that an image forming apparatus not registered with the device management information  44   c  exists among the image forming apparatuses searched in S 211 , the device registration unit  45   b  registers, with the device management information  44   c , the image forming apparatus not registered with the device management information  44   c  among the image forming apparatuses searched in step S 211  (S 213 ), and the operation illustrated in  FIG. 9  ends. 
     Next, an operation of the administrator terminal  40  when a group to which the image forming apparatus belongs to is updated in the device management information  44   c  will be described. 
     If being instructed via the operation unit  41  to display the device management screen  100  (see  FIG. 10 ) for managing an image forming apparatus, the device registration unit  45   b  of the administrator terminal  40  displays the device management screen  100  on the display unit  42 . 
       FIG. 10  is a graphic representation illustrating an example of the device management screen  100 . 
     The device management screen  100  illustrated in  FIG. 10  includes a group list area  101  for displaying a list of groups to which image forming apparatuses belong; an image forming apparatus display area  102  for displaying an image forming apparatus belonging to a group designated in the group list area  101 ; a group addition button  103  for adding a group displayed in the group list area  101 ; a device registration process start button  104  for starting a process of registering an image forming apparatus with the device management information  44   c ; a group assignment button  105  for assigning an image forming apparatus designated in the image forming apparatus display area  102  to any of the groups displayed in the group list area  101 , and a device deletion button  106  for deleting an image forming apparatus designated in the image forming apparatus display area  102  from the group. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the group list area  101  includes “All devices” indicating all the image forming apparatuses indicated in the device management information  44   c , and two groups namely “Department A” and “Department B”. Although “All devices” is not a group, it is possible to handle “All devices” similarly to a group in the device management screen  100 . 
     The group list area  101  includes, for all the groups, an edit button  101   a  for changing a name of the corresponding group, and a group deletion button  101   b  for deleting the corresponding group. It is not possible to rename or delete “All devices”. If the edit button  101   a  is depressed, and a name of a group for which the edit button  101   a  is depressed is changed via the operation unit  41 , the device registration unit  45   b  changes the name of the group in the device management information  44   c . If the group deletion button  101   b  is depressed, the device registration unit  45   b  deletes a group for which the group deletion button  101   b  is depressed, from the group list area  101 , and also cancels the association of the group with the image forming apparatus in the device management information  44   c.    
     If the group addition button  103  is depressed, the device registration unit  45   b  adds, to the group list area  101 , a new group to which at least one image forming apparatus designated via the operation unit  41  belongs, from among image forming apparatuses not belonging to any of the groups, and also associates the group with the image forming apparatus in the device management information  44   c.    
     If “All devices” is designated in the group list area  101 , the device registration unit  45   b  enables an operation on the group assignment button  105  only if only an image forming apparatus not belonging to any of the groups is designated in the image forming apparatus display area  102 . If the group assignment button  105  is depressed, the device registration unit  45   b  assigns an image forming apparatus designated in the image forming apparatus display area  102  to a group designated via the operation unit  41 , and also associates the group with the image forming apparatus in the device management information  44   c.    
     If a group is designated in the group list area  101 , the device registration unit  45   b  enables an operation on the group deletion button  106  only if an image forming apparatus is designated in the image forming apparatus display area  102 . If the device deletion button  106  is operated, the device registration unit  45   b  deletes an image forming apparatus designated in the image forming apparatus display area  102  from the group at the time the device deletion button  106  is operated, and also cancels the association of the group with the image forming apparatus in the device management information  44   c . It is noted that if, as a result of deleting an image forming apparatus from a group, there occurs a group to which no image forming apparatus belongs, the device registration unit  45   b  deletes the group from the group list area  101 . 
     Next, an operation of the administrator terminal  40  when the client application program is installed on the image forming apparatus will be described. 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart of an operation of the administrator terminal  40  when the client application program is installed on the image forming apparatus. 
     If being instructed via the operation unit  41  to start a process of installing the client application program on the image forming apparatus, the application installation unit  45   c  of the administrator terminal  40  executes the operation illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the application installation unit  45   c  determines, until it is determined that an image forming apparatus on which the client application program is to be installed (hereinafter, referred to as an “installation-target image forming apparatus” in the description of the operation illustrated in  FIG. 11 ) is designated from among the image forming apparatuses indicated in the device management information  44   c , whether the installation-target image forming apparatus is designated from among the image forming apparatuses indicated in the device management information  44   c  (S 221 ). Here, the application installation unit  45   c  may designate a plurality of image forming apparatuses among the image forming apparatuses indicated in the device management information  44   c  as the installation-target image forming apparatus. Further, if a group indicated in the device management information  44   c  is designated, the application installation unit  45   c  may designate all the image forming apparatuses belonging to the group as the installation-target image forming apparatus. It is possible for the administrator to designate the installation-target image forming apparatus to the administrator terminal  40  via the operation unit  41 . 
     If determining in S 221  that an installation-target image forming apparatus is designated from among image forming apparatuses indicated in the device management information  44   c , the application installation unit  45   c  determines, until it is determined that either one of the authentication and authorization utilization type client application package  44   d  or the authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application package  44   e  is designated as the installation package of the client application program to be installed on the installation-target image forming apparatus which is determined to be designated in S 221 , whether either one of the authentication and authorization utilization type client application package  44   d  or the authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application package  44   e  is designated (S 222 ). It is possible for the administrator to designate either one of the authentication and authorization utilization type client application package  44   d  or the authentication or authorization non-utilization type client application package  44   e , to the administrator terminal  40  via the operation unit  41 , as the installation package of the client application program to be installed in the installation-target image forming apparatus. 
     If determining in S 222  that either one of the authentication and authorization utilization type client application package  44   d  or the authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application package  44   e  is designated, the application installation unit  45   c  determines whether it is indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is utilized (S 223 ). 
     If determining in S 223  that it is indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is utilized, the application installation unit  45   c  determines whether the authentication and authorization utilization type client application package  44   d  is designated as the installation package of the client application program to be installed on the installation-target image forming apparatus (S 224 ). 
     If determining in S 224  that the authentication and authorization utilization type client application package  44   d  is designated, the application installation unit  45   c  installs the authentication and authorization utilization type client application on the installation-target image forming apparatus by the authentication and authorization utilization type client application package  44   d  (S 225 ). 
     Next, the application installation unit  45   c  updates the device setting information of the installation-target image forming apparatus with a setting value indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization setting value information  44   f  (S 226 ). 
     If determining in S 223  that it is not indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is utilized, that is, it is indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is not utilized, the application installation unit  45   c  determines whether the authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application package  44   e  is designated as the installation package of the client application program to be installed on the installation-target image forming apparatus (S 227 ). 
     If determining in S 227  that the authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application package  44   e  is designated, the application installation unit  45   c  installs the authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application on the installation-target image forming apparatus by the authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application package  44   e  (S 228 ). 
     Next, the application installation unit  45   c  updates the device setting information of the installation-target image forming apparatus with a setting value indicated in the authentication and authorization non-utilization setting value information  44   g  (S 229 ). 
     If the processing in S 226  or S 229  ends, the application installation unit  45   c  displays the success or failure of the installation of the client application program, and the success or failure of the update of the device setting information on the display unit  42  for each installation-target image forming apparatus (S 230 ), and the operation illustrated in  FIG. 11  ends. 
     If determining in S 224  that the authentication and authorization utilization type client application package  44   d  is not designated, that is, the authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application package  44   e  is designated, or determining in S 227  that the authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application package  44   e  is not designated, that is, the authentication and authorization utilization type client application package  44   d  is designated, the application installation unit  45   c  displays, on the display unit  42 , an indication that the installation of the client application program on the installation-target image forming apparatus has failed because the designation of the installation package of the client application program is inappropriate (S 231 ), and the operation illustrated in  FIG. 11  ends. 
     Next, an operation of the administrator terminal  40  when layout information is generated will be described. 
       FIG. 12  is a flowchart of an operation of the administrator terminal  40  when a layout generation screen for generating layout information is displayed. 
     If being instructed via the operation unit  41  to display the layout generation screen, the layout generation unit  45   d  of the administrator terminal  40  executes the operation illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the layout generation unit  45   d  determines whether it is indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is utilized (S 241 ). 
     If determining in S 241  that it is indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is utilized, the layout generation unit  45   d  displays, on the display unit  42 , an authentication and authorization utilization type client application layout generation screen  110  (see  FIG. 13 ) being a layout generation screen for generating a screen layout of the authentication and authorization utilization type client application (S 242 ), and the operation illustrated in  FIG. 12  ends. 
       FIG. 13  is a graphic representation illustrating an example of the authentication and authorization utilization type client application layout generation screen  110 . 
     The authentication and authorization utilization type client application layout generation screen  110  illustrated in  FIG. 13  includes a layout list area  111  for displaying a list of application screen layouts; a layout display area  112  for displaying a layout designated in the layout list area  111 ; a layout addition button  113  for adding a layout displayed in the layout list area  111 ; a button deletion button  114  for deleting a button designated via the operation unit  41  from among buttons displayed in the layout display area  112 ; a button display area  115  where buttons to be arranged in the layout display area  112  are indicated; and a save button  116  for updating layout information of the layout designated in the layout list area  111  with a layout displayed in the layout display area  112 . 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the layout list area  111  includes three layouts, namely “layout a”, “layout b”, and “layout c”. 
     The layout list area  111  includes, for all the layouts, an edit button  111   a  for changing a name of the corresponding layout, and a layout deletion button  111   b  for deleting the corresponding layout. If the edit button  111   a  is depressed and a name of the layout for which the edit button  111   a  is depressed is changed via the operation unit  41 , the layout generation unit  45   d  changes the name of the layout in the layout information of the layout. If the layout deletion button  111   b  is depressed, the layout generation unit  45   d  deletes the layout for which the layout deletion button  111   b  is depressed from the layout list area  111 , and also deletes the layout information of the layout from the storage unit  44 . 
     If the layout addition button  113  is depressed, the layout generation unit  45   d  adds a new layout to the layout list area  111 , and also adds the layout information of the layout to the storage unit  44 . 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the layout display area  112  includes a total of 18 squares  112   a  having six squares for each row and three squares for each column. If a button displayed in the button display area  115  is dragged-and-dropped to the layout display area  112 , the layout generation unit  45   d  copies the button from the button display area  115  to the layout display area  112 . As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the button displayed in the layout display area  112  includes an image  112   b  of an icon in the button, a background area  112   c  of the icon in the button, and a name area  112   d  for displaying a name of the button. 
     If a button copied from the button display area  115  to the layout display area  112  is a button for executing the document processing flow (hereinafter, referred to as a “flow execution button”), the layout generation unit  45   d  executes the operation illustrated in  FIG. 15  for associating the document processing flow saved in the document processing flow execution system  50  with the flow execution button copied from the button display area  115  to the layout display area  112 . 
       FIG. 15  is a flowchart of an operation of the administrator terminal  40  when the document processing flow is associated with a flow execution button. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the layout generation unit  45   d  acquires, from the document processing flow execution system  50 , a list of document processing flows saved in the document processing flow execution system  50  (S 251 ). The list acquired in S 251  includes a display name and a flow ID for each document processing flow. 
     After the processing in S 251 , the layout generation unit  45   d  generates a list including display names of all document processing flows included in the list acquired in S 251  as a display list being a list of the document processing flows for displaying the list on the display unit  42  (S 252 ). 
     Next, the layout generation unit  45   d  deletes a display name of a document processing flow already associated with any of flow execution buttons already arranged in the layout display area  112  from the display list generated in S 252  (S 253 ). 
     Next, the layout generation unit  45   d  displays the current display list on the display unit  42  (S 254 ). Therefore, it is possible for the administrator to select any one of the document processing flows included in the display list being displayed on the display unit  42  via the operation unit  41 . 
     After the processing in S 254 , the layout generation unit  45   d  determines, until it is determined that any one of the document processing flows included in the display list displayed on the display unit  42  is selected, whether any one of the document processing flows included in the display list displayed on the display unit  42  is selected (S 255 ). 
     If determining in S 255  that any one of the document processing flows included in the display list displayed on the display unit  42  is selected, the layout generation unit  45   d  associates a flow ID of the document processing flow which is determined to be selected in S 255  with the flow execution button associated with the document processing flow (S 256 ). 
     It is noted that if the screen of the client application program is displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus, then when the flow execution buttons are included on the screen of the client application program, the control unit of the image forming apparatus transmits, to the document processing flow execution system  50 , as a result of depressing any of the flow execution buttons included on the screen of the client application program via the operating unit, the flow ID associated with the depressed flow execution button. Therefore, the control unit  55  of the document processing flow execution system  50  is capable of executing the document processing flow identified by the flow ID transmitted from the image forming apparatus. 
     After the processing in S 256 , the layout generation unit  45   d  sets the display name of the document processing flow determined to be selected in S 255  to the name to be displayed in the name area  112   d  of the flow execution button associated with the document processing flow (S 257 ), and the operation illustrated in  FIG. 15  ends. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the button displayed as “Store invoice” in the name area  112   d , and the button displayed as “Submit delivery note” in the name area  112   d  are flow execution buttons. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the layout generation unit  45   d  arranges buttons with aligning to the squares  112   a  in the layout display area  112  (see  FIG. 13 ). If a button is dragged-and-dropped on the layout display area  112 , the layout generation unit  45   d  changes a position of the button on the button display area  115 . If an end of a button is dragged-and-dropped on the layout display area  112 , the layout generation unit  45   d  changes the size of the button on the button display area  115 . 
     If a button is, for example, double-clicked on the layout display area  112 , the layout generation unit  45   d  displays a menu for customizing the button on the display unit  42 . Examples of items included in the menu for customizing the button include an item for changing the image  112   b  of the button, an item for changing a color of the background area  112   c  of the button, and an item for changing a name displayed in the name area  112   d  of the button. In addition, if the button is a flow execution button, then the items included in the menu for customizing the button include a flow association item being an item for changing the document processing flow associated with the flow execution button. An operation when the flow association item is selected is similar to the operation illustrated in  FIG. 15 . 
     If a dictionary indicating a name displayed in the name area  112   d  for each language is included in the layout information, it is possible to automatically change the name displayed in the name area  112   d  displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus in response to a change in the display language in the image forming apparatus if the layout information is installed on the image forming apparatus. 
     If the button deletion button  114  is depressed, the layout generation unit  45   d  deletes the designated button among the buttons displayed in the layout display area  112 . 
     The button display area  115  illustrated in  FIG. 13  includes, as items to which the buttons to be arranged in the layout display area  112  belong, “Capture Manager” being an item for providing to a user a function of the document processing flow execution system  50 , “Net Manager” being an item for providing to a user a function of the authentication and authorization system  60 , “Device features” being an item for providing to a user a function of the image forming apparatus, and “Other” being an item to which the other buttons belong. 
     For example, if the “Net Manager” item in the button display area  115  is depressed, the layout generation unit  45   d  displays buttons belonging to the “Net Manager” item in the button display area  115 , as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the buttons belonging to the “Net Manager” item includes “Print all” being a button for printing all print data spooled in the authentication and authorization system  60  in association with a user logged in to the image forming apparatus, “My jobs” being a button for printing print data selected by a user from print data spooled in the authentication and authorization system  60  in association with the user logged in to the image forming apparatus, and “ID card registration” being a button for registering an ID card used for user authentication. 
     A case where the “Net Manager” item in the button display area  115  is depressed is described above, however, even if the “Capture Manager” item, the “Device features” item, or the “Other” item in the button display area  115  is depressed, the layout generation unit  45   d  similarly displays buttons belonging to each of the items in the button display area  115 . 
     If the save button  116  is operated, the layout generation unit  45   d  updates the layout information of the layout designated in the layout list area  111  with the layout displayed in the layout display area  112 , and various types of information such as flow IDs associated with buttons in the layout. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , If determining in S 241  that it is not indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is utilized, that is, it is indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is not utilized, the layout generation unit  45   d  displays, on the display unit  42 , an authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application layout generation screen  120  (see  FIG. 16 ) as a layout generation screen for generating a screen layout of the authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application (S 243 ), and the operation illustrated in  FIG. 12  ends. 
       FIG. 16  is a graphic representation illustrating an example of the authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application layout generation screen  120 . 
     The configuration of the authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application layout generation screen  120  illustrated in  FIG. 16  is similar to the configuration in which the authentication and authorization utilization type client application layout generation screen  110  (see  FIG. 13 ) does not include the “Net Manager” item in the button display area  115 . 
     Next, an operation of the administrator terminal  40  when the layout information is installed on the image forming apparatus will be described. 
       FIG. 17  is a flowchart of an operation of the administrator terminal  40  when the layout information is installed on the image forming apparatus. 
     If being instructed via the operation unit  41  to start a process of installing the layout information on the image forming apparatus, the layout installation unit  45   e  of the administrator terminal  40  executes the operation illustrated in  FIG. 17 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the layout installation unit  45   e  determines, until it is determined that an image forming apparatus on which the layout information is to be installed (hereinafter, referred to as an “installation-target image forming apparatus” in the description of the operation illustrated in  FIG. 17 ) is designated from among the image forming apparatuses indicated in the device management information  44   c , whether the installation-target image forming apparatus is designated from among the image forming apparatuses indicated in the device management information  44   c  (S 261 ). Here, the layout installation unit  45   e  may designate a plurality of image forming apparatuses among the image forming apparatuses indicated in the device management information  44   c  as the installation-target image forming apparatus. Further, if a group indicated in the device management information  44   c  is designated, the layout installation unit  45   e  may designate all the image forming apparatuses belonging to the group as the installation-target image forming apparatus. It is possible for the administrator to designate the installation-target image forming apparatus to the administrator terminal  40  via the operation unit  41 . 
     If determining in S 261  that the installation-target image forming apparatus is designated from among the image forming apparatuses indicated in the device management information  44   c , the layout installation unit  45   e  determines, until it is determined that any one of the layout information stored in the storage unit  44  is designated as the layout information to be installed on the installation-target image forming apparatus which is determined to be designated in S 261 , whether any one of the layout information stored in the storage unit  44  is designated (S 262 ). It is possible for the administrator to designate any one of the layout information stored in the storage unit  44 , to the administrator terminal  40  via the operation unit  41 , as the layout information to be installed on the installation-target image forming apparatus. 
     If determining in S 262  that any one of the layout information stored in the storage unit  44  is designated, the layout installation unit  45   e  installs the layout information which is determined to be designated in S 262  on the installation-target image forming apparatus (S 263 ). 
     Next, the layout installation unit  45   e  determines whether it is indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is utilized (S 264 ). 
     If determining in S 264  that it is indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is utilized, the layout installation unit  45   e  updates the device setting information of the installation-target image forming apparatus with a setting value indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization setting value information  44   f  (S 265 ). 
     If determining in S 264  that it is not indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is utilized, that is, it is indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is not utilized, the layout installation unit  45   e  updates the device setting information of the installation-target image forming apparatus with a setting value indicated in the authentication and authorization non-utilization setting value information  44   g  (S 266 ). 
     If the processing in S 265  or S 266  ends, the layout installation unit  45   e  displays the success or failure of the installation of the layout information, and the success or failure of the update of the device setting information on the display unit  42  for each installation-target image forming apparatus (S 267 ), and the operation illustrated in  FIG. 17  ends. 
     Next, an operation of the image forming apparatus  20  when the screen of the client application program is displayed according to the layout information  27   b  will be described. 
       FIG. 18  is a flowchart of an operation of the image forming apparatus  20  when the screen of the authentication and authorization utilization type client application  27   a  is displayed according to the layout information  27   b.    
     If the authentication and authorization utilization type client application  27   a  is installed on the image forming apparatus  20 , the control unit  28  of the image forming apparatus  20  executes the authentication and authorization utilization type client application  27   a  to execute the operation illustrated in  FIG. 18 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 18 , the control unit  28  of the image forming apparatus  20  acquires various types of information (hereinafter referred to as “device information”) such as the model of the image forming apparatus  20  and the current state thereof (S 271 ). 
     Next, the control unit  28  targets only one button not yet targeted in the current operation illustrated in  FIG. 18  among buttons indicated in the layout information  27   b  installed on the image forming apparatus  20  (S 272 ). 
     Next, the control unit  28  determines whether it is possible to execute a function realized by the current target button in the image forming apparatus  20 , based on the device information acquired in S 271 , and the authorization information of a user acquired from the authentication and authorization system  60  when the user logged in to the image forming apparatus  20  (S 273 ). 
     If determining in S 273  that it is possible to execute the function realized by the current target button in the image forming apparatus  20 , the control unit  28  displays the current target button on the display unit  22  in an enabled state (S 274 ). 
     If determining in S 273  that it is not possible to execute the function realized by the current target button in the image forming apparatus  20 , the control unit  28  displays the current target button on the display unit  22  in a disabled state, for example, in a grayed-out state (S 275 ). 
     After the processing in S 274  or S 275 , the control unit  28  determines whether there is any button not yet targeted in the current operation illustrated in  FIG. 18  among the buttons indicated in the layout information  27   b  (S 276 ). 
     If determining in S 276  that there is a button not yet targeted in the current operation illustrated in  FIG. 18  among the buttons indicated in the layout information  27   b , the control unit  28  executes the processing in S 272 . 
     If the control unit  28  determines in S 276  that there is no button not yet targeted in the current operation illustrated in  FIG. 18  among the buttons indicated in the layout information  27   b , the operation illustrated in  FIG. 18  ends. 
     The operation of the image forming apparatus  20  when the screen of the authentication and authorization non-utilization type client application  27   d  is displayed according to the layout information  27   b  is similar to the operation illustrated in  FIG. 18  except for the point that the information resulting in the determination in S 273  is only the device information acquired in S 271 . 
       FIG. 19  is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen  130  of the client application program displayed on the display unit  22 . 
     On the screen  130  illustrated in  FIG. 19 , buttons with a name displayed in the name area being any one of “Low quota”, “Folder”, “Submit delivery note”, “FAX”, and “Application” are displayed in a disabled state. Therefore, a user is able to visually recognize that the buttons are unavailable. Further, even if the buttons are depressed, the control unit  28  of the image forming apparatus  20  does not execute the functions realized by the buttons. 
     As described above, if the flow execution button is arranged in the layout of the screen of the client application program of the image forming apparatus, the administrator terminal  40  acquires a list of the document processing flows from the document processing flow execution system  50  (S 251 ), displays at least a part of the document processing flows included in the list acquired in S 251 , on the display unit  42  (S 252  to S 254 ), and associates the document processing flow selected via the operation unit  41  from among the document processing flows displayed on the display unit  42  with a flow execution button (S 255  to S 256 ), and therefore, it is possible to simplify addition of buttons executing the document processing flow in the document processing flow execution system  50 , on a screen of the image forming apparatus. 
     The administrator terminal  40  displays a workflow included in the list acquired from the document processing flow execution system  50  in S 251  on the display unit  42  in a state where the document processing flow already associated with the flow execution button already arranged in the layout is excluded (S 252  to S 254 ), and therefore, it is possible to prevent addition of a plurality of buttons executing the same document processing flow in the document processing flow execution system  50 , on the same screen of the image forming apparatus. 
     If the layout information is installed on the image forming apparatus in S 263 , the administrator terminal  40  updates the device setting information of the image forming apparatus with the setting value indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization setting value information  44   f  (S 265 ), or with the setting value indicated in the authentication and authorization non-utilization setting value information  44   g  (S 266 ), and therefore, it is possible to reduce the work load of updating the device setting information of the image forming apparatus. 
     If it is indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is utilized (YES in S 264 ), the administrator terminal  40  updates the device setting information of the image forming apparatus with the setting value indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization setting value information  44   f  (S 265 ), and if it is indicated in the authentication and authorization utilization presence-or-absence information  44   b  that the function of the authentication and authorization system  60  is not utilized (NO in S 264 ), the administrator terminal  40  updates the device setting information of the image forming apparatus with the setting value indicated in the authentication and authorization non-utilization setting value information  44   g  (S 266 ), and therefore, it is possible to appropriately update the device setting information of the image forming apparatus. 
     As described above, it is possible to designate the setting value indicated in the device setting information of the image forming apparatus from a system menu of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the setting value indicated in the device setting information of the image forming apparatus may be changed to an inappropriate value by a user. However, when the layout information is installed on the image forming apparatus in S 263 , the administrator terminal  40  may update the device setting information of the image forming apparatus to appropriate information (S 265  or S 266 ). 
     The administrator terminal  40  may install the same layout information on a plurality of image forming apparatuses in a batch (S 261  to S 263 ), and therefore, it is possible to improve convenience. 
     The administrator terminal  40  may change the image  112   b  of an icon in the button, a color of the background area  112   c  in the button, and a name displayed in the name area  112   d  in the button, from a default state, and therefore, it is possible to customize the screens of the image forming apparatus so that a user can easily use it.