Patent Abstract:
A client apparatus is configured to communicate with a device and with a server via network. A status-information acquiring portion acquires, from the device, status information indicative of status of the device. A requesting portion makes a predetermined request to the server based on the status information. A request-status-information acquiring portion acquires, from the device, request status information indicative of a request status of the predetermined request. A determining portion determines whether the predetermined request is already made to the server, based on the request status information acquired by the request-status-information acquiring portion. A request controlling portion determines that the predetermined request should be made to the server, if the determining portion determines that the predetermined request is not yet made. An instructing portion instructs the device to set the request status information to a requested state, if the request controlling portion determines that the predetermined request should be made.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-85798 filed Mar. 28, 2007. The entire content of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a client apparatus, a device, a network system, and a storage medium storing a computer program executable on a client apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Conventionally, a system is well known in which a single device such as a printer, scanner, facsimile device, or multifunction device is commonly used by a plurality of personal computers (client apparatuses) which are connected to the single device via a local area network. 
         [0004]    Further, Japanese Patent Application Publication 2005-59303 (paragraph 0009) discloses technology where a user transmits information relating to a consumable to a service providing device, and receives screen information that provides a service in accordance with the information relating to the consumable, thereby enabling the user to request a necessary service from the screen. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    However, if the above-described conventional system is applied to the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication 2005-59303, each of the client apparatuses can request the service. For example, even if one of the client apparatuses has already ordered a consumable for a device, another client apparatus may order the same consumable for the device. This leads to a problem of multiple ordering and purchasing consumables and a problem of wasting resources of network traffic and a server that receives orders for consumables. 
         [0006]    In another example, when a new device is purchased, a user registration is requested to a server from a client apparatus. In this case, even if one of a plurality of client apparatuses has already requested a user registration for the device, another client apparatus may request another user registration for the same device. This also leads to a problem of making multiple user registrations and a problem of wasting resources of network traffic and the server that performs user registrations. 
         [0007]    In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide a client apparatus, a device, a network system, and a storage medium storing a computer program executable on a client apparatus, which are capable of preventing multiple orders of consumables, multiple user registrations, and the like. 
         [0008]    In order to attain the above and other objects, the invention provides a client apparatus configured to communicate with a device and with a server via network. The client apparatus includes a status-information acquiring portion, a requesting portion, a request-status-information acquiring portion, a determining portion, a request controlling portion, and an instructing portion. The status-information acquiring portion acquires, from the device, status information indicative of status of the device. The requesting portion makes a predetermined request to the server based on the status information. The request-status-information acquiring portion acquires, from the device, request status information indicative of a request status of the predetermined request. The determining portion determines whether the predetermined request is already made to the server, based on the request status information acquired by the request-status-information acquiring portion. The request controlling portion determines that the predetermined request should be made to the server, if the determining portion determines that the predetermined request is not yet made. The instructing portion instructs the device to set the request status information to a requested state, if the request controlling portion determines that the predetermined request should be made. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect, the invention provides a client apparatus configured to communicate with a device and with a server via network. The client apparatus includes a requesting portion, a request-status-information acquiring portion, a determining portion, a request controlling portion, and an instructing portion. The requesting portion makes a user registration request, to the server, for registering both device identification information identifying the device and user identification information identifying a user that uses the device. The request-status-information acquiring portion acquires, from the device, request status information indicative of a request status of the user registration request. The determining portion determines whether the user registration request is already made to the server, based on the request status information acquired by the request-status-information acquiring portion. The request controlling portion determines that the user registration request should be made to the server, if the determining portion determines that the user registration request is not yet made. The instructing portion instructs the device to set the request status information to a requested state, if the request controlling portion determines that the user registration request should be made. 
         [0010]    According to still another aspect, the invention provides a device configured to communicate with a plurality of client apparatuses and with a server via network. The device includes a first storing portion, a first transmitting portion, and a first setting portion. The first storing portion stores request status information indicative of a request status of a predetermined request. The first transmitting portion, in accordance with a request from one of the plurality of client apparatuses, transmits the request status information to the one of the plurality of client apparatuses. The first setting portion sets the request status information to a requested state in accordance with instruction from the one of the plurality of client apparatuses. 
         [0011]    According to still another aspect, the invention provides a network system including a plurality of client apparatuses and a device, each of which configured to communicate with one another and with a server via network. Each of the plurality of client apparatuses includes a status-information acquiring portion, a requesting portion, a request-status-information acquiring portion, a determining portion, a request controlling portion, and an instructing portion. The status-information acquiring portion acquires, from the device, status information indicative of status of the device. The requesting portion makes a predetermined request to the server based on the status information. The request-status-information acquiring portion acquires, from the device, request status information indicative of a request status of the predetermined request. The determining portion determines whether the predetermined request is already made to the server, based on the request status information acquired by the request-status-information acquiring portion. The request controlling portion determines that the predetermined request should be made to the server, if the determining portion determines that the predetermined request is not yet made. The instructing portion instructs the device to set the request status information to a requested state, if the request controlling portion determines that the predetermined request should be made. The device includes a storing portion, a transmitting portion, and a setting portion. The storing portion stores the request status information. The transmitting portion, in accordance with a request from the request-status-information acquiring portion of one of the plurality of client apparatuses, transmits the request status information to the one of the plurality of client apparatuses. The setting portion sets the request status information to a requested state in accordance with instruction from the instructing portion of the one of the plurality of client apparatuses. 
         [0012]    According to still another aspect, the invention provides a storage medium storing a set of program instructions executable on a client apparatus configured to communicate with a device and with a server via network. The set of program instructions includes: acquiring, from the device, status information indicative of status of the device; making a predetermined request to the server based on the status information; acquiring, from the device, request status information indicative of a request status of the predetermined request; determining whether the predetermined request is already made to the server, based on the request status information; determining that the predetermined request should be made to the server, if the predetermined request is not yet made; and instructing the device to set the request status information to a requested state, if it is determined that the predetermined request should be made. 
         [0013]    According to still another aspect, the invention provides a storage medium storing a set of program instructions executable on a client apparatus configured to communicate with a device and with a server via network. The set of program instructions includes: making a user registration request, to the server, for registering both device identification information identifying the device and user identification information identifying a user that uses the device; acquiring, from the device, request status information indicative of a request status of the user registration request; determining whether the user registration request is already made to the server, based on the request status information; determining that the user registration request should be made to the server, if the user registration request is not yet made; and instructing the device to set the request status information to a requested state, if it is determined that the user registration request should be made. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Embodiments in accordance with the invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a network system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing a status display process according to the embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a cartridge replacement process according to the embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing a user registration process according to the embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5A  shows an order screen displayed on a liquid crystal display (LCD) for ordering ink cartridges; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 5B  shows a user registration screen displayed on the LCD for performing user registration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    A client apparatus, a device, a network system, and a storage medium storing a computer program executable on a client apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention will be described while referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5B . 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a network system including client apparatuses  10  and a printer  20  (an example of a device) according to the embodiment.  FIG. 1  illustrates detailed electrical configuration for one of the five client apparatuses  10 , while each of the other client apparatuses  10  has the same configuration and thus detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. 
         [0023]    In the network system, the five client apparatuses  10  and the single printer  20  are connected with one another via a local area network (LAN) cable  1 . Each of the client apparatuses  10  shares the single printer  20 . 
         [0024]    Each client apparatus  10  is configured to communicate with a server  40  via an Internet  30 . Each client apparatus  10  is capable of making orders of ink cartridges used in the printer  20  to the server  40  via the Internet  30 , and is also capable of making a request for user registration for the printer  20  to the server  40  via the Internet  30 . Especially, each client apparatus  10  in the network system can prevent multiple orders of ink cartridges (example of consumables) and multiple user registrations. 
         [0025]    Each client apparatus  10  is configured as a general personal computer, and includes a CPU  11 , a ROM  12 , a RAM  13 , a hard disk drive (HDD)  14 , a keyboard  15 , a liquid crystal display (LCD)  16 , and a LAN interface (LAN I/F)  17 . 
         [0026]    The CPU  11  is a processing unit for executing programs stored in the ROM  12  and RAM  13 . The ROM  12  is a non-rewritable memory for storing basic programs such as a boot program. 
         [0027]    The RAM  13  is a rewritable memory and includes an ink remaining amount memory  13   a , a stock information memory  13   b , a Web access flag memory  13   c , and a Web registration flag memory  13   d . The ink remaining amount memory  13   a  is a memory area for temporarily storing an ink remaining amount which is acquired from the printer  20 . The stock information memory  13   b  is a memory area for temporarily storing the number of ink cartridges for the printer  20  in stock, which is acquired from the printer  20 . The Web access flag memory  13   c  is a memory area for temporarily storing a setting status of a Web access flag  23   c  which is acquired from the printer  20 . The Web registration flag memory  13   d  is a memory area for temporarily storing a setting status of a Web registration flag  23   d  which is acquired from the printer  20 . 
         [0028]    The HDD  14  is a rewritable storage device for storing an operating system and various application programs executed on the client apparatus  10 . In the present embodiment, the HDD  14  stores a status display program  14 a and a user registration program  14   b.    
         [0029]    The status display program  14   a  is a program for executing a status display process shown in  FIG. 2 , while the user registration program  14   b  is a program for executing a user registration process shown in  FIG. 4 . The HDD  14  also stores a browser for displaying Web pages transmitted from the server  40  on the LCD  16  and a printer driver for controlling the printer  20 . 
         [0030]    The keyboard  15  is an inputting device for inputting operations performed by a user. The LCD  16  is a display device for displaying texts, figures, icons, and the like. The LCD  16  displays an ink cartridge order screen  50  shown in  FIG. 5A  and a user registration screen  55  shown in  FIG. 5B . The LAN I/F  17  is an interface for transmitting data to and receiving data from each device connected to the LAN cable  1 . 
         [0031]    The printer  20  is a so-called inkjet type printer having an inkjet head that ejects, on a recording medium, ink droplets supplied from an ink cartridge filled with black ink, thereby forming a monochrome image on the recording medium. 
         [0032]    The printer  20  includes a CPU  21 , a ROM  22 , a flash memory  23 , a RAM  29 , operation keys  24 , a display panel  25 , an ink remaining amount detection sensor  26 , a printing unit  27 , and a LAN I/F  28 . 
         [0033]    The CPU  21  is a processing unit for executing programs stored in the ROM  22 . The ROM  22  is a non-rewritable memory for storing various programs for controlling the printer  20 . These programs include a cartridge replacement program  22   a , a Web access flag management program  22   b , a stock management program  22   c , and a Web registration flag management program  22   d.    
         [0034]    The cartridge replacement program  22   a  is a program for executing a cartridge replacement process shown in  FIG. 3 . The Web access flag management program  22   b  is a program for managing settings of the Web access flag  23   c  described later. In the status display process of  FIG. 2 , the Web access flag management program  22   b  sets the Web access flag  23   c  to “ON” when the client apparatus  10  has made a request for setting the Web access flag  23   c  to “ON”. 
         [0035]    The stock management program  22   c  is a program for managing the number of ink cartridges in stock stored in a stock information memory  23   b  described later. In the status display process of  FIG. 2 , the stock management program  22   c  updates the number of ink cartridges in stock stored in the stock information memory  23   b  when the client apparatus  10  has made a request for updating the number of ink cartridges in stock. 
         [0036]    The Web registration flag management program  22   d  is a program for managing settings of the Web registration flag  23   d  described later. In the user registration process of  FIG. 4 , the Web registration flag management program  22   d  sets the Web registration flag  23   d  to “ON” when the client apparatus  10  has made a request for setting the Web registration flag  23   d  to “ON”. 
         [0037]    The flash memory  23  is a rewritable and non-volatile memory and keeps data even after the power of the printer  20  is turned off. The flash memory  23  includes an ink remaining amount memory  23   a , the stock information memory  23   b , the Web access flag  23   c , and the Web registration flag  23   d.    
         [0038]    The ink remaining amount memory  23   a  is a memory area for storing an ink remaining amount in an ink cartridge which is detected by the ink remaining amount detection sensor  26  described later in the cartridge replacement process of  FIG. 3 . The stock information memory  23   b  is a memory area for storing the number of ink cartridges in stock. 
         [0039]    The Web access flag  23   c  is a flag that indicates whether an ink cartridge has been ordered. The Web access flag  23   c  is set to “ON” when an ink cartridge has been ordered in the status display process of  FIG. 2 , while the Web access flag  23   c  is set to “OFF” when an ink cartridge has been replaced in the cartridge replacement process of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0040]    The Web registration flag  23   d  is a flag that indicates whether user registration has been requested. The Web registration flag  23   d  is set to “OFF” when the printer  20  is shipped from a factory. When one of the client apparatuses  10  requests user registration to the server  40  in the user registration process of  FIG. 4 , the Web registration flag  23   d  is set to “ON” for indicating that user registration has been requested. 
         [0041]    The operation keys  24  are an inputting device for operating the printer  20 . The display panel  25  is a display device that displays texts, figures, icons, and the like. The ink remaining amount detection sensor  26  is a sensor that detects an ink remaining amount of the ink cartridge mounted on the printer  20 . The printing unit  27  is for performing printing on a recording medium and for conveying the recording medium on which printing has been performed. The LAN I/F  28  is an interface for transmitting data to and receiving data from each device connected to the LAN cable  1 . 
         [0042]    The status display process is described while referring to the flowchart in  FIG. 2 . The status display process is periodically executed in the client apparatus  10  according to the status display program  14 a. The status display process is a process for displaying, on the LCD  16 , an ink remaining amount and the number of ink cartridges in stock, as status information indicative of status of the printer  20 . 
         [0043]    In this process, in S 201  the CPU  11  acquires an ink remaining amount from the printer  20 . More specifically, the CPU  11  acquires the ink remaining amount stored in the ink remaining amount memory  23   a  of the printer  20 , and temporarily stores the acquired ink remaining amount in the ink remaining amount memory  13   a  of the client apparatus  10 . 
         [0044]    In S 202  the CPU  11  acquires stock information of ink cartridges from the printer  20 . More specifically, the CPU  11  acquires the number of ink cartridges in stock that is stored in the stock information memory  23   b  of the printer  20 , and temporarily stores the acquired number of ink cartridges in stock in the stock information memory  13   b  of the client apparatus  10 . 
         [0045]    In S 203  the CPU  11  acquires setting status of the Web access flag  23   c  from the printer  20 . More specifically, the CPU  11  acquires information of whether the Web access flag  23   c  is set to “ON” (indicating that one or more ink cartridge has already been ordered) or set to “OFF” (indicating that no ink cartridge has been ordered yet), and temporarily stores the acquired information in the Web access flag memory  13   c  of the client apparatus  10 . 
         [0046]    In S 204  the CPU  11  displays a status screen on the LCD  16 . In the present embodiment, the CPU  11  displays on the LCD  16  the ink remaining amount acquired in S 201  and the number of ink cartridges in stock acquired in S 202  as status information of the printer  20 . However, the status information is not limited to such information and a type of a recording medium set in the printer  20 , a print quality, or the like may be displayed as the status information. 
         [0047]    In S 205  the CPU  11  determines whether ink still remains in the ink cartridge currently mounted on the printer  20 . If no ink remains or ink remaining amount is zero (S 205 : No), in S 206  the CPU  11  determines whether there is one or more ink cartridge in stock. If there is no ink cartridge in stock (S 206 : No), in S 207  the CPU  11  determines whether the Web access flag acquired in S 203  is “ON” (whether at least one ink cartridge has been ordered). If the Web access flag is “OFF”, indicating that no ink cartridge has been ordered yet (S 207 : No), then in S 208  the CPU  11  displays an ink cartridge order screen on the LCD  16 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 5A  shows an ink cartridge order screen  50  which is displayed on the LCD  16  in S 208 . The ink cartridge order screen  50  is a screen for making an order of one or more ink cartridge to the server  40  via the Internet  30 . 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 5A , the ink cartridge order screen  50  displays texts “PURCHASE INK CARTRIDGES?”, the current number of ink cartridges in stock (“0” in the present embodiment), a number-of-purchase input box  51 , a purchase button  52  displaying texts “PURCHASE”, and a not-purchase button  53  displaying texts “NOT PURCHASE”. 
         [0050]    If a user of the client apparatus  10  wishes to order one or more ink cartridge from the ink cartridge order screen  50 , the user can operates the keyboard  15  to input the number of ink cartridges to be purchased (“2” in the present embodiment) in the number-of-purchase input box  51  and then to select the purchase button  52 . The ink cartridge order screen  50  is linked with the server  40 . Hence, when the number-of-purchase input box  51  is selected, the number of order inputted in the number-of-purchase input box  51  is transmitted to the server  40  and the order of ink cartridge is completed. 
         [0051]    Returning to  FIG. 2 , in S 208  the CPU  11  displays the ink cartridge order screen  50  of  FIG. 5A  on the LCD  16 . In S 209  the CPU  11  determines whether one or more ink cartridge has been ordered. That is, the CPU  11  determines whether the purchase button  52  has been selected. 
         [0052]      5 If one or more ink cartridge has been ordered (S 209 : Yes), then in S 210  the CPU  11  notifies the printer  20  of the number of ink cartridges which have been ordered, and is requests the printer  20  to update stock information of ink cartridges. In S 211  the CPU  11  requests the printer  20  to set the Web access flag  23   c  to “ON”. 
         [0053]    The printer  20  updates the stock information of ink cartridges in the stock information memory  23   b  in accordance with a request made in S 210 . More specifically, the CPU  21  of the printer  20  adds the ordered number of ink cartridge to the number of ink cartridge currently stored in the stock information memory  23   b . The printer  20  also sets the Web access flag  23   c  to “ON” in accordance with a request made in S 211 , which indicates that one or more ink cartridge has been ordered. Due to this process, management of order status and management of the number of ink cartridge in stock can be done by the printer  20 . Thus, even if a plurality of client apparatuses  10  shares a single printer  20 , each client apparatus  10  can check the setting status of the Web access flag  23   c  and the stock information of ink cartridges, thereby preventing multiple ordering of ink cartridges and wasteful ordering of ink cartridges. 
         [0054]    If in S 205  ink still remains (S 205 : Yes), or if in S 206  there is one or more ink cartridge in stock (S 206 : Yes), or if in S 207  the Web access flag is “ON” (S 207 : Yes), then the CPU  11  does not display the ink cartridge order screen  50  and ends the process. If in S 209  no ink cartridge has been ordered (S 209 ; No), then the CPU  11  skips S 210  and S 211  and ends the process. 
         [0055]    In this way, according to the status display process, the ink cartridge order screen  50  is displayed such that one or more ink cartridge can be ordered, on condition that no ink remains (S 205 : No), that there is no ink cartridge in stock (S 206 : No), and that the Web access flag is “OFF” indicating that no ink cartridge has been ordered (S 207 : No). Hence, even if a plurality of client apparatuses  10  shares a single printer  20 , multiple ordering of ink cartridges or wasteful ordering of ink cartridges can be prevented. 
         [0056]    In other words, if ink still remains (S 205 : Yes), if there is one or more ink cartridge in stock (S 206 : Yes), or the Web access flag is “ON” indicating that one or more ink cartridge has been ordered (S 207 : Yes), then the ink cartridge order screen  50  is not displayed, thereby preventing the user from wastefully ordering ink cartridges. Hence, even in an environment where a plurality of client apparatuses  10  shares a single printer  20 , multiple or wasteful ordering of ink cartridges can be avoided. 
         [0057]    Since the ink remaining amount and the number of ink cartridges in stock are displayed on the LCD  16  as the status information, the user can order ink cartridges after checking the ink remaining amount and the number of ink cartridges in stock, thereby preventing wasteful ordering of ink cartridges. In addition, since the number of ink cartridges in stock is displayed on the ink cartridge order screen  50 , the user can order ink cartridges while checking the number of ink cartridges in stock, thereby preventing wasteful ordering of ink cartridges. 
         [0058]    Next, the ink cartridge replacement process will be described while referring to the flowchart in  FIG. 3 . The ink cartridge replacement process is periodically executed in the printer  20  according to the cartridge replacement program  22   a . The ink cartridge replacement process is a process for setting the Web access flag  23   c  to “OFF” and for updating stock information of ink cartridges when the ink cartridge mounted on the printer  20  is replaced. 
         [0059]    In the ink cartridge replacement process, in S 301  the CPU  21  controls the ink remaining amount detection sensor  26  to detect an ink remaining amount of the ink cartridge that is currently mounted on the printer  20 . In S 302  the CPU  21  compares the detected ink remaining amount with an ink remaining amount stored in the ink remaining amount memory  23   a.    
         [0060]    In S 303  the CPU  21  determines whether the ink cartridge has been replaced. More specifically, if the ink remaining amount detected by the ink remaining amount detection sensor  26  is greater than the ink remaining amount stored in the ink remaining amount memory  23   a , then the CPU  21  determines that the ink cartridge has been replaced (S 303 : Yes) and in S 304  the CPU  21  sets the Web access flag  23   c  to “OFF”. Further, in S 305  the CPU  21  decrements by “1” the number of ink cartridge in stock stored in the stock information memory  23   b , thereby updating the number of ink cartridges in stock. In S 306  the CPU  21  updates the ink remaining amount stored in the ink remaining amount memory  23   a  to the value of the ink remaining amount detected in S 301 . Then, the process ends. 
         [0061]    According to the above-described ink cartridge replacement process, setting of the Web access flag  23   c  and management of ink cartridges in stock can be performed at the printer  20 . Hence, even if a plurality of client apparatuses  10  shares a single printer  20 , multiple ordering of ink cartridges can be prevented. 
         [0062]    Next, the user registration process will be described while referring to the flowchart in  FIG. 4 . The user registration process is a process for requesting user registration to the server  40 . The user registration process is executed in accordance with the user registration program  14   b  in the client apparatus  10 , when a printer driver is installed in the client apparatus  10  or when a user makes an instruction after the printer driver is installed. 
         [0063]    In the user registration process, in S 401  the CPU  11  acquires setting status of the Web registration flag  23   d  from the printer  20 . More specifically, the CPU  11  acquires from the printer  20  information whether the Web registration flag  23   d  is set to “ON” (user registration has already been requested) or the Web registration flag  23   d  is set to “OFF” (user registration has not been requested yet), and temporarily stores the acquired information in the Web registration flag memory  13   d  of the client apparatus  10 . 
         [0064]    In S 402  the CPU  11  determines whether the Web registration flag is “ON” (whether user registration has already been requested). If the Web registration flag  23   d  is “OFF” indicating that the user registration has not been requested yet (S 402 : No), in S 403  the CPU  11  displays a user registration screen on the LCD  16 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a user registration screen  55  that is displayed on the LCD  16  in S 403 . The user registration screen  55  is a screen for requesting user registration to the server  40  via the Internet  30 . 
         [0066]    As shown in  FIG. 5B , the user registration screen  55  includes a model name input space  56  for inputting a model name of the printer  20 , a user name input space  57  for inputting a user name for user registration, a serial number input space  58  for inputting a serial number of the printer  20 , a user registration OK button  59  showing texts “OK”, and a user registration cancel button  60  showing texts “CANCEL”. 
         [0067]    When a user of the client apparatus  10  requests user registration from the user registration screen  55 , the user operates the keyboard  15  to input the model name, the user name, and the serial number in the model name input space  56 , the user name input space  57 , and the serial number input space  58 , respectively, and then selects the user registration OK button  59 . The user registration screen  55  is linked with the server  40 . Hence, when the user registration OK button  59  is selected, the inputted model name, user name, and serial number are transmitted to the server  40 . Then, a request for user registration completes. 
         [0068]    Returning to  FIG. 4 , in S 403  the CPU  11  displays the user registration screen  55  shown in  FIG. 5B  on the LCD  16 . In S 404  the CPU  11  determines whether user registration has been requested from the user registration screen  55 , that is, whether the user registration OK button  59  has been selected. If user registration has been requested (S 404 : Yes), then in S 405  the CPU  11  requests the printer  20  to set the Web registration flag  23   d  to “ON”. Then, the user registration process ends. 
         [0069]    Receiving a request made in S 405 , the printer  20  sets the Web registration flag  23   d  to “ON”, which indicates that user registration has been requested. Due to this process, even if a plurality of client apparatuses  10  shares a single printer  20 , multiple user registrations can be prevented by checking the setting status of the Web registration flag  23   d.    
         [0070]    Further, among information for user registration transmitted to the server  40 , at least the user name is neither transmitted to the printer  20  nor the other client apparatuses  10 . Thus, leaks of personal information can be prevented. 
         [0071]    If in S 402  the Web registration flag is “ON” (S 402 : Yes), the CPU  11  determines that user registration has already been requested, and ends the process without displaying the user registration screen  55  on the LCD  16 . If in S 404  user registration is not requested from the user registration screen  55  (S 404 : No), the CPU  11  skips S 405  and ends the process. 
         [0072]    In this way, according to the above-described user registration process, the user registration screen  55  is displayed such that user registration can be requested to the server  40 , on condition that the Web registration flag  23   d  is “OFF” indicating that user registration has not been requested (S 402 : No). Hence, even if a plurality of client apparatuses  10  shares a single printer  20 , multiple user registrations can be prevented. 
         [0073]    While the invention has been described in detail with reference to the above aspects thereof, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the claims. 
         [0074]    In the status display process of  FIG. 2  in the above-described embodiment, the CPU  11  of the client apparatus  10  determines whether the Web access flag is “ON” if no ink remains in the ink cartridge and also there is no ink cartridge in stock. However, the client apparatus  10  may be configured such that the CPU  11  determines whether the Web access flag is “ON” if the ink remaining amount is less than a predetermined amount or the number of ink cartridges in stock is less than a predetermined number. 
         [0075]    In the above-described embodiment, the status display process of  FIG. 2  is executed at periodical timings. Instead, the status display process may be executed in accordance with a user&#39;s request at timing when the user has made a request. 
         [0076]    In the above-described embodiment, the status display process of  FIG. 2  and the cartridge replacement process of  FIG. 3  are described using an example of ordering of ink cartridges. However, the invention can also be applied to a request for ordering of other consumables used in the printer  20  (recording mediums, for example), a request for repair of the printer  20 , or the like. 
         [0077]    In the above-described embodiment, a plurality of client apparatuses  10  shares a single printer  20 . However, a facsimile device, a scanner device, a multifunction device, or the like may be employed instead of the printer  20 , as long as the device is shared by the plurality of client apparatuses  10 . Further, although the monochrome printer  20  is employed in the embodiment, a color printer may instead be employed. In this case, an ink remaining amount and the number of ink cartridges in stock may be managed for each of a plurality of colors of ink cartridges. 
         [0078]    In the above-described embodiment, the client apparatuses  10  and the printer  20  are connected with one another with a wired LAN (LAN cable  1 ). However, the network is not limited to the wired LAN, and network other than a wired LAN may be employed as long as a plurality of client apparatuses and a device can be connected with one another. Examples of such network include a wireless LAN, a composite network including both wired and wireless LANs, a Bluetooth network, and the like. 
         [0079]    In the above-described embodiment, ink cartridges are ordered from the ink cartridge order screen  50  and user registration is requested from the user registration screen  55 . However, it may be configured that a predetermined number of ink cartridges are ordered automatically without displaying the ink cartridge order screen  50 , provided that the conditions described in the above embodiment are satisfied (S 205 : No, S 206 : No, and S 207 : No in  FIG. 2 ). Similarly, it may be configured that a model name and a serial number are automatically read out from a device and then user registration is automatically requested without displaying the user registration screen  55 , provided that the condition described in the above embodiment is satisfied (S 402 : No in  FIG. 4 ).

Technology Classification (CPC): 6