Patent ID: 7408657

Claim:
An input control device used in a network to which a plurality of image output devices are connected, comprising: an information input device at which is displayed an operation screen generated on the basis of operation screen generating information, and which is for input, from the operation screen which is displayed, of information which designates image output devices which are to output images, and information which relates to output formats of images to be outputted from designated image output devices; and a transmitting and receiving device which transmits the information which designates image output devices and the information which relates to output formats of images to be outputted, which are inputted from the information input device, and image data inputted from an image data input device, and which receives the operation screen generating information, the operation screen generating information being generated on the basis of attribute information of each of the image output devices transmitted from the respective image output devices, wherein a user designates the image output devices among the plurality of image output devices connected to the network, the operation screen generating information is generated on the basis of attribute information of the designated image output devices designated by the user among the plurality of image output devices connected to the network, the operation screen, which is specific for and common to the designated image output devices designated by the user among the plurality of image output devices connected to the network, is generated on the basis of the operation screen generating information based on the attribute information of the designated image output devices designated by the user among the plurality of image output devices connected to the network to provide a user interface for operating the designated image output devices designated by the user among the plurality of image output devices connected to the network, and the operation screen includes a common initiation portion for initiating outputting of images by the designated image output devices designated by the user among the plurality of image output devices connected to the network.