Patent ID: 8132107

Claim:
A multifunctional apparatus, executing a device process obtained by suitably combining element functions which include (i) at least one of an image reading function and an image forming function and (ii) a communication function, comprising: input buttons being hardware buttons provided in an operation section of the multifunctional apparatus; pressed button detecting means for detecting one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus which has been pressed; first execution means for executing a device process which has been corresponded with said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means; pressed button information informing means for informing an external control apparatus of pressed button information indicative of said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means; second execution means for acquiring, from the external control apparatus, a control instruction corresponding to said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus indicated by the pressed button information informed by the pressed button information informing means and, for executing a device process in the multifunctional apparatus in accordance with the acquired control instruction; and mode setting means for setting either (i) a first mode in which the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means stop operating or (ii) a second mode in which the first execution mode stops operating and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate, wherein the first mode is executed locally by pressing the input button on the multifunctional apparatus, and the second mode is executed remotely by acquiring a control instruction from the external control apparatus that corresponds to the pressed input button, wherein if the multifunctional apparatus is in the first mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means do not operate, and if the multifunctional apparatus is in the second mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means does not operate and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate.