Patent ID: 7167255

Claim:
A data processing apparatus comprising: an instruction input unit, arranged to input a manual instruction by an operator; a process unit, arranged to execute a predetermined process based on the instruction input by said instruction input unit; a connection unit, arranged to connect with an external device; a storage unit, arranged to store message data and time information received from the external device through said connection unit; a display unit, arranged to display a message based on the message data stored in said storage unit; a discrimination unit, arranged to discriminate whether or not there has elapsed, without the manual instruction being input by the operator, a period of time which is designated by the time information received from the external device and stored in said storage unit; and a control unit, arranged to control said display unit to start displaying the message based on the message data stored in said storage unit, in response to the discriminated result provided by said discrimination unit that no manual instruction by the operator has been input for the period of time, wherein said storage unit is also arranged to store limitation information which was selectively transmitted from the external device and received through said connection unit, and which limits the ability to delete the message displayed on said display unit, and wherein said control unit permits deletion of the display of the message on said display unit in response to the manual instruction by the operator to said instruction input unit in a case where said storage unit does not store the limitation information, and limits deletion of the display of the message on said display unit in response to the manual instruction by the operator to said instruction input unit in a case where said storage unit stores the limitation information.