Patent ID: 8049914

Claim:
A multi-function apparatus connectable to a network comprising: an operating unit that displays a predetermined display screen for receiving therethrough a user instruction for selecting one of a plurality of functions including a network-display function, wherein when the user instruction received through said operating unit indicates that the network-display function is selected, the network-display function is activated for receiving predetermined information through the network from a device on the network and for displaying at least one of (a) an information display screen for operating the device through the network based on the received information so that the user can operate the device through use of the information display screen and (b) a web page provided by the device; an auto-clear unit that resets the display screen displayed by said operating unit to an initial screen when said operating unit has not been operated over a predetermined time period; a control unit operable when said auto-clear unit is to be activated while the network-display function has been activated, to cause the multi-function apparatus to operate on one of a first operation mode in which the display screen is reset to the initial screen while changing a present network setting for the network display function based on the received predetermined information to a default setting thereof and a second operation mode in which the display screen is reset to the initial screen while maintaining the present network setting for the network display function; and a receiving unit that receives an instruction as to which of the first operation mode and the second operation mode the multi-function apparatus should be operated in, wherein said control unit operates based on the instruction received by said receiving unit.