Patent ID: 8380892

Claim:
An apparatus to which one or a plurality of devices are connected, the apparatus including: a display that displays an operating screen; a storing unit that stores data of the operating screen displayed when the apparatus is active as data of a previously displayed operating screen and storing information on a device connected to the apparatus when the apparatus is active as configuration information, the previously displayed operating screen configured to display user-selectable options corresponding to a plurality of functions of the apparatus; a start-up display unit that displays the previously displayed operating screen, based on the stored data, on the display after the apparatus is powered on; a determining unit that determines whether there is any difference between configuration information of a device connected to the apparatus and configuration information of the apparatus indicated by the stored configuration information after the previously displayed operating screen is displayed on the display; a first transitioning unit that transitions the display from the previously displayed operating screen to a simplified screen, in the case where the determining unit determines any difference between the configuration of the device connected to the apparatus and the configuration of the apparatus indicated by the stored configuration information, the simplified screen configured to display and operate, prior to the stored configuration information being completely updated, user-selectable options corresponding to only fundamental functions out of the plurality of functions of the apparatus; an updating unit that updates the stored configuration information to information on the device connected to the apparatus in the case where the determining unit determines any difference between the configuration of the device connected to the apparatus and the configuration of the apparatus indicated by the stored configuration information; and a second transitioning unit that transitions the display from the simplified screen to an operating screen which reflects a configuration indicated by the updated configuration information after completion of updating the configuration information.