Image forming apparatus, computer-readable storage medium, and method for accepting input operations from mobile terminal

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions executable by a processor of an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising a network interface, and an operation panel including a touch panel, the instructions being configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the image forming apparatus to:

• provide a mobile input function of the image forming apparatus to a mobile terminal via the network interface, the mobile input function enabling the image forming apparatus to accept input operations from the mobile terminal via the network interface,
• cause the touch panel to display access information required to start providing the mobile input function and to access the image forming apparatus to which a request to start providing the mobile input function is to be sent in a state where the mobile input function is not provided, thereby enabling the mobile terminal to send the request to start providing the mobile input function by accessing the image forming apparatus with the access information;
• start providing the mobile input function in response to receiving the request to start providing the mobile input function from the mobile terminal using the access information to the image forming apparatus via the network interface;
• after starting to provide the mobile input function, send display data to the mobile terminal via the network interface, thereby causing the mobile terminal to display an operation screen for operating the image forming apparatus from the mobile terminal;
• receive operation data from the mobile terminal via the network interface while the mobile input function is being provided, the operation data indicating what kind of operation has been performed on the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal;
• and
• perform a corresponding process depending on what kind of operation is indicated by the received operation data.

A method implementable on a controller of an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising a network interface, and an operation panel including a touch panel, the method comprising:

• providing a mobile input function of the image forming apparatus to a mobile terminal via the network interface, the mobile input function enabling the image forming apparatus to accept input operations from the mobile terminal via the network interface,
• causing the touch panel to display access information required to start providing the mobile input function and to access the image forming apparatus to which a request to start providing the mobile input function is to be sent in a state where the mobile input function is not provided, thereby enabling the mobile terminal to send the request to start providing the mobile input function by accessing the image forming apparatus with the access information;
• starting to provide the mobile input function in response to receiving the request to start providing the mobile input function from the mobile terminal using the access information to the image forming apparatus via the network interface;
• sending, after starting to provide the mobile input function, display data to the mobile terminal via the network interface, thereby causing the mobile terminal to display an operation screen for operating the image forming apparatus from the mobile terminal;
• receiving operation data from the mobile terminal via the network interface while the mobile input function is being provided, the operation data indicating what kind of operation has been performed on the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal;
• and
• performing a corresponding process depending on what kind of operation is indicated by the received operation data.