Image forming apparatus, image formation supporting system, and image formation supporting method which communicates with a handheld device

An image formation supporting method implemented in an image formation supporting system that includes

• an image forming apparatus having at least one of an image reading function, a copying function, a printing function, and a facsimile communication function and being capable of implementing a function related to image formation, the image forming apparatus including
• a first memory unit for storing a program that is executed in a handheld device for the purpose of displaying on the handheld device a first screen for setting an advanced setting item as an image forming condition at the time of performing image formation by implementing the function and for the purpose of displaying on the handheld device a second screen for requesting image formation;
• a sending unit;
• and
• an image forming unit;
• and
• a handheld device performing communication with the image forming apparatus, the handheld device including
• an input receiving unit;
• a program requesting unit;
• a receiving unit;
• a memory control unit;
• and
• an executing unit,
• the image formation supporting method comprising:
• sending, by the sending unit, to the handheld device the program stored in the first memory unit in response to a request from the handheld device;
• image-forming, by the image forming unit, that includes performing, when the handheld device sends an image forming request that has an image forming condition specified therein and that requests for image formation by implementation of the function, image formation according to the image forming condition specified in the image forming request;
• input-receiving, by the input receiving unit, that includes receiving an operation input from a user;
• requesting, by the program requesting unit, the image forming apparatus for the program in response to the operation input received by the input receiving unit and according to a predetermined determination condition;
• receiving, by the receiving unit, the program from the image forming apparatus;
• first-memory-controlling, by the memory control unit, that includes storing the program received at the receiving in a second memory unit;
• and
• executing, by the executing unit, the program, the executing including
• first-display-controlling that includes displaying the first screen on a display unit by executing the program;
• second-memory-controlling that includes setting, in response to an operation input received with respect to the first screen by the input receiving unit, the advanced setting item and storing a configuration file that indicates setting of the advanced setting item in the second memory unit in a corresponding manner with the image forming apparatus;
• second-display-controlling that includes displaying the second screen on the display unit by making use of the configuration file;
• and
• request-sending that includes sending, according to an operation input received with respect to the second screen by the input receiving unit, an image forming request, in which is specified the setting of the advanced setting item indicated in the configuration file, as an image forming condition to the image forming apparatus,
• wherein the requesting by the program requesting unit includes
• determining, in response to an operation input received by the input receiving unit, whether the configuration file is stored in the second memory unit;
• and
• requesting, when a determination result of whether the configuration file is stored in the second memory unit is negative, the program which is required from the image forming apparatus, and
• wherein, when the determination result of whether the configuration file is stored in the second memory unit is positive and when the receiving receives an operation input for the purpose of requesting customization with respect to the second screen displayed on the display unit by the second display control unit after the executing unit has executed the program, the requesting requests the image forming apparatus for the program.