Image forming system, image forming apparatus, external terminal, and recording medium

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a controller, coupled to a memory, configured to:
• transmit display data of an operation screen to be displayed on an external terminal which is capable of performing communication with said image forming apparatus to said external terminal, to thereby display said operation screen on a display part of said external terminal;
• receive operation input information on an operation input into said operation screen from said external terminal;
• specify a first program to which an execution instruction is given through said operation screen, out of programs installed in said image forming apparatus, on the basis of said operation input information;
• determine a second program as an execution object program instead of said first program if said second program is installed in said external terminal, said second program having the same function as that of said first program;
• and
• notify said external terminal that said second program is determined as said execution object program, to thereby cause said external terminal to execute a processing in accordance with said second program and generate a display screen for displaying therein a result of said processing executed in accordance with said second program.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for recording therein a computer program to be executed by a computer embedded in an image forming apparatus to cause said computer to perform the steps of:

• a) transmitting display data of an operation screen to be displayed on an external terminal which is capable of performing communication with said image forming apparatus to said external terminal, to thereby display said operation screen on a display part of said external terminal;
• b) receiving operation input information on an operation input into said operation screen from said external terminal;
• c) specifying a first program to which an execution instruction is given through said operation screen, out of programs installed in said image forming apparatus, on the basis of said operation input information;
• d) determining a second program as an execution object program instead of said first program if said second program is installed in said external terminal, said second program having the same function as that of said first program;
• and
• e) notifying said external terminal that said second program is determined as said execution object program, to thereby cause said external terminal to execute a processing in accordance with said second program and generate a display screen for displaying therein a result of said processing executed in accordance with said second program.

An image forming system, comprising:

• an image forming apparatus;
• and
• an external terminal capable of performing communication with said image forming apparatus,
• wherein said image forming apparatus comprises a controller, coupled to a memory, configured to:
• generate display data of an operation screen to be displayed on said external terminal;
• and
• transmit said display data to said external terminal, and
• said external terminal comprises a controller, coupled to a memory, configured to:
• display said operation screen on a display part of said external terminal on the basis of said display data transmitted from said image forming apparatus;
• specify a first program to which an execution instruction is given through said operation screen, out of programs installed in said image forming apparatus, on the basis of operation input information on an operation input into said operation screen;
• determine a second program as an execution object program instead of said first program if said second program is installed in said external terminal, said second program having the same function as that of said first program;
• execute a processing in accordance with said second program when said determination part determines said second program as said execution object program;
• and
• generate a display screen for displaying therein a result of said processing executed in accordance with said second program.

An external terminal capable of performing communication with an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a controller, coupled to a memory, configured to:
• display an operation screen on, a display part of said external terminal on the basis of display data of said operation screen transmitted from said image forming apparatus;
• specify a first program to which an execution instruction is given through said operation screen, out of programs installed in said image forming apparatus, on the basis of operation input information on an operation input into said operation screen;
• determine a second program as an execution object program instead of said first program if said second program is installed in said external terminal, said second program having the same function as that of said first program;
• execute a processing in accordance with said second program when said determination part controller, coupled to said memory, determines said second program as said execution object program;
• and
• generate a display screen for displaying therein a result of said processing executed in accordance with said second program.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for recording therein a computer program to be executed by a computer embedded in an image forming apparatus to cause said computer to perform the steps of:

• a) displaying an operation screen on a display part of an external terminal on the basis of display data of said operation screen transmitted from said image forming apparatus capable of performing communication with said external terminal;
• b) specifying a first program to which an execution instruction is given through said operation screen, out of programs installed in said image forming apparatus, on the basis of operation input information on an operation input into said operation screen;
• c) determining a second program as an execution object program instead of said first program if said second program is installed in said external terminal, said second program having the same function as that of said first program;
• and
• d) executing a processing in accordance with said second program in response to determining said second program as said execution object program and generating a display screen for displaying therein a result of said processing executed in accordance with said second program.