Image forming system, image forming apparatus, remote control apparatus, and recording medium for displaying an input screen

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that records a program for causing a computer built into a remote control apparatus for remotely controlling an image forming apparatus to execute the steps of:

• a) displaying an operation screen for remotely controlling the image forming apparatus on a display unit of the remote control apparatus;
• b) receiving character type information from the image forming apparatus when an operator inputs an instruction to display a character screen input to the operation screen, the character type information indicating a type of characters to be input in the character input screen, the type of characters including a first character type corresponding to a handwriting input method of a handwriting input application and a second character type different from the first character type;
• c) in response to receiving the character type information from the image forming apparatus that indicates the first character type, automatically activating the handwriting input application installed in the remote control apparatus and displaying a handwriting input screen on the display unit, the handwriting input screen being an input screen for the handwriting input application;
• d) in response to receiving the character type information from the image forming apparatus that indicates the second character type, displaying a character input screen included on the operation screen for input of the second character type on the display unit without activating the handwriting input application;
• and
• e) when a screen that has been displayed before the character input screen is to be displayed in accordance with the display instruction is a narrowed search screen, displaying a character input screen for input of the first character type on the display unit without activating the handwriting input application even if the character type information is received from the image forming apparatus in step b) and indicates the first character type.

An image forming apparatus capable of remotely controlling a remote control apparatus, comprising:

• a hardware processor configured to:
• receive operation input information from the remote control apparatus, the operation input information being information regarding operation input from an operator to an operation screen displayed in the remote control apparatus;
• determine, on the basis of the operation input information, whether or not the operation input is a display instruction to display a character input screen and to acquire character type information that indicates a type of characters to be input in the character input screen, the type of characters including a first character type corresponding to a handwriting input method of a handwriting input application and a second character type different from the first character type;
• when it is determined that the operation input is a display instruction to display the character input screen, transmit an activation command to automatically activate the handwriting input application installed in the remote control apparatus to the remote control apparatus, in response to receiving character type information that indicates the first character type, and
• not transmit the activation command so that the remote control apparatus continues to display a character input screen included in the operation screen in response to receiving character type information that indicates the second character type;
• wherein the handwriting input application is not activated even if the character type information indicates the first character type when a screen displayed on the remote control apparatus before display of the character input screen is a narrowed search screen.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that records a program for causing a computer built into an image forming apparatus capable of being remotely controlled by a remote control apparatus to execute the steps of:

• a) receiving operation input information from the remote control apparatus, the operation input information being information regarding operation input from an operator to an operation screen displayed on the remote control apparatus, and determining on the basis of the operation input information whether or not the operation input is a display instruction to display a character screen;
• b) acquiring character type information that indicates a type of characters to be input in the character input screen, the type of characters including a first character type corresponding to a handwriting input method of a handwriting input application and a second character type different from the first character type;
• and
• c) when it is determined that the operation input is the display instruction to display a character input screen, transmitting an activation command to automatically activate the handwriting application installed in the remote control apparatus in response to receiving character type information that indicates the first character type, and not transmitting the activation command to the remote control apparatus, so that the remote control apparatus continues to display a character input screen included in the operation screen, in response to receiving character type information that indicates the second character type,
• wherein the handwriting input application is not activated even if the character type information indicates the first character type when a screen displayed on the remote control apparatus before display of the character input screen is a narrowed search screen.