US 11,886,763 B2
Image forming apparatus, computer-readable storage medium, and method for accepting input operations from mobile terminal
Koki Izumi, Nagoya (JP); Yuichiro Sakuragi, Ichinomiya (JP); Satoshi Tanimoto, Nagoya (JP); and Kosuke Mori, Handa (JP)
Assigned to Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/184,075.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-045348 (JP), filed on Mar. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0305784 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. G06F 3/12 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 3/1292 (2013.01) [G06F 3/1203 (2013.01); G06F 3/1236 (2013.01); G06F 3/1253 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a network interface;
an operation panel including a touch panel, and
a controller configured to:
start providing a mobile input function of the image forming apparatus to a mobile terminal via the network interface in response to receiving access required to start providing the mobile input function from the mobile terminal via the network interface in a state where the mobile input function is not provided, the mobile input function enabling the image forming apparatus to accept operations from the mobile terminal 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 accepted on the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal;
perform a corresponding process depending on what kind of operation is indicated by the received operation data, wherein the controller sets a parameter when the received operation data indicates an operation related to setting of the parameter for image formation by the image forming apparatus, whereas the controller performs image formation when the received operation data indicates an operation related to execution of the image formation by the image forming apparatus;
cause the touch panel to display a local operation screen in the state where the mobile input function is not provided;
in response to accepting an operation to the local operation screen, perform a corresponding process depending on what kind of operation has been accepted on the local operation screen, wherein the controller sets a parameter when the accepted operation on the local operation screen is an operation related to setting of the parameter for image formation by the image forming apparatus, whereas the controller performs image formation when the accepted operation on the local operation screen is an operation related to execution of the image formation by the image forming apparatus;
in response to accepting a first operation to the operation panel with the local operation screen not displayed on the touch panel, cause the touch panel to display the local operation screen, and thereafter switch the local operation screen displayed on the touch panel to a standby screen for starting to provide the mobile input function, after waiting until a continuous time with no operation to the touch panel exceeds a first threshold time; and
cause the touch panel to display the standby screen regardless of the first threshold time, when one condition is satisfied among a plurality of conditions consisting of:
a first condition that the controller has accepted a second operation to the operation panel with the local operation screen not displayed on the touch panel;
a second condition that in response to receiving, while the mobile input function is being provided, termination data indicating that the mobile terminal has terminated use of the mobile input function, from the mobile terminal, the controller has terminated providing the mobile input function; and
a third condition that in response to a continuous time with no operation data received from the mobile terminal having exceeded a second threshold time while the mobile input function is being provided, the controller has terminated providing the mobile input function.