US Patent 7523398 Client/server system and button updating method for client application

The client/server system enables functions of GUI buttons provided on a client application to be easily changed. The client application connects to a menu server residing on a network to download information on menu buttons. Button information includes button IDs unique to the menu buttons, parameter values specifying functions of the menu buttons, and information on images of the menu buttons. The menu server uses user personal information to distribute menu button information suitable to each user. The client application reads button IDs from menu information obtained from the menu server and compares them with button information saved in a storage area of a client computer to avoid duplicate downloading of the same button information.