Abstract: A document disposal certification apparatus is installed in a document generation apparatus for generating a document, a document disposal apparatus for disposing of the document, or a server that are used with being connected to the document generation apparatus and the document disposal apparatus. The document disposal certification apparatus includes a generation information acquisition section, a disposal information acquisition section and an information management section. The generation information acquisition section acquires information concerning document generation in the document generation apparatus, as document presence certification information. The disposal information acquisition section acquires information concerning document disposal in the document disposal apparatus, as document disposal certification information.

Abstract: An image-processing system having an image processor which performs image input or output processing, and a management communication apparatus connected to the image processor and connected via a communication line to a management center, the image processing system having: a retaining unit, provided in a nontarget apparatus which is not subjected to firmware rewriting, that retains firmware-identifying information for identifying a firmware program used before rewriting in a target apparatus which is subjected to firmware rewriting; and a controller that, in the event of failure of the firmware rewriting in the target apparatus, obtains from the management center the firmware program identified by the firmware-identifying information retained in the retaining unit and performs firmware rewriting in the target apparatus using the obtained firmware program.

Abstract: A document disposal certification apparatus is installed in a document generation apparatus for generating a document, a document disposal apparatus for disposing of the document, or a server that are used with being connected to the document generation apparatus and the document disposal apparatus. The document disposal certification apparatus includes a generation information acquisition section, a disposal information acquisition section and an information management section. The generation information acquisition section acquires information concerning document generation in the document generation apparatus, as document presence certification information. The disposal information acquisition section acquires information concerning document disposal in the document disposal apparatus, as document disposal certification information.

Abstract: A method for controlling an image forming system in which a client device creates print data using a print restriction and causes an image forming apparatus to print the print data, has an inquiring step of issuing an inquiry from the client device to the image forming apparatus in response to a print instruction from a user as to whether the print restriction is updated, and a print data output step in which, when the print restriction is not updated, the client device creates print data using the print restriction stored in the client device and outputs the print data, and, when the print restriction is updated, the client device updates the print restriction stored in the client device to that obtained from the image forming apparatus, creates the print data using the updated print restriction, and outputs the print data to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image-processing system having an image processor which performs image input or output processing, and a management communication apparatus connected to the image processor and connected via a communication line to a management center, the image processing system having: a retaining unit, provided in a nontarget apparatus which is not subjected to firmware rewriting, that retains firmware-identifying information for identifying a firmware program used before rewriting in a target apparatus which is subjected to firmware rewriting; and a controller that, in the event of failure of the firmware rewriting in the target apparatus, obtains from the management center the firmware program identified by the firmware-identifying information retained in the retaining unit and performs firmware rewriting in the target apparatus using the obtained firmware program.

Abstract: A subject name of a personal certificate is used to easily perform access control. An authentication unit implements an authentication procedure between a client terminal and a web server. The authentication unit receives a certificate from the client terminal for executing the authentication procedure, and its subject name is supplied to an element extracting unit. The element extracting unit follows a hierarchy structure of the subject name to extract a predetermined element. A right determining unit determines an access right for accessing a document based on a type and a value of the element extracted, and allocates this to a session number. A right registering unit registers a relation between the session number and the access right. Thereafter, while the session continues, an access right is allowed based on the session number.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a group lock which is used in group units for encryption, decryption, and signature. A public key, private key, and common key are provided and the private key is encrypted by use of the common key. The common key is encrypted by use of each public key of the group/member. A group lock which includes the public key, a cryptogram of the private key, and a plurality of cryptograms of the common key is generated. The group/member acquires the group lock and decrypts the cryptograms of the common key by use of the private key of the subject itself to acquire the common key, and decrypts the cryptogram of the private key of the group lock to acquire the private key. The group/member acquires the cryptogram which is encrypted by use of the public key of the group lock sent to the group and decrypts the cryptogram by use of the decrypted private key.

Abstract: An electronic document format management system is provided to assure a recipient not to be deceived by falsification of a document. A format issuing agency 20 uses a signature calculating unit 211 to add a digital signature to format data etc. for an electronic document and transmits the data to a format certificate authority 10. The format certificate authority 10 generates an attribute certificate and transmits the certificate back to the format issuing agency 20. The format issuing agency 20 stores all data related to the format in a format database 215. A client terminal 30 receives format data from the format issuing agency 20, inputs details into the form, and affixes a signature and the like. The recipient of the electronic document verifies the digital signatures of the document author and issuing agency, confirms the attribute certificate from the format certificate authority 10, and contacts the format certificate authority 10 with any additional inquiries.

Abstract: A subject name of a personal certificate is used to easily perform access control. An authentication unit implements an authentication procedure between a client terminal and a web server. The authentication unit receives a certificate from the client terminal for executing the authentication procedure, and its subject name is supplied to an element extracting unit. The element extracting unit follows a hierarchy structure of the subject name to extract a predetermined element. A right determining unit determines an access right for accessing a document based on a type and a value of the element extracted, and allocates this to a session number. A right registering unit registers a relation between the session number and the access right. Thereafter, while the session continues, an access right is allowed based on the session number.