Abstract: Provided is an operating method of an image forming apparatus, the operating method including broadcasting a plurality of packets comprising identification information of the image forming apparatus; receiving a connection request comprising the identification information of the image forming apparatus from a mobile terminal which received some packets from among the plurality of broadcasted packets; and connecting to the mobile terminal, based on the connection request, wherein the connection request is transmitted from the mobile terminal when received signal strengths of the some packets received by the mobile terminal are equal to or greater than a first threshold value. In this regard, the first threshold value may indicate a received signal strength greater than a minimum received signal strength at which communication with the mobile terminal is available.

Abstract: Provided is an operating method of an image forming apparatus, the operating method including broadcasting a plurality of packets comprising identification information of the image forming apparatus; receiving a connection request comprising the identification information of the image forming apparatus from a mobile terminal which received some packets from among the plurality of broadcasted packets; and connecting to the mobile terminal, based on the connection request, wherein the connection request is transmitted from the mobile terminal when received signal strengths of the some packets received by the mobile terminal are equal to or greater than a first threshold value. In this regard, the first threshold value may indicate a received signal strength greater than a minimum received signal strength at which communication with the mobile terminal is available.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an NFC tag to which information about at least one near-field communication (NFC) service, from among NFC services that are provided based on NFC, is written; a user interface to receive an input of log-in information from a user; a control unit to determine an NFC service that is allowed for the user in response to log in of the user; and an NFC module to update information that is written to the NFC tag according to a result of the determining.

Abstract: A method and an image forming apparatus authenticate a user by using a smart card. The image forming apparatus includes a card reader to, if a smart card is inserted, extract user information from the smart card, an input unit to input information required for user authentication, a storage unit to store the input information in correspondence with the extracted user information, a user account management unit to request to authenticate the user of the smart card based on the extracted user information and the input information, or the extracted user information and the stored information, and a user authentication unit to authenticate the user according to the authentication request.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to execute user authentication includes an input unit through which user information is input, and an account management unit to manage an account information database. The account information database stores user information corresponding to functions of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus further includes a user authentication unit to execute user authentication based on the user information input through the input unit by using the account information database, and a display unit to display a user interface where a function corresponding to the input user information is activated, in response to a result of the authentication.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an NFC tag to which information about at least one near-field communication (NFC) service, from among NFC services that are provided based on NFC, is written; a user interface to receive an input of log-in information from a user; a control unit to determine an NFC service that is allowed for the user in response to log in of the user; and an NFC module to update information that is written to the NFC tag according to a result of the determining.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that supports a near field communication (NFC) function includes an NFC tag for storing installation information of an application; a wireless communication module for receiving a profile including wireless configuration data from a mobile device, wherein the wireless configuration data is input by a user in execution of the application that is installed in the mobile device by using the installation information; and a control unit for forming wireless configuration based on the profile.

Abstract: An application program may be executed through an Internet protocol (IP) address linkage in an image forming apparatus supporting a peer-to-peer connection. The application program may be executed by performing a method which includes connecting the image forming apparatus to a wireless device through a wireless local area network, driving a soft access point (AP) module of the image forming apparatus so that the image forming apparatus functions as an AP, driving a dynamic host configuration protocol server of the image forming apparatus to allocate a dynamic IP address to the connected wireless device, and linking the dynamic IP address allocated to the wireless device with a static IP address that is preset with respect to the wireless device.

Abstract: A management method of network printers and a network system using the same, which are capable of easily allowing a network manager to collect management information by allowing the network printers manufactured by different companies to be compatible with each other. When connections between object identifications of the network printers and object identifications of the other network printers are previously set by a user, the network manager can easily collect the management information of the network printers using the same object identification.

Abstract: A method of allowing a packet in a network image forming apparatus includes setting user account information corresponding to the plurality of network interfaces, determining allowability of a received packet by using information included in the received packet and the set user account information, and when the received packet is allowable, performing an operation corresponding to the received packet. Accordingly, in an image forming apparatus installing a plurality of network interfaces, not only allowability of each interface to each user but also a type of protocol provided to each user can be setup. Consequently, an environment that can use an interface in various forms according to each user can be provided.

Abstract: A network image forming apparatus and method that facilitate an information exchange among users on a network. The network image forming apparatus and method are connected to a plurality of user terminals on a network and print data transmitted from the plurality of user terminals. The network image forming apparatus and method include an interface unit for transmitting and receiving specified data to and from the user terminals, and a storage unit for storing shared information if the shared information on the network is transmitted from one of the user terminals. Accordingly, the network image forming apparatus and method provide an announcement function for sharing information among a plurality of user terminals on the network, and the message function enabling the message transfer between the plurality of the user terminals on the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing information in a wireless network printing system are provided. The information security method includes setting and storing service items to be allowed according to wireless security levels supported by the wireless printer, selecting one of the wireless security levels, and executing a service requested by a user if the requested service is one of allowed service items for the selected wireless security level.

Abstract: A method and an image forming apparatus authenticate a user by using a smart card. The image forming apparatus includes a card reader to, if a smart card is inserted, extract user information from the smart card, an input unit to input information required for user authentication, a storage unit to store the input information in correspondence with the extracted user information, a user account management unit to request to authenticate the user of the smart card based on the extracted user information and the input information, or the extracted user information and the stored information, and a user authentication unit to authenticate the user according to the authentication request.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to execute user authentication includes an input unit through which user information is input, and an account management unit to manage an account information database. The account information database stores user information corresponding to functions of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus further includes a user authentication unit to execute user authentication based on the user information input through the input unit by using the account information database, and a display unit to display a user interface where a function corresponding to the input user information is activated, in response to a result of the authentication.

Abstract: A method of managing a file of an image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus to perform the method. The method and image forming apparatus includes logging in the image forming apparatus, checking user authentication information corresponding to the logging in the image forming apparatus, displaying a list of document boxes corresponding to the checked authentication information, determining whether a user recycle bin corresponding to the checked authentication information exists in the image forming apparatus, generating a user recycle bin corresponding to the checked authentication information if a pre-generated user recycle bin does not exist, and displaying the generated user recycle bin.

Abstract: A network image forming apparatus and method that facilitate an information exchange among users on a network. The network image forming apparatus and method are connected to a plurality of user terminals on a network and print data transmitted from the plurality of user terminals. The network image forming apparatus and method include an interface unit for transmitting and receiving specified data to and from the user terminals, and a storage unit for storing shared information if the shared information on the network is transmitted from one of the user terminals. Accordingly, the network image forming apparatus and method provide an announcement function for sharing information among a plurality of user terminals on the network, and the message function enabling the message transfer between the plurality of the user terminals on the network.

Abstract: An e-mail printing method and its apparatus print an e-mail directly received from an e-mail sender. A printing apparatus is designated as/assigned a domain name, thereby providing a print destination. The print-destination domain name is included in the e-mail by the e-mail sender and the e-mail is transferred to the e-mail printing apparatus as designated by the e-mail sender using the print-destination domain name. Accordingly, a receiving mail server is bypassed, allowing quick/direct printing of the e-mail in real time, and eliminating an e-mail printing failure caused by malfunctioning of the receiving mail server.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting print data using multiple virtual connections and a method thereof capable of greatly improving a data transmission speed by forming a plurality of virtual connections, dividing the print data, and simultaneously transmitting the divided data through the virtual connections. The method includes receiving the print data and obtaining information on a total length (TL) of the print data and maximum virtual connections (MC), acquiring real virtual connections (RC) by attempting the virtual connections to a printing device the same number of times as the number of maximum virtual connections, and transmitting divided data to the printing device through the real virtual connections.

Abstract: A user authentication method and apparatus, the user authentication method including: performing a user authentication using user information transmitted by a host through a protocol supporting user authentication; generating user authentication information from the transmitted user information if the user authentication is performed successfully; and determining whether a service requested from the host using a protocol that does not support user authentication is permitted by using the generated user authentication information. Thus, the method can be used to selectively provide a service even when a service using a protocol that does not support user authentication is requested.

Abstract: A method of allowing a packet in a network image forming apparatus includes setting user account information corresponding to the plurality of network interfaces, determining allowability of a received packet by using information included in the received packet and the set user account information, and when the received packet is allowable, performing an operation corresponding to the received packet. Accordingly, in an image forming apparatus installing a plurality of network interfaces, not only allowability of each interface to each user but also a type of protocol provided to each user can be setup. Consequently, an environment that can use an interface in various forms according to each user can be provided.