Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a camera which photographs an operator, an authentication unit to authenticate whether or not facial data indicating an operator's face photographed by the camera indicates a registered person based on a result of searching for the facial data registered in a facial data storage unit in which the facial data indicating the operator's face is registered beforehand, and a control unit to control an only predetermined function executable by a person other than the registered person in a case where that it is judged that the operator is not the registered person by an authentication result of the authentication unit.

Abstract: The invention provides a technique that can make, when a driver program for controlling office equipment from an external apparatus is installed in the external apparatus, work for the installation simple and easy regardless of a positional relation between the office equipment and the external apparatus. Office equipment that is controllable by a predetermined driver program from an external apparatus includes a request accepting unit 101 that accepts an acquisition request for information necessary for processing for installation of the driver program and an information transmitting unit 102 that transmits, when the acquisition request is accepted by the request accepting unit, predetermined information necessary for installation of the driver program in the external apparatus to a storage device capable of communicating with the external apparatus.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a management apparatus for an image forming apparatus that can automatically determine an installation location of the image forming apparatus on the basis of individual authentication information according to an access to the image forming apparatus by a regular user even if the image forming apparatus is moved. The management apparatus for the image forming apparatus of the invention acquires user information of a user authenticated by an image forming apparatus, acquires apparatus information of the image forming apparatus that have authenticated the user information, and specifies an installation location of the image forming apparatus on the basis of the user information acquired and the apparatus information.

Abstract: When image data is transmitted from an image forming apparatus through a network, advertisement information is added to the image data and transmitted only when a cellular phone on a reception side desires to receive the advertisement information. An advertisement information management apparatus of the invention includes an advertisement-information displaying unit (i.e., a display unit 12 in a touch panel display 11 in FIG. 7) that acquires and displays one or plural kinds of advertisement information, a reading and writing unit (i.e., the cellular phone 6 and a card reader 7 in FIG. 7) that reads information recorded in an IC card built in a cellular phone 6 and writes new information in the IC card, and a transmitting unit (i.e., communicating means between the cellular phone 6 and the card reader 7 in FIG.

Abstract: A technique that can realize efficiency of control of an image forming process corresponding to a motion state of a user is provided. An image forming apparatus that performs a predetermined process according to a motion state of a user includes a schedule-information acquiring unit 101 that acquires information on a schedule of the user, a user estimating unit 102 that estimates, on the basis of the information acquired by the schedule-information acquiring unit, a user who is highly likely to use the image forming apparatus, a state-information acquiring unit 103 that acquires state information concerning a motion state of the user estimated by the user estimating unit 102, and a process executing unit 104 that causes, on the basis of the state information acquired by the state-information acquiring unit, the image forming apparatus to execute the predetermined process for the user, the state information of whom is acquired.

Abstract: To allow a user to efficiently select a printer and a printer drive for the printer by providing information on a selection state of printers and printer drives for the printers of users around the user when the user selects a printer and a printer driver for the printer. A printer management apparatus includes a state-of-use managing unit that manages, on the basis of a history of communication with a terminal apparatus, predetermined information concerning a state of use of a printer by the terminal apparatus and a state-of-use displaying unit that transmits, in response to a printer device detection signal received from the terminal apparatus, the predetermined information concerning the state of use of the printer managed by the state-of-use managing unit to the terminal apparatus, which transmits the printer device detection signal, and causes the terminal apparatus to display the predetermined information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus acquires, after acquiring a user ID of a user, an input of a criteria button for instructing creation of electronic data of an image quality satisfying predetermined criteria. The apparatus acquires electronic data and checks whether an image quality of the electronic data acquired satisfies the predetermined criteria. The apparatus transmits, on the basis of the image quality of the electronic data checked, a mail to a mail address of the user on a network corresponding to the user ID.

Abstract: An electronic data storing apparatus includes a data acquiring unit configured to acquire plural electronic data, a data displaying unit configured to display plural electronic data acquired by the data acquiring unit, a signing unit configured to apply, when an instruction for applying a digital signature to plural electronic data displayed by the data displaying unit is acquired, the digital signature to each of the plural electronic data, and a data transmitting unit configured to transmit the plural electronic data and signature data applied to each of the plural electronic data by the signing unit to a transmission destination set.

Abstract: There is disclosed a print system in which BD acquires a printing ID (hereinafter referred to as the PID) issued by PODS through CS, BD transmits PID to PC, PC receives printing data from PCDB via PODS, and the data is printed through PD.

Abstract: In this printing system, in case of carrying out printing from a personal computer, PDA (personal digital assistants), and portable telephone, the printing data are transmitted through internet to a server by using the printing data as a mail, temporarily stored in a server, and then transferred to a digital copying machine to print. In the server, at the time of receiving the mail as the printing data, control is made of the action to store the printing data in a memory or a hard disk drive.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs a user authentication process and performs a private print process according to a request from an authenticated user. When the user requests interruption of the private print which is now performed or it is detected that the user has left a place near the image forming apparatus while the private print is being performed, the image forming apparatus interrupts the private print which is now performed and stores a print state at the interruption time. Further, the image forming apparatus performs a user authentication process and re-starts the private print which is interrupted in response to a re-start request from the authenticated user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus spools normal print requests received from external equipment as normal print jobs which are sequentially executed by a printer, spools a private print request received from an external equipment in a spooler as a private print job executed by a printer in response to an instruction by a user who has requested the private print, and changes a normal print job in an execution waiting state of the user which is spooled in the spooler to a private print job of the user in response to a request from the user authenticated by a user authenticating portion.

Abstract: Upon executing private print processing, an image forming apparatus acquires a list of spoolers from an IC card which registers information of spoolers which save a print job of a private print mode, and simultaneously requests the acquired spoolers to send a list of print jobs of the user of interest. The image forming apparatus presents, to the user, the list of print jobs acquired from the spoolers in response to the request. When a user selects a desired print job from the presented print jobs, the image forming apparatus downloads the selected print job and executes print processing.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs user authentication, and the user whose authentication has succeeded selects document data to which an image is to be appended from document data which are being edited by that user or templates of document data that can be used by the user. An image of a document is scanned while the user selects the document data, and image data of the scanned image is attached to the document data selected by the user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus judges whether an identical part is included in the key and the printing contents, based on the result of comparing a previously stored key with the printing contents of a received print job. When the apparatus judges that an identical part is included, the apparatus stores the received print job in a private print job queue for private printing. When the apparatus judges that an identical part is not included, the apparatus stores the received print job in an ordinary print job queue for ordinary printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus stores user signature data signed by using a user's second private key, signature object data, public-key certificate data and log data, and creates and stores log signature data by giving a signature to the total of these data by using a first private key. The apparatus calculates hash values for all stored log signature data, adds up the hash values and signs the total hash value by using the first private key, and stores the signed data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus judges whether the number of pages to print exceeds the number as a reference to judge whether to print many pages based on the setting of a confidential document print job, when receiving the print job. When the number of pages to print exceeds the reference number, the image forming apparatus ejects printed paper sheets to a housing box having a key unit to lock not to be taken out from the main body together with printed confidential documents. When the number of pages to print does not exceed the reference number, the apparatus performs a private print which starts printing and ejecting printed paper sheets to the paper eject unit after receiving an instruction from a user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of printing a document in a secure manner, includes receiving, by a printer, print data that has been encrypted using a printer public key. The printer-public-key-encrypted print data is decrypted by the printer using a printer secret key, to obtain decrypted print data as well as user identification information provided with the print data. Print pre-processing is performed by the printer on the decrypted print data, to thereby obtain pre-processed print data. The pre-processed print data is encrypted by the printer using a user secret key to obtain user-public-key-encrypted print data, and the user-public-key-encrypted print data is stored. The user-public-key-encrypted print data is decrypted and printed by the printer upon receipt of a user secret key, prior to printing the print data.

Abstract: A document management system includes a scanning device for reading necessary documents, such as contract documents and approval documents, that are required to be maintained, and generating scanned document data; a plurality of primary time-stamping servers for issuing time stamps with varying degrees of reliability, each server adding a time stamp to the scanned document data generated; a server selector for selecting a specific primary time-stamping server from the plurality of primary time-stamping servers according to the degree of importance of the scanned document data; and a document management server for receiving and storing the scanned document data with a time stamp given by the selected primary time-stamping server. The scanning device is configured to use one of the plurality of primary time-stamping servers to add a time stamp to scanned document data.

Abstract: When a commodity has been purchased, display on a display section of a mobile phone is returned to a commodity purchase screen at a cash register, and “Total” is chosen and determined. When “Total” has been determined, a control section of the mobile phone causes the display section to display a totaling screen. The totaling screen displays a sum price of the purchased commodity, as well as choices of payment methods, “Cash” and “Credit card”, and choices of reception of the commodity, “Take out” and “Delivery”. The cash or credit card is chosen as a method of payment by the mobile phone, and whether the purchased commodity is to be taken out or delivered is chosen.