Abstract: In order to provide an authentication system and a terminal capable of saving user's trouble and allowing quick and accurate determination as to whether the user is a registered user or not, a data processing device capable of data communication with a plurality of image forming apparatuses decides an IC card standard used by an IC card reader connected to each image forming apparatus, and transmits a signal notifying the standard to the image forming apparatus having a corresponding identification ID. Based on the IC card standard decided by the data processing device, the image forming apparatus sets the IC card standard used by the IC card reader and determines whether or not the user is a registered user.

Abstract: A multifunction apparatus includes: a second storage section for storing display image data for displaying an image on the display section, the second storage section storing the display image data corresponding to the processing target image data; and an apparatus control section for generating location information indicating a location of the display image data. Further, in accordance with operation screen data including the location information, a web browser section obtains the display image data indicated by the location information from the second storage section and performs the display section to display an operation screen including an image indicated by the display image data.

Abstract: A multifunction peripheral 1 of the present invention includes an image data storage section 16 for storing image data received by a first communication section 14 or a modem 15, the first communication section 14 for transmitting reception information including sender's information of the image data to an information processor 2, and a sections control section for causing, according to control information transmitted from the information processor 2, a predetermined process to be executed on the image data stored in the image data storage section 16.

Abstract: The multifunction peripheral registers (i) function information indicative of a type of function executed in a past cooperative process in cooperation with an application and (ii) a URL which was being set when an execution start instruction on the function was received from the application so that the function information and the URL are associated with each other. In a case where (i) a first URL, which is identical to a second URL which is currently set, is registered and (ii) a function indicated by function information associated with the first URL requires a warm-up, a device control section starts the warm-up of, an image forming section.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus to which a user can login, a management unit that manages login information of a user, a storage unit that stores print data of a print job received from an external device, and a control unit are provided. When a print job is introduced from the external device while the control unit recognizes a state of a user being logged in the login management unit, the control unit temporarily stores the print data of the print job received from the external device in the storage unit and then when the control unit detects a logout with the termination of the login state in the login management unit, starts printing of the print job that is received from the external device and stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: A multifunction apparatus includes an application information storage section in which, for each of a plurality of applications, (i) identification information for identifying the each of the plurality of applications and (ii) function information indicating what function(s) has been previously carried out in a cooperation process carried out by the multifunction apparatus and the application in cooperation with each other, are stored, and a device control section which determines, when the device control section receives an instruction to start a cooperation process, whether or not Condition A is satisfied, the device control section causing, if Condition A is satisfied, a switching operation for switching an image forming section from a waiting mode to a normal operation mode to be started, Condition A: function information associated with identification information indicating the selected application indicates a specific function which causes the image forming section to operate.

Abstract: A multifunction apparatus 21 of the present invention communicates with an information processing apparatus 51 via a communication network 50. The multifunction apparatus 21 includes an apparatus control section 7, a second web server section 8, and a web browser section 5 which communicates with a first web server section 53 or the second web server section 8. The apparatus control section 7 transmits login information entered by a user to an authentication server 91. The web browser section 5 (i) accepts, from the first web server section 53, control information for informing the second web server section 8 of a control instruction to obtain user related information from the authentication server 91 and (ii) carries out an informing process in which the second web server section 8 is informed of the control instruction. The apparatus control section 7 obtains the user related information from the authentication server 91 in accordance with the control instruction received by the second web server section 8.

Abstract: An authentication server 2 of the present invention (i) communicates with a multifunction apparatus 1 including a web browser section 15 and (ii) carries out an authentication process for a user who operates the multifunction apparatus 1. The authentication server 2 includes: a user authentication section 25 for (i) obtaining, from the multifunction apparatus 1, login information entered in the multifunction apparatus 1 and (ii) carries out authentication for the user; a second communication section 20 for obtaining Cookie information from the web browser section 15 of the multifunction apparatus 1 with which the authentication of the user, carried out by the user authentication section 25, was successful; and a user information management database 26 for storing the Cookie information received by the second communication section 20.

Abstract: A multifunction apparatus 21 includes: a web browser section 5; a second web server section 8; and a setting information database 6 for storing Cookie information which is transmitted from a first web server section 53 of an information processing apparatus 51 to the web browser section 5. The web browser section 5 (i) receives, from the first web server section 53, control information for informing the second web server section 8 of a control instruction to control the multifunction apparatus 21, and (ii) informs the second web server section 8 of the control instruction.

Abstract: A multi-functional peripheral 21 according to this invention operates in accordance with a web browser software, and includes: a web browser section 5 configured to store cookie information received from a web server section 53 into a setting information database 6; and an apparatus control section 7 configured to manage the cookie information in accordance with a mode set by a verification mode setting section 13. In a case where the mode set by the verification mode setting section 13 is a user verification inactive mode, the apparatus control section 7 discards the cookie information from the setting information database 6 after operation of the web browser section is terminated.

Abstract: A multifunction printer includes a display section, a web browser section for operating in accordance with software for a web browser, and a second web server section for operating in accordance with software for a web server. The web browser section causes the display section to display an operation window indicated by image data received from a first web server section, and notifies the second web server section of a control instruction to control the multifunction printer, which instruction is entered into the operation window. The multifunction printer further includes a device control section for controlling the multifunction printer in accordance with the control instruction of which the web browser section notifies the second web server section.

Abstract: A multi-functional peripheral control system is composed of an authentication server having a user information management database for storing authentication information corresponding to each user, and that performs user authentication processing with reference to the user information management database, and one or more multi-functional peripherals managed by the authentication server, in which the multi-functional peripheral has a user information management table for storing authentication information corresponding to a user, when being possible to connect to the authentication server, transmits user information to the authentication server to perform authentication processing, and when being impossible to connect to the authentication server, performs alternate authentication with reference to the user information management table, and the multi-functional peripheral includes a user deletion portion for deleting user information that authentication is not permitted by the authentication server from the us

Abstract: This invention provides a multi-functional peripheral and a multi-functional peripheral control system that manage a total number of output sheets of a user strictly and accurately even when an authentication server of a multi-functional peripheral is not able to perform authentication due to network failure or the like and authentication and output limitation are performed in the multi-functional peripheral. When the number of outputtable sheets registered in a user information management table is not 0, the multi-functional peripheral executes a copy job. When the number of copy outputtable sheets becomes 0, or when copy output of all pages is completed, the number of output sheets is deducted from the number of copy outputtable sheets registered in the user information management table, and thereby the user information management table is updated. Then, when connection to the authentication server is restored, the authentication server updates a user information management DB.

Abstract: An initial screen is displayed on the display portion of a multi-functional peripheral based on a usage history of a user to secure convenience of the user and the user is prevented from unconsciously using a charged application. An authentication server stores usage history information of function of a multi-functional peripheral capable of executing a function of an external application for each user, stores usage fee information of the external application, extracts a predetermined function out of functions used by a user based on information of the user who logs in the multi-functional peripheral, transmits control information for displaying a screen of the function to the multi-functional peripheral in the case where the predetermined function is free, and transmits the control information for displaying a predetermined alternative screen in stead of the screen of the function to the multi-functional peripheral in the case where the predetermined function is charged.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input portion for inputting image information, an information storage portion for storing the input image information, a transmission portion for transmitting the image information, and a control portion for processing input, storage and transmission of image information in parallel. The control portion, in the case where an input error occurs in the middle of performing input of image information, causes a transmission portion to transmit an instruction to delete information that has been transmitted to a transmission destination, and to start a retransmission after combining the image information before the input error occurs with the image information input after the input error occurred to form one file.

Abstract: In a multi-functional peripheral capable of performing user authentication processing in cooperation with an authentication server and processing in cooperation with an external application, a user is able to easily access a screen of a previously used function immediately after logging in without necessity of switching a screen of the function of the multi-functional peripheral itself and a screen of the external application function.

Abstract: A multifunction device achieves a device function by appropriately combining plural elemental functions including a scanning function, a printing function, and a communication function. The multifunction device includes: a service layer for executing the plural elemental functions; an API table storage section which stores an API table in which a first API for executing the device function is associated with a second API that the service layer can receive; and an Open I/F layer which receives the first API, specifies, in the API table, the second API corresponding to the first API, and outputs the specified second API to the service layer. With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a multifunction device which allows new control from a control device to the multifunction device to be easily developed.

Abstract: A multifunction device includes: a control command receiving section for receiving a control command from a control device; a criterion storage section for storing criterion in which command type information indicating control command types is associated with information indicating whether an authentication process is necessary or not; a command type determining section for determining whether the authentication process is necessary or not for the control command received by the control command receiving section; an access key checking section for performing the authentication process by matching the access key with an authentication key stored in advance, the access key checking section performing the authentication process if the access key checking section determines that the authentication process is necessary; and an Web service layer for executing a process as instructed by the control command, the Web service layer performing the process if the access key checking section that authentication is success

Abstract: In order to provide an authentication system and a terminal capable of saving user's trouble and allowing quick and accurate determination as to whether the user is a registered user or not, a data processing device capable of data communication with a plurality of image forming apparatuses decides an IC card standard used by an IC card reader connected to each image forming apparatus, and transmits a signal notifying the standard to the image forming apparatus having a corresponding identification ID. Based on the IC card standard decided by the data processing device, the image forming apparatus sets the IC card standard used by the IC card reader and determines whether or not the user is a registered user.

Abstract: In an external authentication system for a multifunction printer according to the present invention, a USB device management section, according to an instruction from a USB device management section instructing section, (i) performs a virtualization process for virtually connecting an information processing device to a user information reading device which is locally connected to a multifunction printer, (ii) manages a status of the connection between the information processing device and the user information reading device; and a multifunction printer association management section associates the multifunction printer controlled by the information processing device with the user information reading device which is locally connected to the multifunction printer.