Abstract: The image forming apparatus holds related restriction information associated with function restriction information for restricting the use of a function provided within the network. With the related restriction information, when the image forming apparatus receives a job that executes a reading function and a transmission function, it displays, for a transmission source user, a settings screen for setting job operation settings in which restrictions held in the function restriction information and the related restriction information have been reflected. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus generates and transmits a send file in which the restrictions imposed on the transmission destination user have been reflected by using the job operation settings set via the settings screen, the function restriction information and the related restriction information.

Abstract: An image collector/transmitter with the smallest transmission cost is provided which can collect images from image keeping locations with the smallest transmission cost without lowering user services such as selection of an output receiver. Position information indicating the keeping location of image data is managed, and when a print order is issued from an external apparatus, the image data for the print order is collected in accordance with the managed position information, and the collected image data and a print request for the print order are transmitted to a printer controller.

Abstract: A start date of check-out processing of setting a shared document accessible by a plurality of users via a network into an exclusive state is reserved as a check-out start date based on an instruction of a user. In the exclusive state, the shared document can be updated by the user but cannot be updated by other users. When current date has reached the check-out start date, the shared document is set into the exclusive state for the user. The shared document can be released from the exclusive state in response to an instruction of the user checking-out the shared document. An expected check-in date to release the shared document from the exclusive state after the check-out start date can be reserved. This invention enables reservation for a document operation and prevents any decrease in the operation efficiency of users.

Abstract: A check-out document cannot be updated by another operator unless an operator who checked out that document cancels the check-out status or checks in the document. To remove this inconvenience, document data is set in an exclusive state with respect to another user, and a password required to cancel the exclusive state is generated. The exclusive state of the document data is canceled based on an instruction of a user who instructed the exclusive state or an instruction of the other user with the password, thus updating the document data.

Abstract: An image collector/transmitter with the smallest transmission cost is provided which can collect images from image keeping locations with the smallest transmission cost without lowering user services such as selection of an output receiver. Position information indicating the keeping location of image data is managed, and when a print order is issued from an external apparatus, the image data for the print order is collected in accordance with the managed position information, and the collected image data and a print request for the print order are transmitted to a printer controller.

Abstract: An image collector/transmitter with the smallest transmission cost is provided which can collect images from image keeping locations with the smallest transmission cost without lowering user services such as selection of an output receiver. Position information indicating the keeping location of image data is managed, and when a print order is issued from an external apparatus, the image data for the print order is collected in accordance with the managed position information, and the collected image data and a print request for the print order are transmitted to a printer controller.