Abstract: At an extended function server side, user information is received, and a user authentication process is executed. When the authenticity is established, an extended function table is read out, and an extended function list is generated in correspondence with users, based on the extended function table. Then, determination is made as to whether there is an extended function list set in correspondence with a user When there is an extended function list set in correspondence with a user, the extended function list is transmitted. At the MFP side, the extended function list transmitted from the extended function server is received. Then, the received extended function list is registered.

Abstract: a printing system comprising a terminal apparatus and a printing apparatus interconnected via a network, and said printing apparatus comprising: an identifier that identifies a user making access; an information acquirer that acquires information of a terminal apparatus used by the user who is identified by said identifier; and a transmitter that transmits printing apparatus information that is information of the printing apparatus itself, to the user's using terminal apparatus that is indicated in the information acquired by said information acquirer, and said terminal apparatus comprising: a receiver that receives the printing apparatus information transmitted from said printing apparatus; and a setter that sets said printing apparatus as the default printing apparatus according to the printing apparatus information received by said receiver.

Abstract: In order to prevent leakage of confidential information, MFP includes a communication I/F to receive print data, an image forming portion to perform image formation on print data, and a CPU to prohibit the image forming portion from performing image formation on the print data before the print data is subjected to image formation by the image forming portion, when a prescribed time has passed since the print data was received or when an input of an instruction to protect the print data is accepted, and to store the print data in a storage device, and to allow the image forming portion to perform image formation on the print data in response to accepting a log-in instruction.

Abstract: To provide a document management apparatus capable of protecting documents including a document free of the control of the document management apparatus in accordance with a document mode without requiring any complicated user operation. The document management apparatus comprises a document management unit for managing a mode indicating a registration state of a registered document, a rule management unit for managing a rule restricting a function that can be executed by a user in relation to the document, a rule application unit for selecting the rule in accordance with the mode of the document, and an encryption unit for encrypting the document based on the rule.

Abstract: In order to cause a management server to execute a process desired by a user and to be shared by a plurality of users, an image processing apparatus capable of communicating with the management server includes a scanner inputting image data, an authentication information input unit inputting information necessary for authenticating a user, an authentication information send unit for transmitting the input authentication information to the management server, an additional function list receiver receiving from the management server, in response to the transmission of the authentication information, an additional function list for specifying an additional function registered in association with the user among the additional functions executed by the management server, an additional function selector accepting designation of the additional function, and an additional function select information transmitter transmitting the specified additional function and the input image data to the management server.

Abstract: In an information processor which stores and manages objects with attribute information added to the objects, an object is selected and attribute information of the object is stored in a storage medium. Then, in response to a command issued for copying the selected attribute information, the attribute information stored in the storage medium is added to another object. Thus, the same attribute information can be added to a different object easily. When the same attribute information is added to a plurality of objects, the attribute information selected are added to each of the objects at the same time and stored in a relation to each of the objects in the storage medium. Thus, the load for adding attribute information by a user is reduced largely. Beside. a main dictionary which registers attribute information, a sub-dictionary registers data for identifying attribute information for a part of the attribute information registered in the main dictionary.

Abstract: In image data retrieval, image data that becomes the base of search is specified. When the search is to be carried out according to the distance from the image data on an image map, an automatic setting process of retrieval information is carried out. Here, a keyword, icon, chromaticity and the like of that image data are automatically set as retrieval information. The position of that image data on the image map becomes the center of a range when the ambiguity is set. By setting the ambiguity of the image map, keyword, icon, chromaticity, and the like in this state, the range of ambiguity is displayed, and image data within that range is automatically retrieved. As a result, analogous image data can be searched for according to subtle and ambiguous information or information that cannot be quantified.