An image forming apparatus connected to a user terminal includes: an apparatus side connecting part; a connection detecting part; an apparatus side mode switching part; and an apparatus side mode setting part. The apparatus side connecting part connects to the user terminal and outputs connection information. The connection detecting part detects whether or not the apparatus side connecting part is connected to the user terminal based on the connection information and outputs detection information. The apparatus side mode switching part outputs, based on the detection information, mode information indicating a mode to which a consumption amount of a resource consumed by the image forming apparatus is allocated. The apparatus side mode setting part sets, based on the mode information, an energy saving mode in which the consumption amount is reduced as compared with the consumption amount when the apparatus side connecting part and the user terminal are connected.

In one example, an electromechanical device includes a removable component comprising an electronic identification tag. The apparatus also includes a plurality of tag readers disposed at a plurality of sectors in the apparatus to detect the electronic identification tag and signal strengths associated with the detected electronic identification tag, and send the signal strengths to a tracking system.

A job storage unit stores a print job. An image forming unit forms a toner image on a sheet. A fixing unit fixes the toner image on the sheet by heating the toner image. A first authentication unit communicates with a communication medium in a first communication range. A second authentication unit communicates with the communication medium in a second communication range. A control unit controls the fixing unit to be heated if the print job associated with user information is stored in the job storage unit when the first authentication unit acquires the user information, and controls the fixing unit to be heated if the print job associated with the acquired user information is not stored in the job storage unit when the second authentication unit acquires the user information.

A method of authenticating a consumable or detachable element of a continuous inkjet printer comprising: the controller of the printer generating a 1.sup.st item of random information that is dispatched to an authentication circuit of the element; encrypting the 1.sup.st item of information by the authentication circuit using a 1.sup.st encryption algorithm and a 1.sup.st secret key to form a 1.sup.st item of encrypted random information; dispatching the 1.sup.st item of information to the controller; encrypting the 1.sup.st item of information by the controller using a 2.sup.nd encryption algorithm and a 2.sup.nd secret key to form a 2.sup.nd item of encrypted random information; comparing the 1.sup.st item of encrypted random information with the 2.sup.nd encrypted item of random information to authenticate the consumable element; and if the consumable element is authenticated, dispatching at least one part of a 3.sup.rd key, termed the shared key, by the element to the printer.

Provided is an image forming apparatus that when a mobile terminal and image forming apparatus are used in combination, causes an operation to be performed by operating only one side. The image forming apparatus is used by being connected to a mobile terminal provided with a terminal side touch panel display. The communicating unit communicates with the mobile terminal and exchanges data. The apparatus side touch panel display is used for self operation of the image forming apparatus. The control unit, via the communicating unit, receives terminal side image data as content that is displayed on the terminal side touch panel display of the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal side, transmits apparatus side operation data corresponding to the content operated by a user on the apparatus side touch panel display to the mobile terminal side, and causes an application in the mobile terminal to be executed using the apparatus side operation data.

An image forming device includes a casing, an image forming unit, a first board, and an operational button. The image forming unit and the first board are disposed in the casing. The first board has a first opening extending through the first board, and a loop antenna disposed around the first opening. The operational button is located in the casing through the first opening. The operational button has a top surface exposed to an exterior of the casing.

In an image forming apparatus, a recognition tag is an electronic tag in which recognition information is recorded in advance. A displacement mechanism holds a displacement portion at a first position so as to make a communication access from a tag reader to a recognition tag possible in a case where a replenishment unit is not attached to a unit attachment portion, and holds the displacement portion at a second position so as to make the communication access from the tag reader to the recognition tag impossible in a case where the replenishment unit is attached to the unit attachment portion. The state determining portion determines a state from among a unit attachment state, a unit non-attachment state, and an exceptional state based on information obtained via the tag reader.

A job storage unit stores a print job. An image forming unit forms a toner image on a sheet. A fixing unit fixes the toner image on the sheet by heating the toner image. A first authentication unit communicates with a communication medium in a first communication range. A second authentication unit communicates with the communication medium in a second communication range. A control unit controls the fixing unit to be heated if the print job associated with user information is stored in the job storage unit when the first authentication unit acquires the user information, and controls the fixing unit to be heated if the print job associated with the acquired user information is not stored in the job storage unit when the second authentication unit acquires the user information.

A method for identifying and marking malfunctioning RFID tags on a RFID media sheet using an imaging device having a printer system and a RFID reader programmer. The method detects an unprogrammed RFID tag on the RFID media sheet, performs a write test on the detected RFID tag; determines whether the write test is successful; when the write test is unsuccessful, sends the RFID media sheet to the print engine and prints a bad tag identifier on one of the RFID media sheet and the detected RFID tag; when the write test has been successful, performs a read test on the detected RFID tag and determines whether the read test is successful, when the read test is unsuccessful, sends the RFID media sheet to the print engine and prints the bad tag identifier on one of the RFID media sheet and the detected RFID tag.

A method for identifying and marking malfunctioning RFID tags on a RFID media sheet using an imaging device having a printer system and a RFID reader programmer. The method detects an unprogrammed RFID tag on the RFID media sheet, performs a write test on the detected RFID tag; determines whether the write test is successful; when the write test is unsuccessful, sends the RFID media sheet to the print engine and prints a bad tag identifier on one of the RFID media sheet and the detected RFID tag; when the write test has been successful, performs a read test on the detected RFID tag and determines whether the read test is successful, when the read test is unsuccessful, sends the RFID media sheet to the print engine and prints the bad tag identifier on one of the RFID media sheet and the detected RFID tag.