An image forming apparatus according to the present invention causes an image forming portion to perform image forming processing based on a security job issued by an output-permitted user, in a case where an outsider-use-possibility calculated by an outsider-use-possibility calculation portion becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value on the basis of information of a movement trajectory of the output-permitted user and also the output-permitted user has been detected in an output-process-start area. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the convenience for the output-permitted user while ensuring the security of the output product based on the security job issued by the user.

An image printing system includes a plurality of image printing apparatuses each configured to accept a print order and print the image data, a payment machine performing a billing process, and a ticketing machine. If payment at the payment machine is selected, the image printing apparatus issues a first ticket and transmits order details to the payment machine. If payment at a counter is selected, the image printing apparatus 1 transmits second key information to the ticketing machine. After performing a billing process, the payment machine issues a third ticket on which first key information is printed and transmits the first key information to the image printing apparatus. The ticketing machine issues a fourth ticket including the second key information. The image printing apparatus prints the image data if accepting input of the key information printed on the third ticket or the fourth ticket.

Provided is a consumable chip and a communication method thereof. The method is adopted for a consumable chip including a first consumable MCU unit, a verification cryptographic operation unit and a second consumable MCU unit; the method includes: when the first consumable MCU unit is incompatible with the printer, the first consumable MCU unit activating the second consumable MCU unit to execute a second consumable chip core processing flow, and calling the verification cryptographic algorithm function program of the verification cryptographic operation unit to calculate a new verification password; after the first consumable MCU unit inquires that the second consumable MCU unit has completed the second consumable chip core processing flow, the first consumable MCU unit reading the new verification password and sending to the printer, the new verification password is received by the printer to achieve compatibility between the first consumable MCU unit and the printer.

A terminal device may obtain a public key and target identification information from a communication device, search for the communication device via a wireless interface of the terminal device, based on the target identification information and a result of the search for the communication device, determine whether the communication device is to establish a wireless connection with an external device or with the terminal device, in a case where it is determined that the communication device is to establish the wireless connection with the external device, send first connection information to the communication device, in a case where it is determined that the communication device is to establish the wireless connection with the terminal device, send second connection information different from the first connection information to the communication device, establish the wireless connection with the communication device via the wireless interface by using the second connection information.

A printer includes a controller, a memory, and a user interface. The printer has a first mode and a second mode. The controller disables the first mode when enabling the second mode and disables the second mode when enabling the first mode. The controller executes a first printing process while the first mode is enabled. In the first printing process, the controller receives a print job from a client device, stores the received print job in the memory, and performs printing based on the stored print job upon receiving a storage print command. The controller executes a second printing process and restricts the first printing process while the second mode is enabled. In the second printing process, the controller receives a print job from a server in response to receiving a prescribed input operation via the user interface, and performs printing based on the received print job from the server.

A processing system that permits a user who is authenticated to use an image processing apparatus installed in a controlled area, the processing system includes an acquisition portion that acquires entrance permission/refusal information indicating whether or not there is entrance permission from a determination portion which determines, based on first authentication information acquired from the user, whether or not to permit entrance of the user to the controlled area, the entrance permission indicating that the entrance is permitted, and a processor that permits the user to use the image processing apparatus, when the entrance permission/refusal information indicates entrance permission and authentication is performed based on second authentication information acquired from the user in the controlled area.

An image forming apparatus includes a memory that stores identification information of authorized users in association with biometric information thereof, a reading device configured to read identification information from a medium, an input device through which biometric information is input, and a processor configured to, upon receipt of one of identification and biometric information, perform a first authentication by determining whether said one of identification and biometric information is stored, when said one of identification and biometric information is stored, upon receipt of the other of identification and biometric information, perform a second authentication by determining whether the other of identification and biometric information is stored in association with said one of identification and biometric information, and when the other of identification and biometric information is stored, enable a first operation that can be performed for the corresponding authorized user.

The printer may receive first user identification information from an external device and receive a registration request including first print setting information from the external device. In a first case where the first user identification information and the registration request are received from the external device and registration related information associated with the first user identification information among the one or more user identification information in a memory is permission information, the printer may register the first print setting information included in the registration request in the memory in association with the first user identification information. In a second case where the first user identification information and the registration request are received from the external device and the registration related information associated with the first user identification information is restriction information, the first print setting information is not registered in the memory.

An image forming apparatus includes a processor configured to: allow execution of printing using registered print information, the registered print information being allowed to be applied to a print job for performing printing, the registered print information being allowed to be recorded in image forming apparatuses individually, and receive an operation for executing a print job, the print job being a job to which the registered print information is applied; when the registered print information is recorded in the image forming apparatus, the registered print information being applied to the print job for which the operation for execution is received, perform printing in the image forming apparatus by using the registered print information; and, when the registered print information is not recorded in the image forming apparatus, the registered print information being applied to the print job for which the operation for execution is received, perform printing by using the registered print information received from at least one different image forming apparatus, the at least one different image forming apparatus recording the registered print information.

An image forming apparatus includes a controller including a processor, with the controller configured to register a first print setting value related to a predetermined print setting item, and receive, from an information processing apparatus, a second print setting value set by the information processing apparatus, wherein the received second print setting value is related to the predetermined print setting item. The registered first print setting value is compared to the received second print setting value, and information based on a result of the comparison is transmitted to the information processing apparatus.