An image forming apparatus is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes a user database in which user identification information for identifying an user of the image forming apparatus is registered, an operation panel for receiving a key operation input, a secure program used for determining whether a user service can be provided on the basis of the user identification information in the user database and another user identification information input by the user.

An image forming apparatus including applications and system side software for providing system side services to the applications is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes: an authentication module for displaying an authentication screen on an operation panel of the image forming apparatus, wherein the authentication module allows the image forming apparatus to display a screen for using the image forming apparatus instead of the authentication screen if authentication data input from the authentication screen satisfies an authentication condition, and wherein the authentication module is provided in the image forming apparatus separately from the system side software.

An information processing apparatus includes a selection unit configured to select an item to be used for a password from among items written on a formatted document, a generation unit configured to generate a password based on a character string obtained as a character recognition result for the item selected by the selection unit on the formatted document, a conversion unit configured to convert document data obtained by reading the formatted document into document data protected with the password, and a setting unit configured to set information for identifying the item used for generation of the password as attribute information of the protected document data.

A method of maintaining a time measurement stored on an electronic device. The method comprises: receiving, by the electronic device, a supply item manufacturing time stamp from a supply item connected to the electronic device, comparing the supply item manufacturing time stamp with the time measurement of the electronic device, and updating, by the electronic device, the time measurement of the electronic device, based on the supply item manufacturing time stamp. An electronic device comprising a memory, the memory storing a time measurement, wherein the electronic device is configured to maintain the time measurement by: receiving a supply item manufacturing time stamp from a supply item connected to the electronic device, and updating the time measurement of the electronic device, based on the supply item manufacturing time stamp. An electronic device supply item, the supply item comprising a memory, the memory storing a supply item manufacturing time stamp, and the supply item being configured to send the supply item manufacturing time stamp to an electronic device.

An image forming apparatus including applications and system side software for providing system side services to the applications is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes: an authentication module for displaying an authentication screen on an operation panel of the image forming apparatus, wherein the authentication module allows the image forming apparatus to display a screen for using the image forming apparatus instead of the authentication screen if authentication data input from the authentication screen satisfies an authentication condition, and wherein the authentication module is provided in the image forming apparatus separately from the system side software.

An imaging device supply item comprising a memory, the memory storing a supply item manufacturing time stamp. The supply item is configured to send the supply item manufacturing time stamp to an imaging device. A method performed by an imaging device supply item, the method comprising: storing a supply item manufacturing time stamp on a memory of the supply item, and sending the supply item manufacturing time stamp to an imaging device. An imaging device comprising: a memory, the memory storing a time measurement, wherein the imaging device is configured to maintain the time measurement by: updating the time measurement of the imaging device, based on a supply item manufacturing time stamp indicative of a manufacturing time of a supply item installed in the imaging device.

A facsimile transmission system includes circuitry to receive, from a user, a request for facsimile transmission of a document, and determine which one of first facsimile transmission and second facsimile transmission is to be performed, based on one of an attribute of the user, an attribute of a destination of the facsimile transmission, and an attribute of the document. The first facsimile transmission is transmitting the document by an image forming apparatus, and the second facsimile transmission is transmitting the document by a facsimile server. The circuitry further instructs to perform the one of the first facsimile transmission and the second facsimile transmission.

An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to: transmit pre-process information to a processing apparatus that generates post-process information as a result of processing the pre-process information; and transmit identification information, used to acquire the post-process information, to an apparatus belonging to an apparatus group, satisfying a predetermined condition, among multiple apparatus groups of apparatuses that are enabled to acquire the post-process information and transfer the acquired post-process information to another apparatus.

An image processing device comprises an image data input means 2, an image data storage means 12 for storing the image data being input, an image data processing means 6 having multiple processing modes for outputting the stored image data, and a image data erasing means for erasing the image data stored in the storage means 12. The device further comprises erase count control means 8, 14 for controlling the number of times for erasing image data capable of having the number of times of erase set arbitrarily according to the security level required for each mode, and capable of having the set number of times of erase changed in mid-flow. Confidentiality is protected by performing erase operations repeatedly to the region storing the unnecessary image data according to the security level.

Provided is an authentication system that achieves simple single sign-on used by an MFP. A management application includes a first authentication-request unit that transmits an authentication request to a management server and delivers a token to an execution platform. The other application includes a second authentication-request unit that sends an authentication request together with the token to another server. The application-execution platform includes a token-delivery unit that delivers the token to the other application. The management server includes a first authentication unit that returns a token to the first authentication-request unit, a token-creation unit, and a second authentication unit that performs authentication for an inquiry from the other server that uses a token. The other server includes a third authentication-request unit that transfers an authentication request, and transfers an authentication OK message to the second authentication-request unit.