An image forming apparatus includes a paper feed section and a processing section. The paper feed section stores paper. The processing section executes a decoloring processing for decolorizing an undecolored paper stored in the paper feed section, and issues a warning indicating that the paper stored in the paper feed section is taken out when the decoloring processing is stopped, or does not issue the warning when the decoloring processing is completed.

In accordance with an embodiment, an authentication apparatus comprises an image capturing device, a memory and a controller. The image capturing device photographs a person to acquire a captured image. The memory stores the captured image. The controller generates a determination reference of authentication on the basis of a plurality of the captured images and carries out the authentication of the person in the captured image on the basis of the determination reference.

Magnetic keys having a plurality of magnetic plates are disclosed. The location and orientation of the magnetic plates are controlled to generate magnetic fields that are of sufficient strength to be reliably read and sufficient complexity to be difficult to counterfeit. The magnetic keys are located on imaging-device supply items along with non-volatile memory devices containing measurements of the magnetic fields that are digitally signed. These supply items are difficult to counterfeit. Other devices are disclosed.

An image forming apparatus determines, if a restriction mode is set in which image formation by a predetermined cartridge is restricted, whether a cartridge loaded to the apparatus is the predetermined cartridge. If the cartridge loaded to the apparatus is the predetermined cartridge, the apparatus determines whether an accepted job is a specific job of printing information for purchasing a cartridge for which image formation is not restricted. If the accepted job is the specific job, the apparatus executes printing based on the accepted job without restricting the image formation by the predetermined cartridge, and executes printing based on an accepted job if the restriction mode is not set or if the cartridge loaded to the apparatus is not the predetermined cartridge. If the accepted job is not the specific job, the apparatus restricts execution of the image formation by the predetermined cartridge loaded to the image forming apparatus.

An image processing system includes a reception unit that receives an image forming instruction from a user, a retaining unit that retains the image forming instruction in association with the user, an acceptance unit that accepts an execution instruction from the user, an authentication unit that performs authentication of the user, and an image forming unit that executes the image forming instruction retained by the retaining unit in association with the authenticated user without accepting the execution instruction by the acceptance unit in a case where the authentication unit completes the authentication.

A data processor includes: a storage that stores a plurality of items of true/false determination information; a hardware processor that: receives an instruction of a data processing by a user; performs a data processing an instruction of which is received; selects a plurality of items of different true/false determination information from among the true/false determination information stored in the storage and sequentially presents the selected items of true/false determination information to a user; determines whether a user is authorized based on biological information of the user detected while the user is operating each item of true/false determination information sequentially presented; and performs a data processing when the hardware processor determines that the user is authorized, and stops performing a data processing when the hardware processor determines that the user is not authorized; and a biological information detector that detects biological information of a user who instructs a data processing.

An electronic device includes an operation section, first storage, second storage, a processing section, and a display section. The first storage stores data of a file therein. The file includes contents that can be printed. When the operation section receives an instruction for erasing the file, the processing section transfers the file from the first storage to the second storage. The display section displays an inquiry screen for inquiring whether or not to reproduce the file. When the operation section receives an instruction for reproducing the file, the processing section executes print processing or transmission processing. The print processing is processing for printing the contents. The transmission processing is processing for transmitting an email with the file attached thereto. After executing the print processing or the transmission processing, the processing section erases the file from the second storage.

A system may capture an image of a physical item, perform digital image processing to identify features of the physical item from the image, and generate a digital token for the physical item based on the digital image processing.

A system includes an image forming apparatus and a network camera apparatus that communicates with the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect a user of the image forming apparatus and a transmission unit that, in a case where the detection unit detects the user, transmits an imaging request to the network camera apparatus. The network camera apparatus includes an imaging unit, a receiving unit that receives the imaging request transmitted from the image forming apparatus, and a control unit that, in a case where the receiving unit receives the imaging request, controls the imaging unit to image a vicinity of the image forming apparatus which has transmitted the imaging request.

An information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives print instruction information; an authenticating unit that performs an authentication for permitting a printing process; an execution unit that executes the printing process when the authentication succeeds; a near field communication unit; a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication that differs in a communication protocol from the near field communication; a transmitting unit that transmits identification information of the information processing apparatus to a terminal device when a connection via the near field communication is established in response to an operation of passing the terminal device over the near field communication unit; and a control unit that, when the receiving unit receives the print instruction information via the wireless communication using the identification information as a transmission destination, temporarily disables a function of the authenticating unit, and causes the execution unit to execute the printing process.