An image forming apparatus is provided with USB sockets on front and back sides, and includes a determining unit for determining whether or not a USB device inserted to a front side USB socket 184 is a function enhancement device, and a control unit making, when it is determined by the determining unit that a function enhancement device is inserted to the front side USB socket 184, the USB device unusable and making, when it is determined that a USB device other than the function enhancement device is inserted, the USB device usable. Thus, it is possible to prevent a USB wireless LAN adapter or the like from being used constantly connected to the front side USB socket and thereby to reduce possibility of USB wireless LAN adapter of being damaged or removed.

An image forming apparatus is provided with USB sockets on front and back sides, and includes a determining unit for determining whether or not a USB device inserted to a front side USB socket 184 is a function enhancement device, and a control unit making, when it is determined by the determining unit that a function enhancement device is inserted to the front side USB socket 184, the USB device unusable and making, when it is determined that a USB device other than the function enhancement device is inserted, the USB device usable. Thus, it is possible to prevent a USB wireless LAN adapter or the like from being used constantly connected to the front side USB socket and thereby to reduce possibility of USB wireless LAN adapter of being damaged or removed.

A disclosed managing apparatus and image forming apparatus management system ensure confidentiality of information in an image forming apparatus while usability is maintained. An image forming apparatus acquires IC card identifying information with an IC card reader. A management server acquires a user ID associated with the acquired IC card identifying information and use limit information concerning use of the image forming apparatus. A process is performed in the image forming apparatus in accordance with the use limit information.

An information processing apparatus for locally connecting to a device and connecting to a first information processing apparatus through a network, registers identification information of the device controlled through the network, determines whether or not the connected device is registered in the registration unit, according to a request from the first information processing apparatus, and if it is determined that the connected device is registered in the registration unit, transmit a request to wake up from a sleep mode, to the first information processing apparatus.

An image forming apparatus is provided with USB sockets on front and back sides, and includes a determining unit for determining whether or not a USB device inserted to a front side USB socket 184 is a function enhancement device, and a control unit making, when it is determined by the determining unit that a function enhancement device is inserted to the front side USB socket 184, the USB device unusable and making, when it is determined that a USB device other than the function enhancement device is inserted, the USB device usable. Thus, it is possible to prevent a USB wireless LAN adapter or the like from being used constantly connected to the front side USB socket and thereby to reduce possibility of USB wireless LAN adapter of being damaged or removed.

A disclosed managing apparatus and image forming apparatus management system ensure confidentiality of information in an image forming apparatus while usability is maintained. An image forming apparatus acquires IC card identifying information with an IC card reader. A management server acquires a user ID associated with the acquired IC card identifying information and use limit information concerning use of the image forming apparatus. A process is performed in the image forming apparatus in accordance with the use limit information.

A disclosed managing apparatus and image forming apparatus management system ensure confidentiality of information in an image forming apparatus while usability is maintained. An image forming apparatus acquires IC card identifying information with an IC card reader. A management server acquires a user ID associated with the acquired IC card identifying information and use limit information concerning use of the image forming apparatus. A process is performed in the image forming apparatus in accordance with the use limit information.