Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for transforming entity device to a multi-functional device via a remote communication link. In particular, the system may be configured to receive an interaction request from an associate, via an associate device, wherein the interaction request is associated with a user, authenticate the associate using the associate device, in response to authenticating the associate, establish a remote communication link between the associate device and an entity device, receive an activation request from the associate to activate the entity device, via the associate device and the remote communication link, and in response to receiving the activation request, activate the entity device and transform the entity device to a multi-functional device.

To control an image forming apparatus using a service on a network, an information terminal performs two-factor authentication and acquires authentication information through the two-factor authentication so that the image forming apparatus accesses the service.

A system for securely producing and using high-entropy security information, such as a password. The system includes a printer, a display device, and a generator computer that is connected to the printer and the display device. The generator computer generates the high-entropy set of characters, (e.g., password), and also generates a machine-readable representation of the high-entropy set of characters, (e.g., a barcode). The generator computer causes the printer to print the high-entropy set of characters and the machine-readable representation on paper, and then deletes the high-entropy set of characters and the machine-readable representation from the system. The high-entropy set of characters, (e.g., password), may be entered into a target computer by scanning the barcode on the paper using a barcode scanner connected to the target computer, which is significantly faster than, and eliminates the human error associated with, typing in a high-entropy set of characters.

In a printing device, a supply portion is configured to convey a tape in its longitudinal direction. The tape includes: a plurality of labels arranged continuously in the longitudinal direction; and a plurality of storage elements provided on respective ones of the plurality of labels. A first storage element is provided on a first label and configured to store first authentication data. The second storage element is provided on a second label and configured to store second authentication data. A printing portion is configured to print on the plurality of labels. A controller is configured to perform: reading the first authentication data from the first storage element and the second authentication data from the second storage element by a reading portion; and determining whether the first authentication data is correlated to the second authentication data to meet an authentication condition.

In a printing system, a terminal device generates a plurality of pieces of print job data based on a data format list and transmit the generated print job data to a first multifunction machine, the first multifunction machine stores a plurality of pieces of received print job data, and performs printing based on print job data having the data format supported by the first multifunction machine itself when the first multifunction machine itself receives a print instruction from a user, and the second multifunction machine receives print job data having the data format supported by the second multifunction machine itself from the first multifunction machine when the second multifunction machine itself receives a print instruction from a user and performs printing based on the received print job data.

A printing apparatus registers the printing apparatus in a cloud print service, and generates a printer queue storing a print job to be transmitted to the printing apparatus on the cloud print service. If the printing apparatus is associated with a virtual printer on the cloud print service, the printing apparatus acquires information of print jobs managed by the virtual printer from the cloud print service. If an operation for printing the print jobs managed by the virtual printer is received, the printing apparatus gives an instruction for moving a print job that is specified on the basis of at least the acquired information of the print jobs to the printer queue for the printing apparatus provided on the cloud print service, and acquires the moved print job.

An image forming apparatus includes an operation device, one or more memories, and one or more processors that execute a set of instructions to receive a print job from an information processing apparatus, store the received print job in the one or more memories, control the operation device to display a list of print jobs stored in the one or more memories, register a print job included in the list in the image forming apparatus, based on a user instruction received by the operation device, and display an execution button for executing the registered print job in a function selection screen.

An image forming apparatus includes a processor configured to: transmit an inquiry as to whether or not printing of print data is allowed to an authenticated terminal when the print data are received from an external terminal, the authenticated terminal having an authority to perform printing and the external terminal being not registered in advance as the authenticated terminal; and make preparation to print the print data when a permission to print the print data is received from the authenticated terminal.

An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to: accept a job that provides an instruction for execution of an apparatus function, the job being a delegable job to which a delegation specification is assigned, the delegation specification being used to delegate the execution to a user; and if an apparatus to be operated by the user to execute the delegable job satisfies a predetermined requirement, transmit the delegable job to the apparatus.

A printing system is provided including a printer server accessible over a first network at a first location and a cloud service accessible from both the first location and a second network at a second network. A user with a client computer moving between the first network and the second network can print using either the printer server, when the user is on the first network, or the cloud service, when the user is on the second network. The client computer is configured detect its location and receive configuration information from the cloud service. The configuration information changes the method used by the client computer to print depending upon the client computer's detected location.