Image Forming Apparatus and Image Forming Method

Abstract

In a case where a client user is already registered in a database server, user authentication is executed. Specifically, login to a network with use of a username and a password is executed and an authentication server carries out an authentication process, or authentication with use of a user certificate is executed and the authentication server carries out the authentication process. If the authentication process by the authentication server is completed, image forming apparatus information including position information is displayed on the client user and the client user is permitted to execute network connection.

1 . An image forming apparatus that is connected to an authentication server, the apparatus comprising:
 a communication unit configured to execute wireless communication with an external device;   a confirmation unit configured to confirm, when the communication unit receives a wireless communication start request from the external device, with the authentication server about whether the external device is a pre-registered external device; and   a control unit configured to execute, when the confirming unit confirms that the external device is the pre-registered external device, a control to transmit image forming apparatus information including position information of the image forming apparatus to the external device via the communication unit when the image forming apparatus information is present in the image forming apparatus.   
   
   
       2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the external device is a notebook personal computer or a mobile personal computer. 
   
   
       3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication unit executes wireless LAN communication. 
   
   
       4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the confirmation unit transmits a user certificate, which is preinstalled in the external device, to the authentication server and obtains an authentication result about whether the external device is the pre-registered external device. 
   
   
       5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the confirmation unit transmits a username and a password, which are input from the external device, to the authentication server and obtains an authentication result about whether the external device is the pre-registered external device. 
   
   
       6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the position information that is included in the image forming apparatus information is information that identifies a location where the image forming apparatus is placed. 
   
   
       7 . An image forming method for an image forming apparatus that is connected to an authentication server, the method comprising:
 confirming, when wireless communication with an external device is executed and a wireless communication start request is received from the external device, with the authentication server about whether the external device is a pre-registered external device; and   executing, when it is confirmed that the external device is the pre-registered external device, a control to transmit image forming apparatus information including position information of the image forming apparatus to the external device by the wireless communication, when the image forming apparatus information is present in the image forming apparatus.   
   
   
       8 . An image forming apparatus that is connected to an authentication server, the apparatus comprising:
 a wireless communication unit that executes wireless communication with an external device; and   a CPU that executes, when the wireless communication unit receives a wireless communication start request from the external device, a control to confirm with the authentication server about whether the external device is a pre-registered external device, and executes, when it is confirmed that the external device is the pre-registered external device, a control to transmit image forming apparatus information including position information of the image forming apparatus to the external device via the wireless communication unit, when the image forming apparatus information is present in the image forming apparatus.   
   
   
       9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the wireless communication unit executes wireless LAN communication. 
   
   
       10 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the CPU transmits a user certificate, which is preinstalled in the external device, to the authentication server and obtains an authentication result about whether the external device is the pre-registered external device. 
   
   
       11 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the CPU transmits a username and a password, which are input from the external device, to the authentication server and obtains an authentication result about whether the external device is the pre-registered external device. 
   
   
       12 . An image forming system, comprising:
 an access port for wireless LAN communication;   an authentication server, which is connected to the access port and performs authentication processing;   a personal computer having a communication section to execute wireless LAN communication with the access port; and   an image forming apparatus having:
 a communication section which executes wireless LAN communication the authentication server, and the personal computer via the access port; 
 a control unit which
 performs authentication processing via the communication unit in association with the authentication server upon receiving a print request from the personal computer via the communication unit, 
 when the authentication server determines that the personal computer is authorized, detects position information of the image processing apparatus from one of the authentication server, or, when position information of the imager processing apparatus is not contained in the authentication server, from the image processing apparatus, and 
 transmits the detected position information of the image forming apparatus to the personal computer via the communication unit. 
 
   
   
   
       13 . An imaging forming method for an image forming system including an access point for wireless LAN communication, an authentication server connected to the access point for performing authentication processing, a personal computer having a communication section to execute wireless LAN communication with the access point, and an image forming apparatus having a communication unit which executes wireless LAN communication with the authentication server and the personal computer via the access point, the method comprising:
 performing authentication processing via the communication unit in association with the authentication server upon receiving a print request from the personal computer via the communication unit,   when the authentication server determines that the personal computer is authorized, detecting position information of the image processing apparatus from the image processing apparatus, and   transmitting the detected position information of the image forming apparatus to the personal computer via the communication unit.