# US 10,375,274 B2 · Image forming apparatus management system, image forming apparatus, managing apparatus, terminal apparatus, image forming apparatus managing method, and image forming program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,375,274 B2 - Document ID: US10375274B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/031,590 - Filed: 2018-07-10 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2007-03-23 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Atsushi Sakagami; Naoto Sakurai; Koji Sasaki; Daiya Miyasaka; Tomoko Nishizawa; Yasuhiko Tsugawa; Yohei Ono - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10375274B2 ## CPC - H04N 1/4433: {to an apparatus, part of an apparatus or an apparatus function} - G06F 3/1203: {Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management} - G06F 3/1238: {Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs} - H04N 1/00204: {with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server (programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561)} - H04N 1/00244: {with a server, e.g. an internet server (fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324)} - H04N 1/00323: {with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location} - H04N 1/00344: {with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus (monitoring H04N1/00002)} - H04N 1/2183: {the stored images being distributed among a plurality of different locations, e.g. among a plurality of users} - H04N 1/4426: {involving separate means, e.g. a server, a magnetic card} - H04N 2201/001: Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus - H04N 2201/0051: Card-type connector, e.g. PCMCIA card interface - H04N 2201/0065: Converting image data to a format usable by the connected apparatus or vice versa - H04N 2201/0087: Image storage device - H04N 2201/0094: Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception - H04N 2201/214: Checking or indicating the storage space - H04N 2201/216: Arrangements for recording on different types of storage medium, e.g. IC card or magnetic tape; Recording on a plurality of storage media - H04N 2201/3205: of identification information, e.g. name or ID code (H04N2201/3209 takes precedence) - H04N 2201/3276: of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: circuitry configured to set setting information for controlling whether or not a standby screen is configured to receive an instruction for logging in to the apparatus by input of user information via a keyboard screen; display the standby screen based on the setting information, the standby screen being displayed prior to logging in to the apparatus; display an input screen in response to the standby screen receiving the instruction; acquire the user info on input via the input screen; acquire recording medium identifying information, read from a recording medium, for logging in to the apparatus regardless of whether or not the standby screen is configured to receive the instruction; and allow logging in to the apparatus when the recording medium identifying information or the user information is authenticated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuitry allows logging into the apparatus when the recording medium identifying information is authenticated by an information processing apparatus connected to the apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuitry allows logging into the apparatus when the user information is authenticated by an information processing apparatus connected to the apparatus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuitry acquires the recording medium identifying information read from the recording medium by a reading device included in the apparatus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuitry acquires the recording medium identifying information read from the recording medium by an external reading device connected to the apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuitry sets the setting information for controlling whether or not an instruction button, for receiving the instruction, is displayed on the standby screen. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuitry displays the standby screen including an instruction button for instructing the display of the input screen when the standby screen is configured to receive the instruction, and the circuitry displays the input screen in response to receiving the instruction of displaying the input screen via the instruction button. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuitry displays the standby screen including one or more messages relating to login by using the recording medium. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recording medium is an integrated circuit (IC) card, the recording medium identifying information is a card identifier (ID) of the IC card, and the circuitry allows logging in to the apparatus when the card ID is authenticated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user information includes user identifying information and a password, and the circuitry allows logging in to the apparatus when the user identification information and the password are authenticated. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input screen is the keyboard screen. ### Claim 12 A method, comprising: setting, by circuitry of an apparatus, setting information for controlling whether or not a standby screen is configured to receive an instruction for logging in to the apparatus by input of user information via a keyboard screen; controlling display of the standby screen based on the setting information, the standby screen being displayed prior to logging in to the apparatus; controlling display of an input screen in response to the standby screen receiving the instruction; acquiring the user information input via the input screen; acquiring recording medium identifying information, read from a recording medium, for logging in to the apparatus regardless of whether or not the standby screen is configured to receive the instruction; and allowing, by the circuitry, logging in to the apparatus when the recording medium identifying information or the user information is authenticated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein logging into the apparatus is allowed when the recording medium identifying information is authenticated by an information processing apparatus connected to the apparatus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein logging into the apparatus is allowed en the user information is authenticated by an information processing apparatus connected to the apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the recording medium identifying information is acquired by a reading device reading from the recording medium, the reading device included in the apparatus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the recording medium identifying information is acquired by an external reading device reading from the recording medium, the external reading device connected to the apparatus. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions which, when executed by an apparatus including circuitry, causes the apparatus to: set setting information for controlling whether or not a standby screen is configured to receive an instruction for logging in to the apparatus by input of user information via a keyboard screen; display the standby screen based on the setting information, the standby screen being displayed prior to logging in to the apparatus; display an input screen in response to the standby screen receiving the instruction; acquire the user information input via the input screen; acquire recording medium identifying information, read from a recording medium, for logging in to the apparatus regardless of whether or not the standby screen is configured to receive the instruction; and allow logging in to the apparatus when the recording medium identifying information or the user information is authenticated.