Information processing system, information processing apparatus and method and program therefor

An information processing apparatus capable of communication with a first authentication server for executing an authentication of a first authentication information, comprising:

• an authentication request unit configured to transmit an input first authentication information to the first authentication server thereby requesting an authentication;
• a result acquiring unit configured to acquire a result from the first authentication server in response to the request from the authentication request unit;
• a permission unit configured to permit use of the information processing apparatus when the authentication is determined as successful based on the result acquired by the result acquiring unit;
• and
• a registration request unit that is configured, in the case that the authentication is determined as failed based on the result acquired by the result acquiring unit and in the case of receiving an enquiry for the registration of the first authentication information, to transmit the second authentication information for identifying a user input from an operation unit to the first authentication server thereby requesting a registration.

An authentication server capable of communication with one or plural information processing apparatuses, and a user authentication server storing at least second authentication information for identifying a user, through a communication medium, comprising:

• an authentication information storing unit configured to store a first authentication information for permitting use of the information processing apparatus;
• a determination unit configured to determine whether the first authentication information received from the information processing apparatus is stored in the authentication information storing unit in order to execute an authentication based on the first authentication information;
• an enquiry unit configured to enquire registration of the first authentication information to the information processing apparatus, when the determination unit determines that the first authentication information received from the information processing apparatus is not stored in the authentication information storing unit;
• a first request unit that is configured, upon receiving a request for registration from the information processing apparatus as a response to the enquiry by the enquiry unit, to request an authentication based on a second authentication information for identifying the user contained in the request for registration to the user authentication server;
• and
• a registration unit that is configured, in case of a reception of a result of authentication indicating that the second authentication information is registered in the user authentication server from the user authentication server, to register the second authentication information and the first authentication information that is determined by the determination unit as not stored in the authentication information storing unit in mutual combination in the authentication information storing unit.

A method for an information processing system, in which one or plural information processing apparatuses, a first authentication server storing first authentication information for permitting use of the information processing apparatus, and a second authentication server storing at least second authentication information for identifying a user, are capable of communication through a communication medium, wherein the first authentication server, which includes an authentication information storing unit configured to store a first authentication information for permitting use of the information processing apparatus, the method comprises:

• determining, in first authentication server, in order to execute an authentication based on the first authentication information received from the information processing apparatus, whether the first authentication information is stored in the authentication information storing unit;
• enquiring, in first authentication server, registration of the first authentication information to the information processing apparatus, in the case that the first authentication information received from the information processing apparatus is not stored in the authentication information storing unit;
• making, in first authentication server, a first request, upon receiving a request for registration from the information processing apparatus as a response to the enquiry, for an authentication based on a second authentication information for identifying the user contained in the request for registration to the second authentication server;
• registering, in first authentication server, in response to a reception of a result indicating that the second authentication information is registered in the second authentication server from the second authentication server as a response to the first request, the second authentication information and the first authentication information that is determined as not stored in the authentication information storing unit in mutual combination in the authentication information storing unit;
• making, in the information processing unit, a second request by transmitting the input first authentication information to the first authentication server thereby requesting an authentication based on the first authentication information to the first authentication server;
• acquiring, in the information processing unit, a result based on the determination from the first authentication server in response to the second request;
• permitting, in the information processing unit, use of the information processing apparatus when the authentication is determined as successful based on the acquired result;
• and
• requesting, in the information processing unit, a registration, in the case that the authentication is determined as failed based on the acquired result and in the case of receiving an enquiry for the registration of the first authentication information, by transmitting the second authentication information for identifying the user input from an operation unit to the first authentication server.

A method in an information processing apparatus capable of communication with a first authentication server for executing an authentication of a first authentication information, which comprises:

• requesting, by transmitting an input first authentication information to the first authentication server, an authentication of the first authentication information to the first authentication server;
• acquiring a result from the first authentication server in response to the request;
• permitting use of the information processing apparatus when the authentication is determined as successful based on the acquired result;
• and
• requesting a registration, in the case that the authentication is determined as failed based on the acquired result and in the case of receiving an enquiry for the registration of the first authentication information, by transmitting the second authentication information for identifying a user input from an operation unit to the first authentication server.

A method in an authentication server which is capable of communication with one or plural information processing apparatuses, and a user authentication server storing at least second authentication information for identifying a user, through a communication medium, and which includes an authentication information storing unit configured to store a first authentication information for permitting use of the information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

• determining whether the first authentication information received from the information processing apparatus is stored in the authentication information storing unit in order to execute an authentication based on the first authentication information;
• enquiring registration of the first authentication information to the information processing apparatus, in the case that the first authentication information received from the information processing apparatus is determined as not stored in the authentication information storing unit;
• requesting, upon receiving a request for registration from the information processing apparatus as a response to the enquiry, to request an authentication based on a second authentication information for identifying the user contained in the request for registration to the user authentication server;
• and
• registering, in case of a reception of a result of authentication indicating that the second authentication information is registered in the user authentication server from the user authentication server, the second authentication information and the first authentication information that is determined as not stored in the authentication information storing unit in mutual combination in the authentication information storing unit.