Control apparatus, communication system, control method, program, and computer-readable storage medium

A communication system including an imaging apparatus for executing a job including at least one of image formation and image processing;

• an authentication information acquisition device for acquiring, from a user, authentication information necessary for authentication, and a control apparatus capable of communicating with the imaging apparatus and the authentication information acquisition device via a network interface,
• the control apparatus comprising:
• device driver means for controlling operation of the authentication information acquisition device via the network interface so that the authentication information acquisition device acquires authentication information;
• authentication information receiving means for receiving, from the authentication information acquisition device via the network interface, the authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition device;
• and
• operation control means for controlling the imaging apparatus in accordance with the authentication information received by the authentication information receiving means.

A communication system including an imaging apparatus for executing a job including at least one of image formation and image processing, an authentication information acquisition device for acquiring, from a user, authentication information necessary for authentication, an authentication server capable of communicating with the imaging apparatus via a network interface, and a control apparatus capable of communicating with the authentication information acquisition device and the authentication server via the network interface,

• the control apparatus comprising:
• device driver means for controlling operation of the authentication information acquisition device via the network interface so that the authentication information acquisition device acquires authentication information;
• authentication information receiving means for receiving, from the authentication information acquisition device via the network interface, the authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition device;
• and
• authentication information transmitting means for transmitting, to the authentication server, the authentication information received by the authentication information receiving means,
• the authentication server comprising:
• authenticating means for authenticating the user in accordance with the authentication information received from the control apparatus;
• and
• operation control means for controlling the imaging apparatus in accordance with a result of authentication performed by the authenticating means.

A method for controlling, via an network interface, an imaging apparatus for executing a job including at least one of image formation and image processing and an authentication information acquisition device for acquiring, from a user, authentication information necessary for authentication, the method comprising:

• a device driver step of controlling operation of the authentication information acquisition device via the network interface so that the authentication information acquisition device acquires authentication information;
• an authentication information receiving step of receiving, from the authentication information acquisition device via the network interface, the authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition device;
• and
• an operation control step of controlling the imaging apparatus in accordance with the authentication information received by the authentication information receiving means.