Image output authentication system, image output authentication server, and image output authentication method

An image output authentication system comprising an image output apparatus outputting an image, an image transmission apparatus transmitting image data corresponding to said image, and an authentication server authenticating a user,

• said image transmission apparatus including
• a first user identification information determination unit receiving information input that allows user identification information to be determined, to determine said user identification information, said user identification information being provided for identifying a user,
• a first password input unit receiving a password input associated with said user identification information determined by said first user identification information determination unit, and
• an image transmission unit transmitting to said image output apparatus image data and said user identification information determined by said first user identification information determination unit,
• said image output apparatus including
• an image reception unit receiving said image data and said user identification information transmitted by said image transmission unit,
• an image storage unit storing said image data and said user identification information received by said image reception unit, therein in association with each other,
• a second user identification information determination unit receiving information input that allows user identification information to be determined, to determine said user identification information, and
• a user identification information transmission unit transmitting to said authentication server said user identification information determined by said second user identification information determination unit,
• said authentication server including
• a user storage unit having said user identification information and a password of that user identification information, previously stored therein in association with each other,
• a user identification information reception unit receiving said user identification information transmitted by said user identification information transmission unit,
• a password obtaining unit obtaining said password received by said first password input unit, from said image transmission apparatus used by a user associated with said user identification information received by said user identification information reception unit, after said user identification information is received,
• an authentication unit determining whether said password obtained by said password obtaining unit and said password stored in said user storage unit in association with said user identification information received by said user identification information reception unit match, and
• an image output permission unit permitting said image output apparatus that had sent said user identification information received by said user identification information reception unit, to output an image corresponding to said image data stored in said image storage unit of that image output apparatus in association with that user identification information, if said authentication unit determines that said passwords match,
• said image output apparatus further including
• an image output unit outputting said image if said image output permission unit permits outputting said image.