# US 2018/0324324 A1 · 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 2018/0324324 A1
- Document ID: US20180324324A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/031,532
- Filed: 2018-07-10
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2007-03-23
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Inventors: Atsushi Sakagami; Naoto Sakurai; Koji Sasaki; Daiya Miyasaka; Tomoko Nishizawa; Yasuhiko Tsugawa; Yohei Ono
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324324A1

## 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 image forming apparatus management system in which an image forming apparatus configured to read user identifying information from an information recording medium is connected to a managing apparatus for managing use of the image forming apparatus via a network,
the image forming apparatus comprising:
an information reading unit configured to read the user identifying information recorded in a predetermined region of the information recording medium;
a region setting unit configured to set the predetermined region from which the user identifying information is read by the information reading unit; and
an information format conversion unit configured to convert the user identifying information read by the information reading unit into a predetermined format,
the managing apparatus comprising:
a user information storage unit in which the user identifying information that has been converted into the predetermined format and use limit information concerning use of the image forming apparatus that is associated with the user identifying information are stored; and
a use limit information acquiring unit configured to acquire the use limit information associated with the user identifying information based on the user identifying information.