Methods and system of devices for managing confidential documents using expiration parameters

A method for accessing documents having confidential information in a system of image forming apparatuses, the method comprising:

• receiving a first electronic document at a first image forming apparatus having a first security status;
• generating a first expiration parameter for the first electronic document;
• modifying the first electronic document to generate a second electronic document;
• generating a second expiration parameter for the second electronic document;
• storing the first electronic document at the first image forming apparatus and the second electronic document at a second image forming apparatus having a second security status;
• making the first electronic document unavailable according to the first expiration parameter;
• and
• making the second electronic document unavailable according to the second expiration parameter.

A method for managing documents having confidential information on a system of image forming apparatuses, the method comprising:

• receiving a first electronic document at a first image forming apparatus having a first security status;
• modifying the first electronic document to generate a second electronic document;
• storing the first electronic document at the first image forming apparatus and the second electronic document at a second image forming apparatus having a second security status;
• determining if one of the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus is to be removed from the system of image forming apparatuses within a predetermined length of time;
• determining a third image forming apparatus having the first security status if the first image forming apparatus is to be removed or having the second security status if the second image forming apparatus is to be removed;
• and
• transferring the respective first electronic document or the second electronic document to the third image forming apparatus.