Image forming apparatus and image forming system

An image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus, a management apparatus and a portable communication terminal,

• the portable communication terminal comprising:
• an authentication information storage for storing authentication information therein;
• an authentication information sending section for sending the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage to the image forming apparatus;
• a first transfer section for transferring electronic prepaid information, including at least balance information, sent from the management apparatus to the image forming apparatus;
• and
• a second transfer section for transferring use information sent from the image forming apparatus to the management apparatus,
• the management apparatus comprising:
• an electronic prepaid information storage for storing a plurality of electronic prepaid information and authentication related to the plurality of electronic prepaid information respectively therein;
• an electronic prepaid information sending section for sending electronic prepaid information corresponding to authentication information sent from the portable communication terminal to the portable communication terminal, in response to inquiry request for the electronic prepaid information based on the authentication information;
• and
• a renewing section for renewing the electronic prepaid information stored in the electronic prepaid information storage according to the user information transferred from the portable communication terminal,
• the image forming apparatus comprising:
• a connector to which the portable communication terminal is connected;
• an image forming control section for controlling whether to perform printing processing on a sheet or not on the basis of the electronic prepaid information transferred from the portable communication terminal;
• a use information sending section for sending use information based on the image forming processing to the portable communication terminal;
• an operation input section for inputting desired performance number of the image forming processing;
• an accounting section for accounting in a predetermined system according to an excess number of the desired performance number over a performable number, when the desired performance number inputted by the operation input section exceeds the performable number determined based on the balance information by the image forming control section;
• and
• a display for displaying at least one of an instruction to pay a shortfall accounted in the predetermined system according to the excess number by the accounting section, and an instruction to input the desired performance number of the image forming processing by the operation input section so as to prevent the shortfall from occurring, when the desired performance number inputted by the operation input section exceeds the performable number determined based on the balance information by the image forming control section;
• wherein the image forming control section determines the performable number of the image forming processing on the basis of the balance information and controls the image forming processing.

An image forming apparatus for communicating with a management apparatus for storing a plurality of electronic prepaid information, including at least balance information, and authentication information related to the plurality of electronic prepaid information respectively and replying inquiry request for electronic prepaid information based on authentication information, through a communication line, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• an operation section for inputting authentication information;
• a communication section for communicating with the management apparatus through the communication line connected to the image forming apparatus, when the authentication information is inputted by the operation section;
• an inquiry request section for sending the authentication information inputted by the operation section to the management apparatus through the communication section, and making the inquiry request for the electronic prepaid information based on the authentication information;
• a receiving section for receiving the electronic prepaid information replied by the management apparatus in response to the inquiry request made by the inquiry request section through the communication section;
• an image forming control section for controlling whether to perform printing processing on a sheet or not on the basis of the electronic prepaid information received by the receiving section;
• an operation input section for inputting desired performance number of the image forming processing;
• an accounting section for accounting in a predetermined system according to an excess number of the desired performance number over a performable number, when the desired performance number inputted by the operation input section exceeds the performable number determined based on the balance information by the image forming control section;
• and
• a display for displaying at least one of an instruction to pay a shortfall accounted in the predetermined system according to the excess number by the accounting section, and an instruction to input the desired performance number of the image forming processing by the operation input section so as to prevent the shortfall from occurring, when the desired performance number inputted by the operation input section exceeds the performable number determined based on the balance information by the image forming control section;
• wherein the image forming control section determines the performable number of the image forming processing on the basis of the balance information and controls the image forming processing.