Multifunction image forming apparatus and document information searching method

A document information searching method for use with a document information searching system, comprising:

• a document storing step of storing, by the document information searching system, document information including at least one of a copied document, a scanner read document, and an e-mailed document;
• a usage frequency information storing step which stores, by the document information searching system, usage frequency information of the documents which are stored;
• an authorized person authentication information storing step of storing, by the document information searching system, authentication information concerning the authorized person who has authority for searching a document stored in said document storing step;
• an operator authentication information input step which inputs, by the document information searching system, authentication information concerning the operator;
• a determining step of matching, by the document information searching system, authentication information concerning the operator, obtained by said operator authentication information input step, against authentication information concerning an authorized person stored in said authorized person authentication information storing step, and determining whether the operator is an authorized person;
• a searching step of searching, by the document information searching system, the usage frequency information in a case where it is determined by said determining step that the operator is an authorized person;
• and
• a displaying step of displaying, by the document information searching system, information concerning documents searched by said searching step, in an order of high usage frequency of the documents.

A computer readable recording medium which stores a program for controlling a computer to execute:

• a document storing step of storing document information including at least one of a copied document, a scanner read document, and an e-mailed document;
• a usage frequency information storing step which stores usage frequency information of the documents which are stored;
• an authorized person authentication information storing step of storing authentication information concerning the authorized person who has authority for searching a document stored in said document storing step;
• an operator authentication information input step which inputs authentication information concerning the operator;
• a determining step of matching authentication information concerning the operator, obtained by said operator authentication information input step, against authentication information concerning an authorized person stored in said authorized person authentication information storing step, and determining whether the operator is an authorized person;
• a searching step of searching the usage frequency information in a case where it is determined by said determining step that the operator is an authorized person;
• and
• a displaying step of displaying information concerning documents searched by said searching step, in an order of high usage frequency of the documents.