Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and authentication program product

An image forming method implemented by an image forming apparatus provided with a document transport unit, a confirmation unit, an authentication control unit, and a function execution unit, the method comprising:

• confirming whether a detachable recording medium is connected to the apparatus and whether a document is placed on the document transport unit that transports the document placed thereon;
• controlling an authentication and, when the authentication is succeeded, switching an authentication status from a non-authenticated mode to an authenticated mode;
• and
• executing a function, while the authentication status is the authenticated mode,
• wherein, during the authenticated mode, the controlling includes switching the authentication status from the authenticated mode to the non-authenticated mode based on i) a status indicating each of whether the recording medium is connected during the non-authenticated mode and a status indicating whether the document is placed on the document transport unit during the non-authenticated mode, and based on ii) a status indicating each of whether the recording medium is connected during the authenticated mode and a status indicating whether the document is placed on the document transport unit during the authenticated mode.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable program codes embedded therein, the program codes when executed causing a computer to execute:

• confirming whether a detachable recording medium is connected to an image forming apparatus and whether a document is placed on a document transport unit that transports the document placed thereon;
• controlling an authentication and, when the authentication is succeeded, switching an authentication status from a non-authenticated mode to an authenticated mode;
• and
• executing a function, while the authentication status is the authenticated mode;
• wherein, during the authenticated mode, the controlling includes switching the authentication status from the authenticated mode to the non-authenticated mode based on i) a status indicating each of whether the recording medium is connected during the non-authenticated mode and a status indicating whether the document is placed on the document transport unit during the non-authenticated mode, and based on ii) a status indicating each of whether the recording medium is connected during the authenticated mode and a status indicating whether the document is placed on the document transport unit during the authenticated mode.