Authentication system having an authentication apparatus including an authentication unit configured to search records of identification information associated with group information to find matching identification information matching obtained identification information of a user, authentication method, and apparatus

A method of performing user authentication for an authentication system including an apparatus and an authentication apparatus, the method comprising:

• obtaining, by the apparatus, identification information of a user of the apparatus;
• sending, by the apparatus, the obtained identification information and group information indicating a group to which the user belongs to the authentication apparatus to request authentication of the user;
• displaying, by a display unit, a user information input screen based on a result of the authentication,
• comparing, by a second authentication unit, user information entered by the user via the user information input screen with user information sent from the authentication apparatus to authenticate the user,
• searching, by a first authentication apparatus, records of identification information associated with the group information to find matching identification information matching the obtained identification information of the user, and
• displaying, by the display unit, the user information input screen when the obtained identification information of the user matches the identification information of plural users among the records of identification information.

An apparatus connected to an authentication apparatus in an authentication system, said authentication apparatus having a first authentication unit configured to search records of identification information associated with group information to find matching identification information matching identification information of a user, the apparatus comprising:

• an identification information obtaining unit configured to obtain the identification information of the user of the apparatus;
• a group information obtaining unit configured to obtain sets of group information registered in the authentication apparatus;
• a group selection screen display unit configured to display a group selection screen based on the obtained sets of group information;
• an authentication requesting unit configured to send group information selected by the user on the group selection screen and the obtained identification information to the authentication apparatus to request authentication of the user,
• a display unit configured to display a user information input screen based on a result of the authentication, and
• a second authentication unit configured to compare user information entered by the user via the user information input screen with user information sent from the authentication apparatus to authenticate the user,
• wherein the display unit is configured to display the user information input screen when the obtained identification information of the user matches the identification information of plural users among the records of identification information.