Image forming apparatus that performs user authentication by wireless communication, method of controlling the same, and storage medium

A method of operating an image forming apparatus including a near field communicator, a console, and a controller configured to control the image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

• detecting, by the near field communicator, receipt of authentication data from a mobile device via near field communication, storing the authentication data in a memory, and outputting a first signal to the controller;
• returning, by the controller, the image forming apparatus from a power saving mode in accordance with the first signal and, after the image forming apparatus has returned from the power saving mode, outputting a second signal to the near field communicator;
• transferring the authentication data to the controller in accordance with the second signal;
• and
• authenticating, by the controller, a user of the mobile device using the authentication data and causing display, on the console, of a message that a job can be executed.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising an executable program, which when executed, causes performance of a method of operating an image forming apparatus including a near field communicator, a console, and a controller configured to control the image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

• detecting, by the near field communicator, receipt of authentication data from a mobile device via near field communication, storing the authentication data in a memory, and outputting a first signal to the controller;
• returning, by the controller, the image forming apparatus from a power saving mode in accordance with the first signal and, after the image forming apparatus has returned from the power saving mode, outputting a second signal to the near field communicator;
• transferring the authentication data to the controller in accordance with the second signal;
• and
• authenticating, by the controller, a user of the mobile device using the authentication data and causing display, on the console, of a message that a job can be executed.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a near field communicator having a memory;
• a console;
• and
• a controller configured to control the image forming apparatus,
• wherein the near field communicator is configured to detect receipt of authentication data from a mobile device via near field communication, store the authentication data in the memory, and output a first signal to the controller,
• wherein the controller is configured to return the image forming apparatus from a power saving mode in accordance with the first signal,
• wherein the near field communicator is configured to transfer the authentication data to the controller after the image forming apparatus has returned from the power saving mode, and
• wherein the controller is configured to authenticate a user of the mobile device using the authentication data and display a message that a job can be executed on the console.