JP2013029887A - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which image formation processing can be executed speedily while maintaining secrecy of an image based on image data and an image forming system.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises a memory controller 91, a transmission controller 92, a reader 93 and an image formation controller 94. The memory controller 91 stores image data in any arbitrary hierarchy of a storage 80. In the case where image data are stored in the storage 80 by the memory controller 91, the transmission controller 92 transmits to a terminal device first information containing information indicating the hierarchy of the storage 80 in which the image data have been stored, and information on the image data. In the case where the first information is being stored through the terminal device to an USB memory inserted into an insertion part 110, the reader 93 reads the first information from the USB memory. On the basis of the information indicating the hierarchy of the storage 80 and the information on the image data contained in the first information read by the reader 93, the image formation controller 94 controls an engine part 3 so as to form an image based on the image data on a paper sheet.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system capable of forming an image based on image data on an image forming medium.

  The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral and a terminal device (personal computer) connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication network. In an image forming apparatus, when an image based on image data transmitted from a terminal device via a communication network is formed on a sheet as an image forming medium, first, the image data is recorded on an IC (Integrated Circuit) card and the image data Authentication is performed based on the authentication information associated with, and login processing is performed based on the authentication result. Then, for example, when the login process is performed, the image forming apparatus displays all image data (jobs) corresponding to the authentication information used for authentication on the display unit, and any of the image data (jobs) is displayed. When selected by the user, an image based on the selected image data is formed on a sheet (job is executed) (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-301383 A

  Some conventional image forming apparatuses require a user to input a password when performing authentication based on authentication information. In such an image forming apparatus, when a password is input by a user, the password may be seen by others. If the password is seen by others, the confidentiality of the image based on the image data may not be maintained.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the user is allowed to select any image data (job) from among a plurality of image data (jobs) displayed on the display unit. There is a possibility that the time to operate in front of will be longer. That is, in the image forming apparatus, it may take time to execute the image forming process.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming system capable of quickly executing an image forming process while maintaining confidentiality of an image based on image data.

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus connected to a terminal device via a communication network, and stores an engine unit that forms an image on an image forming medium, a storage unit, and image data in an arbitrary hierarchy of the storage unit First information including information indicating a hierarchy of the storage unit in which image data is stored and information related to the image data when image data is stored in the storage unit by the storage control unit. When the first information is stored via the terminal device in a transmission control unit that transmits to the terminal device, an insertion unit in which an external storage unit is inserted, and the external storage unit that is inserted in the insertion unit Further, based on a reading unit that reads the first information from the external storage unit, information indicating a hierarchy of the storage unit included in the first information read by the reading unit, and information related to image data An image formation control unit that identifies image data and a hierarchy of the storage unit in which the image data is stored, and controls the engine unit to form an image based on the image data on an image forming medium; The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided.

  The image forming apparatus further includes an authentication unit that performs login authentication based on authentication information, and a login processing unit that performs login processing based on a result of login authentication performed by the authentication unit, wherein the first information is It is preferable that the authentication unit further includes authentication information, and the authentication unit performs login authentication based on the authentication information included in the first information when the reading unit reads the first information.

  Further, it is preferable that the first information further includes setting information related to image formation.

  The present invention is also an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a terminal device connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication network, and the image forming apparatus forms an image on an image forming medium. The engine unit, the storage unit, the storage control unit that stores the image data in an arbitrary hierarchy of the storage unit, and the image data is stored when the storage control unit stores the image data in the storage unit. A transmission control unit that transmits first information including information indicating a hierarchy of the storage unit and information about image data to the terminal device, an insertion unit in which an external storage unit is inserted, and the insertion unit that is inserted in the insertion unit When the first information is stored in the external storage unit via the terminal device, the reading unit that reads the first information from the external storage unit, and the first information read by the reading unit The image data and the hierarchy of the storage unit in which the image data is stored are specified based on the information indicating the hierarchy of the storage unit and the information related to the image data, and the image based on the image data is imaged. The present invention relates to an image forming system including an image forming control unit that controls the engine unit to form on a forming medium.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming system capable of quickly executing an image forming process while maintaining confidentiality of an image based on image data.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the multifunction peripheral. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the multifunction machine.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the overall configuration of an image forming system 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the overall configuration of the multifunction peripheral 1 according to an embodiment of the image forming apparatus.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming system 300 includes a multifunction peripheral 1 as an example of an image forming apparatus and a terminal device 200.
The terminal device 200 is configured by a personal computer or the like. The terminal device 200 communicates with the multifunction device 1 via a communication network NW such as a local area network. The terminal device 200 includes a storage unit 201. The storage unit 201 stores first information (described later) transmitted from the multifunction device 1 via the communication network NW. In addition, the terminal device 200 stores the first information stored in the storage unit 201 when the USB memory 400 as an example of the external storage unit is inserted into the terminal device side insertion unit (for example, the USB (Universal Serial Bus) port 202). 1 information is copied to the USB memory 400. Note that the external storage unit is not limited to the USB memory 400.

As shown in FIG. 2, the multifunction peripheral 1 according to the embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a document transport unit 10, a document reading unit 20, a sheet transport unit 30, an image forming unit 40, and a transfer unit. 50 and a fixing unit 60.
The document transport unit 10 is an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder), and includes a document placement unit 11, a first feed roller 12, a guide 13, a timing roller pair 14, and a document discharge unit 15. The first feed roller 12 supplies the document G placed on the document placement unit 11 to the timing roller pair 14 one by one in order. The timing roller pair 14 is a timing at which the document reading unit 20 reads an image of the document G and a timing at which the document G is supplied to a position where the image of the document G is read by the document reading unit 20 (a position where the guide 13 is disposed). In order to match, the conveyance of the original G or the conveyance stop of the original G is performed. The guide 13 guides the conveyed document G to a first reading surface 21a described later. The document discharge unit 15 discharges the document G from which the image has been read by the document reading unit 20 (passed through the guide 13) to the outside of the multifunction machine main body 2.
A document stacking unit 16 is formed on the outside of the MFP main body 2 in the document discharge unit 15. In the document stacking unit 16, the documents G discharged from the document discharge unit 15 are stacked and stacked.

  The document reading unit 20 includes a first reading surface 21a and a second reading surface 22a. The first reading surface 21 a is formed along the upper surface of the first contact glass 21 disposed to face the guide 13 and serves as a surface for reading an image of the document G. The second reading surface 22a is disposed adjacent to the first reading surface 21a (in the case shown in FIG. 2, over the most right side of the first reading surface 21a). The second reading surface 22 a is used when reading an image of the document G without using the document transport unit 10. The second reading surface 22a is formed along the upper surface of the second contact glass 22 on which the document G is placed, and serves as a surface for reading an image of the document G.

  The document reading unit 20 includes an illumination unit 23, a first mirror 24, a second mirror 25, a third mirror 26, an imaging lens 27, and an imaging unit 28 inside the multi-function device main body 2. . The illumination unit 23 and the first mirror 24 move in the sub-scanning direction X, respectively. The second mirror 25 and the third mirror 26 are arranged on the left side of the illumination unit 23 and the first mirror 24 in FIG. Further, the second mirror 25 and the third mirror 26 are the first reading surface 21 a or the second reading surface 22 a through the first mirror 24, the second mirror 25, the third mirror 26, and the imaging lens 27. To the imaging unit 28 while moving in the sub-scanning direction X while keeping the distance (optical path length) constant.

  The illumination unit 23 is a light source that irradiates the original G with light. The first mirror 24, the second mirror 25, and the third mirror 26 are mirrors for guiding the light reflected by the document G to the imaging lens 27 while keeping the optical path length constant. The imaging lens 27 focuses the light incident from the third mirror 26 on the imaging unit 28. The imaging unit 28 is an imaging device for obtaining image data based on an imaged optical image by converting incident light into an electrical signal. For example, the imaging unit 28 is a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary). It is an image sensor such as Metal Oxide Semiconductor).

The paper transport unit 30 includes a second feed roller 31, a third feed roller 32, a registration roller pair 33, and a paper discharge unit 34. The second feed roller 31 supplies paper T (image forming medium) stored in the paper feed cassette 36 to the transfer unit 50. The third feed roller 32 supplies the paper T (image forming medium) placed on the manual feed tray 37 to the transfer unit 50. The registration roller pair 33 performs the conveyance of the paper T or the conveyance stop of the paper T in order to match the timing when the toner image reaches the transfer unit 50 and the timing when the paper T is supplied to the transfer unit 50. Further, the registration roller pair 33 performs skew (oblique feeding) correction of the paper T. The paper discharge unit 34 discharges the paper T on which the toner image is fixed to the outside of the multi-function device main body 2.
A paper discharge stacking unit 35 is formed outside the multi-function device body 2 in the paper discharge unit 34. In the paper discharge stacking unit 35, the paper T discharged from the paper discharge unit 34 is stacked and stacked.

The image forming unit 40 is for forming a toner image. The image forming unit 40 includes a photosensitive drum 41, a charging unit 42, a laser scanner unit 43, a developing device 44, a cleaning unit 45, a toner cartridge 46, 1 A next transfer roller 47, an intermediate transfer belt 48, and a counter roller 49 are provided.
The photoconductor drum 41 (41a, 41b, 41c, 41d) functions as a photoconductor or an image carrier in order to form toner images of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively. Around each photosensitive drum 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, in order from the upstream side to the downstream side along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 41, a charging unit 42, a laser scanner unit 43, a developing device 44, A cleaning unit 45 is disposed. The charging unit 42 charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 41. The laser scanner unit 43 is arranged apart from the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 and scans and exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 based on image data relating to the original G read by the original reading unit 20. As a result, the exposed portion of the charge is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing device 44 forms a toner image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 41. The cleaning unit 45 removes toner and the like remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 after the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 is neutralized by a static eliminator (not shown).
The toner cartridge 46 stores toner of each color supplied to the developing device 44. The toner cartridge 46 and the developing device 44 are connected by a toner supply path (not shown).

  The primary transfer rollers 47 (47a, 47b, 47c, 47d) are arranged on the opposite sides of the intermediate transfer belt 48 from the photosensitive drums 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, respectively. The intermediate transfer belt 48 is a belt that passes through the image forming unit 40 and the transfer unit 50. A part of the intermediate transfer belt 48 is sandwiched between the photosensitive drums 41a, 41b, 41c, and 41d and the primary transfer rollers 47a, 47b, 47c, and 47d, and the photosensitive drums 41a, 41b, 41c, and 41d. The toner image formed on the surface is primarily transferred. The opposing roller 49 is a driving roller that is disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 48 having an annular shape, and advances the intermediate transfer belt 48 in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG.

  The transfer unit 50 includes a secondary transfer roller 51. The secondary transfer roller 51 is disposed on the opposite side of the intermediate transfer belt 48 from the opposing roller 49, and a part of the intermediate transfer belt 48 is sandwiched between the opposing roller 49. Further, the secondary transfer roller 51 secondarily transfers the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 48 onto the paper T.

  The fixing unit 60 includes a heating rotator 61 and a pressure rotator 62. The heating rotator 61 and the pressure rotator 62 sandwich the paper T on which the toner image is secondarily transferred, melt and pressurize the toner, and fix the toner to the paper T.

Next, the functional configuration of the multifunction device 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the multifunction machine 1.
As shown in FIG. 3, the multi function device 1 includes the above-described components (the document conveyance unit 10, the document reading unit 20, the sheet conveyance unit 30, the image forming unit 40, the transfer unit 50, and the fixing unit 60). The engine unit 3 is configured by the paper transport unit 30, the image forming unit 40, the transfer unit 50, and the fixing unit 60. The engine unit 3 forms an image based on the image data on the paper T. Note that description of the components described with reference to FIG. 2 is omitted.
Further, the multifunction device 1 includes an operation unit 70, a storage unit 80, an interface unit 100, an insertion unit 110, and a control unit 90 in addition to the functional configuration described above.

  The operation unit 70 includes a numeric keypad (not shown), a touch panel (not shown), a start key (not shown), and the like. The numeric keypad is operated to input numbers such as the number of copies to be printed. The touch panel displays a plurality of keys to which various functions (for example, a function for setting a print magnification and a function for allocating a plurality of pages to one sheet of paper T (such as 2 in 1)) are assigned. The keys displayed on the touch panel are operated to cause the multifunction device 1 to execute any of various functions. The start key is operated to execute printing. When any key is operated, the operation unit 70 supplies a signal indicating that this key has been operated to the control unit 90.

  The storage unit 80 includes a hard disk, a semiconductor memory, and the like. The storage unit 80 stores image data based on the document G read by the document reading unit 20. The storage unit 80 stores image data transmitted from the terminal device 200 via the communication network NW. Furthermore, the storage unit 80 stores a control program used in the multifunction machine 1, data used by the control program, and the like.

A communication network NW (see FIG. 1) is connected to the interface unit 100.
A USB memory 400 (see FIG. 1) as an example of an external storage unit is inserted into the insertion unit 110. The insertion unit 110 is, for example, a USB port.

The control unit 90 controls the document conveying unit 10, the document reading unit 20, the engine unit 3, the operation unit 70, and the like.
The control unit 90 includes a storage control unit 91, a transmission control unit 92, a reading unit 93, an image formation control unit 94, an authentication unit 95, and a login processing unit 96.

  The storage control unit 91 stores the image data in an arbitrary hierarchy of the storage unit 80. That is, a hierarchical folder is created in the storage unit 80. The storage control unit 91 stores the image data input from the terminal device 200 via the communication network NW in any one of the hierarchical folders. When the image data is stored in a certain hierarchy in the storage unit 80, the storage control unit 91 transmits information indicating the stored hierarchy and information related to the image data to the transmission control unit 92. The information regarding the image data is information for specifying the image data, and is, for example, a file name of the image data.

  When image data is stored in the storage unit 80 by the storage control unit 91, the transmission control unit 92 receives first information including information indicating the hierarchy of the storage unit 80 in which the image data is stored and information related to the image data. It transmits to the terminal device 200. When the transmission control unit 92 receives the information indicating the hierarchy of the storage unit 80 and the information related to the image data transmitted from the storage control unit 91, the transmission control unit 92 uses the interface unit 100 to transmit the first information including the information to the terminal. To device 200. The terminal device 200 that is the transmission destination of the first information is the terminal device 200 that has transmitted the image data to the multifunction device 1.

The reading unit 93 reads the first information from the USB memory 400 when the first information is stored via the terminal device 200 in the USB memory 400 (external storage unit) inserted in the insertion unit 110.
That is, when receiving the first information, the terminal device 200 stores the first information in the storage unit 201. When an image based on the image data stored in the storage unit 80 of the multifunction device 1 is formed on the paper T, the terminal device 200 inserts the first information corresponding to the image data from the storage unit 201 into the USB port 202. To the USB memory 400. In this case, it is preferable that the terminal device 200 further includes setting information regarding image formation in the first information based on setting information set by the user. The setting information related to image formation is information on the density of an image formed on the paper T, and whether or not to use a function for allocating a plurality of pages to a single paper T.
Further, the reading unit 93 automatically reads information stored in the USB memory 400 when the USB memory 400 is inserted into the insertion unit 110. Therefore, the reading unit 93 automatically reads the first information stored in the USB memory 400 when the USB memory 400 is inserted into the insertion unit 110.

  The image formation control unit 94 stores image data and the image data based on the information indicating the hierarchy of the storage unit 80 included in the first information read by the reading unit 93 and the information related to the image data. The hierarchy of the unit 80 is specified, and the engine unit 3 is controlled to form an image based on the image data on the paper T. That is, the image formation control unit 94 specifies the hierarchy (folder) of the storage unit 80 in which image data to be printed is stored based on the information indicating the hierarchy of the storage unit 80. Further, the image formation control unit 94 specifies image data to be printed based on information about the image data. Then, the image forming control unit 94 causes the engine unit 3 to form an image based on the specified image data to be printed on the paper T. Note that when the first information includes information related to image formation, the image formation control unit 94 forms an image on the paper T based on the information related to image formation.

  Further, when the terminal device 200 forms an image based on the image data stored in the storage unit 80 of the multifunction device 1 on the paper T, in addition to the information indicating the hierarchy of the storage unit 80 and information about the image data, etc. The first information including the authentication information is preferably stored in the USB memory 400. The authentication information is used when login authentication is performed in the authentication unit 95 described later. Specifically, the authentication information is information about a user ID (Identification) and a password necessary for login authentication. The user ID is input to the terminal device 200 by using the input unit of the terminal device 200 or is stored in advance in the terminal device 200. The password is input to the terminal device 200 by using the keyboard or the like of the terminal device 200.

  The authentication unit 95 performs login authentication based on the authentication information. That is, when the first information is read by the reading unit 93, the authentication unit 95 first performs login authentication based on the authentication information included in the first information. As a specific example, the reading unit 93 performs login authentication based on comparing the user ID and password included in the first information with the user ID and password stored in advance in the multifunction device 1.

  The login processing unit 96 performs login processing based on the result of login authentication by the authentication unit 95. As a specific example, the login processing unit 96 performs login processing when the user ID and password included in the first information match the user ID and password stored in advance in the multifunction device 1.

  The image forming control unit 94 controls the engine unit 3 to form an image based on the image data on the paper T after the login processing is performed by the login processing unit 96.

  Next, the operation of the multifunction machine 1 in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the multifunction device 1.

  In step ST <b> 1, the storage control unit 91 stores the image data in an arbitrary hierarchy of the storage unit 80.

  In step ST2, the transmission control unit 92 transmits first information including information indicating the hierarchy of the storage unit 80 that stores the image data in step ST1 and information related to the image data to the terminal device 200. Here, when receiving the first information, the terminal device 200 causes the storage unit 201 to store the first information. When the USB memory 400 is inserted into the USB port 202, the terminal device 200 copies the first information stored in the storage unit 201 to the USB memory 400.

  In step ST <b> 3, the reading unit 93 determines whether or not the USB memory 400 is inserted into the insertion unit 110. If the USB memory 400 is not inserted in the insertion unit 110 (No), the determination in step ST3 is performed again. If the USB memory 400 is inserted in the insertion unit 110 (Yes), the process proceeds to step ST4.

  In step ST4, the reading unit 93 reads the first information stored in the USB memory 400.

  In step ST5, the authentication unit 95 performs login authentication based on the authentication information included in the first information.

  In step ST <b> 6, the login processing unit 96 performs login processing based on the result of login authentication by the authentication unit 95.

In step ST <b> 7, the image formation control unit 94 stores the image data and the storage unit 80 in which the image data is stored based on the information indicating the hierarchy of the storage unit 80 included in the first information and the information related to the image data. A hierarchy is specified, and an image based on the image data is formed on the paper T.
Note that the control unit 90 preferably performs logout processing when the USB memory 400 is removed from the insertion unit 110.

As described above, according to the multifunction machine 1 and the image forming system 300 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
That is, the multifunction device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the storage control unit 91 that stores the image data in an arbitrary hierarchy of the storage unit 80, and the image data when the storage control unit 91 stores the image data in the storage unit 80. Is stored in the storage unit 80 and the transmission control unit 92 that transmits first information including information related to image data to the terminal device 200, and the USB device 400 inserted in the insertion unit 110 is connected to the terminal device 200. When the first information is stored via the reading unit 93 that reads the first information from the USB memory 400, and information indicating the hierarchy of the storage unit 80 included in the first information read by the reading unit 93; Based on the information related to the image data, the image data and the hierarchy of the storage unit 80 where the image data is stored are specified, and the image based on the image data is set on the paper T. An image forming control unit 94 for controlling the engine unit 3 to forming, mainly comprises. As a result, when the first information is stored in the USB memory 400, the multifunction device 1 automatically forms an image corresponding to the first information on the paper T, and is thus an object of image formation by the user. Operation such as selection of image data is not required. Therefore, in the multifunction device 1, it takes no time to execute the image forming process, and the image forming process can be executed quickly.

  In addition, when the first information is read by the reading unit 93, the multi-function device 1 includes an authentication unit 95 that performs login authentication based on the authentication information included in the first information, and the result of the login authentication by the authentication unit 95. And a login processing unit 96 that performs login processing based on the login processing. Accordingly, when the USB memory 400 storing the first information is inserted into the insertion unit 110, the multifunction device 1 automatically performs login authentication and login processing, so that the multifunction device 1 can be used to input a password. No operation of the above-described numeric keypad 1 is required. Therefore, the multifunction device 1 can maintain the confidentiality of the image based on the image data.

  Further, when the first information includes setting information related to image formation, the multifunction device 1 performs image formation based on the setting information. Thereby, the multifunction device 1 can perform image formation intended by the user.

  Further, when the first information is stored in the USB memory 400 inserted in the insertion unit 110 of the multifunction device 1, the image forming system 300 displays an image corresponding to the first information in the engine unit 3 of the multifunction device 1. Therefore, the user does not need to perform operations such as selection of image data to be subjected to image formation by the user. Therefore, in the image forming system 300, it does not take time until the image forming process is executed, and the image forming process can be executed quickly.

In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, It can implement with a various form.
The multifunction device 1 of the present embodiment is a color multifunction device, but is not limited to this form and may be a monochrome multifunction device.
In the multifunction device 1 of the present embodiment, the toner image is transferred to the paper T via the intermediate transfer belt 48 (indirect transfer method). However, the present invention is not limited to this mode, and is formed on the photosensitive drum. The transferred toner image may be directly transferred to the paper T (direct transfer method).
Further, the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to print one side of the paper T, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured to print both sides of the paper.

Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-described multifunction device 1. That is, the image forming apparatus of the present invention may be a copier or a printer.
The image forming medium on which the toner image is fixed by the image forming apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the paper T, and may be a film sheet such as an OHP (overhead projector) sheet.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Multifunction machine (image forming apparatus), 3 ... Engine part, 80 ... Memory | storage part, 91 ... Memory | storage control part, 92 ... Transmission control part, 93 ... Reading part, 94 ... Image formation control part, 95 ... Authentication part, 96 ... Login processing unit, 110 ... insertion unit, 300 ... image forming system, 400 ... USB memory (external storage unit)

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus connected to a terminal device via a communication network,
An engine unit for forming an image on an image forming medium;
A storage unit;
A storage control unit for storing image data in an arbitrary hierarchy of the storage unit;
When image data is stored in the storage unit by the storage control unit, first information including information indicating a hierarchy of the storage unit in which the image data is stored and information related to the image data is transmitted to the terminal device. A transmission control unit;
An insertion part into which the external storage part is inserted;
A reading unit that reads the first information from the external storage unit when the first information is stored in the external storage unit inserted into the insertion unit via the terminal device;
Based on information indicating the hierarchy of the storage unit included in the first information read by the reading unit and information related to image data, image data and a hierarchy of the storage unit in which the image data is stored An image formation control unit that controls the engine unit to identify and form an image based on the image data on the image forming medium;
An image forming apparatus comprising: An authentication unit that performs login authentication based on the authentication information;
A login processing unit that performs a login process based on a result of login authentication by the authentication unit;
The first information further includes authentication information;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the first information is read by the reading unit, the authentication unit performs login authentication based on authentication information included in the first information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first information further includes setting information related to image formation. An image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus and a terminal device connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication network,
The image forming apparatus includes:
An engine unit for forming an image on an image forming medium;
A storage unit;
A storage control unit for storing image data in an arbitrary hierarchy of the storage unit;
When image data is stored in the storage unit by the storage control unit, first information including information indicating a hierarchy of the storage unit in which the image data is stored and information related to the image data is transmitted to the terminal device. A transmission control unit;
An insertion part into which the external storage part is inserted;
A reading unit that reads the first information from the external storage unit when the first information is stored in the external storage unit inserted into the insertion unit via the terminal device;
Based on information indicating the hierarchy of the storage unit included in the first information read by the reading unit and information on the image data, the image data and the hierarchy of the storage unit storing the image data are identified. An image forming control unit that controls the engine unit to form an image based on the image data on the image forming medium;
An image forming system comprising:

Images