AUTHENTICATION SERVER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMATION AUTHENTICATION SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce complicated operations for guaranteeing the security of an image forming apparatus.

SOLUTION: A printer 7 transmits registration information including device characteristic information and installation place information to an authentication server 5 based upon a network address previously stored in a ROM. The authentication server 5 generates a security certificate based upon the registration information and transmits it to a manufacturer server 6. The manufacturer server 6 receives and stores the security certificate in a storage section, and transmits the security certificate as well when transmitting security status information to a printing server 3 in order to download print data. The printing server 3 requests the authentication server 5 to inquire the security certificate sent from the printer 7, and transmits the print data on condition that authentication thereof is successful and the security status information meets predetermined conditions.

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