Patent ID: 8434145
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An information processing system comprising: a plurality of information processing apparatuses that each have an information processing operation panel that is enabled or disabled, and functions for processing received information; an input apparatus, connected to a network, being separate from each of the information processing apparatuses, the input apparatus being connected to each of the information processing apparatuses through the network, the input apparatus including an input operation panel, an operation panel control unit for controlling the input operation panel, a user information input unit for input of user information that corresponds to a user, and an apparatus selection unit for finding a usable information processing apparatus from among said information processing apparatuses by learning that the information processing operation panel of said usable information processing apparatus is disabled, the apparatus selection unit causing the operation panel control unit to display information about said usable information processing apparatus on the input operation panel and determining when the user selects said usable information processing apparatus from the input operation panel, a control information transmitting unit for transmitting control information, based on available function information corresponding to the user information, to the user-selected information processing apparatus, said usable information processing apparatus including a control information receiving unit for receiving the control information, and a function control unit for restricting use of one or more of the functions of said usable information processing apparatus according to the control information, wherein the one or more functions of said usable information processing apparatus include at least one of a printing function, a scanning function, a facsimile transmitting function and a facsimile receiving function; and an authentication server for performing authentication, including an authentication processing unit for performing an authentication process on the user information, a function information selecting unit for selecting the available function information according to the user information, and a function information transmitting unit for transmitting the available function information to the input apparatus.