Patent ID: 8225375
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: G06F,G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. An information processing system, in which one or plural information processing apparatuses, a first authentication server storing first authentication information for permitting use of the information processing apparatus, and a second authentication server storing at least second authentication information for identifying a user, are capable of communication through a communication medium, wherein the first authentication server comprises: an authentication information storing unit configured to store a first authentication information for permitting use of the information processing apparatus; a period setting unit configured to set a period for registering the first authentication information; a latest log-in time storing unit configured to store a latest time information at which the authentication is successful as a latest log-in time, in combination with the first authentication information; a determination unit configured, for executing an authentication based on the first authentication information received from the information processing apparatus, to determine whether the first authentication information is stored in the authentication information storing unit; an inquiry unit configured to inquire to the information processing apparatus registration of the first authentication information, when the determination unit determines that the first authentication information received from the information processing apparatus is not stored in the authentication information storing unit; a first request unit configured, upon receiving a request for registration from the information processing apparatus as a response to the inquiry by the inquiry unit, to request to the second authentication server an authentication based on a second authentication information for identifying the user contained in the request for registration, wherein the second authentication information is different from the first authentication information; a registration unit configured, in response to a reception from the second authentication server as a response to the request by the first request unit of a result indicating that the second authentication information is registered in the second authentication server, to register the second authentication information and the first authentication information that is determined by the determination unit as not stored in the authentication information storing unit in mutual combination in the authentication information storing unit; and a deletion unit configured, when the period set by the period setting unit elapses from the latest log-in time stored in the latest log-in time storing unit, to delete the first authentication information combined with the latest log-in time and the second authentication information combined with the first authentication information from the authentication information storing unit, and wherein the information processing apparatus comprises: a second request unit configured to transmit input first authentication information to the first authentication server thereby requesting an authentication based on the first authentication information to the first authentication server; a result acquiring unit configured to acquire a result based on the determination by the determination unit from the first authentication server in response to the request from the second request unit; a permission unit configured to permit use of the information processing apparatus when the authentication is determined as successful based on the result acquired by the result acquiring unit; and a registration request unit that is configured, in the case that the authentication is determined as failed based on the result acquired by the result acquiring unit and in the case of receiving an inquiry for the registration of the first authentication information, to transmit the second authentication information for identifying the user input from an operation unit to the first authentication server thereby requesting a registration.