Patent ID: 7884957
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: G03G,H04N

Abstract:
1. A first image forming apparatus connected to a network, which comprises: an information adding unit configured to add image attribute information corresponding to a pattern image formed on a recording sheet for anti-counterfeit to image data and form attribute information added image data when addition of the image attribute information to the image data is selected; a data storing unit configured to store the attribute information added image data and image data which does not have the image attribute information; and a treatment permission/non-permission determining unit configured to determine whether treatment of the image data for a second image forming apparatus connected to the first image forming apparatus through the network is permitted or not based on whether the image data is the attribute information added image data or not and whether the second image forming apparatus has an ability to form the pattern image on the recording sheet or not, wherein when the second image forming apparatus requests the treatment of the attribute information added image data, the treatment permission/non-permission determining unit does not permit the treatment of the attribute information added image data in the case that the second image forming apparatus does not have the ability, and permits the treatment of the attribute information added image data in the case the second image forming apparatus has the ability.