An information processing apparatus comprising: a first storage part configured to store correspondence information between a card ID and user identification information; a user identification part configured to identify the user identification information corresponding to said card ID by referring to the first storage part in response to an input of the card ID; and an authentication request part configured to request an authentication to an authentication device connected through a network based on the user identification information identified by the user identification part, wherein said user identification part sends, when the user identification information corresponding to said input card ID is not identified by referring to the first storage part, said input card ID to inquire said authentication device about the user identification information corresponding to said input card ID, said user identification information including a user name; characterized in that: the authentication request part is configured to determine, when the user identification information corresponding to said input card ID is not identified by referring to the first storage part, whether the authentication is successful based on a result of the inquiry to the authentication device; the information processing apparatus further comprising: a password acquisition part configured to request a password of the user in response to a successful result of the inquiry to the authentication device, and to receive the password input by the user; the authentication request part is further configured to transmit an authentication request to the authentication device, said authentication request being based on the user name and the password input by the user, and to receive a response from the authentication device which indicates a success or a failure in the authentication. a first storage part configured to store correspondence information between a card ID and user identification information; a user identification part configured to identify the user identification information corresponding to said card ID by referring to the first storage part in response to an input of the card ID; and an authentication request part configured to request an authentication to an authentication device connected through a network based on the user identification information identified by the user identification part, wherein said user identification part sends, when the user identification information corresponding to said input card ID is not identified by referring to the first storage part, said input card ID to inquire said authentication device about the user identification information corresponding to said input card ID, said user identification information including a user name; characterized in that: the authentication request part is configured to determine, when the user identification information corresponding to said input card ID is not identified by referring to the first storage part, whether the authentication is successful based on a result of the inquiry to the authentication device; the information processing apparatus further comprising: a password acquisition part configured to request a password of the user in response to a successful result of the inquiry to the authentication device, and to receive the password input by the user; the authentication request part is further configured to transmit an authentication request to the authentication device, said authentication request being based on the user name and the password input by the user, and to receive a response from the authentication device which indicates a success or a failure in the authentication. the authentication request part is configured to determine, when the user identification information corresponding to said input card ID is not identified by referring to the first storage part, whether the authentication is successful based on a result of the inquiry to the authentication device; the information processing apparatus further comprising: a password acquisition part configured to request a password of the user in response to a successful result of the inquiry to the authentication device, and to receive the password input by the user; the authentication request part is further configured to transmit an authentication request to the authentication device, said authentication request being based on the user name and the password input by the user, and to receive a response from the authentication device which indicates a success or a failure in the authentication. a password acquisition part configured to request a password of the user in response to a successful result of the inquiry to the authentication device, and to receive the password input by the user; the authentication request part is further configured to transmit an authentication request to the authentication device, said authentication request being based on the user name and the password input by the user, and to receive a response from the authentication device which indicates a success or a failure in the authentication.