Patent Description:
In the related art, there is an image forming apparatus that forms an image with toner supplied from a toner cartridge attached to the image forming apparatus itself. The image forming apparatus performs genuine product determining for a toner cartridge attached to the image forming apparatus itself so as to maintain image quality and prevent the image forming apparatus from failing. The genuine product determining determines whether or not the toner cartridge is a genuine product. The image forming apparatus does not form an image if it is determined that the toner cartridge is not the genuine product as a result of the genuine product determining. The image forming apparatus cannot achieve both reduction in an opportunity of image formation performed by the toner cartridge which is not the genuine product and image formation performed by the toner cartridge which is not the genuine product. Accordingly, a user who intends to form an image using the image forming apparatus cannot form an image, and convenience of the user is reduced.

To solve such problems, there is provided an image forming system comprising:.

Preferred examples are defined in claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

The invention further relates to an image forming method comprising:.

In particular, the predetermined amount may be a number of sheets on which an image is previously formed, and
the method may further comprise permitting image formation when the determination result indicates that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the predetermined condition, and only when the number of sheets is equal to or less than a predetermined number.

In particular yet, the predetermined amount may be an amount of toner that is used for forming an image, and
the method may comprise permitting formation of an image, when the determination result indicates that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the predetermined condition and only when the amount of toner is equal to or less than the predetermined amount.

The invention also relates to a determination apparatus adapted for use in the image forming system as defined above, the determination apparatus comprising:.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

In general, according to at least one embodiment, an image forming system includes an image forming unit, an acquisition unit, a first determination unit, a second determination unit, and a control unit (a controller). The image forming unit forms an image by using toner that is supplied by a toner cartridge. The acquisition unit acquires identification information from the toner cartridge. The first determination unit determines whether or not the toner cartridge satisfies a first condition, based on the identification information. The second determination unit determines whether or not a second condition is satisfied if a determination result of the first determination unit indicates that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the first condition. The control unit enables the image forming unit to form an image, if a determination result of the first determination unit indicates that the toner cartridge satisfies a predetermined condition, or if the determination result of the first determination unit indicates that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the predetermined condition, and if a determination result of the second determination unit indicates that the second condition is satisfied.

Such an image forming system may comprise, as a unit, a determination apparatus that includes an acquisition unit, a first determination unit, a second determination unit and a controller.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific system configuration of an image forming system <NUM> according to a first embodiment.

The image forming system <NUM> includes a cartridge <NUM>, an image forming apparatus <NUM>, and a management server <NUM>.

The cartridge <NUM> is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus <NUM> and supplies toner to the image forming apparatus <NUM>.

The image forming apparatus <NUM> forms an image using the toner supplied by the cartridge <NUM>. The image forming apparatus <NUM> acquires an identifier (hereinafter, referred to as a "cartridge identifier") for identifying the cartridge <NUM>. The image forming apparatus <NUM> transmits information (hereinafter, referred to as "identifier information") indicating the acquired cartridge identifier to the management server <NUM>.

The management server <NUM> manages the image forming apparatus <NUM>. The management server <NUM> receives the identifier information transmitted by the image forming apparatus <NUM> and manages the image forming apparatus <NUM>, based on the cartridge identifier indicated by the received identifier information. The management server <NUM> acquires the identifier information, performs authenticating, and generates authentication information according to results of the processing. The authenticating is processing in which the management server <NUM> determines whether or not the identifier information indicates a cartridge identifier of a genuine product. The genuine product is the cartridge <NUM> that satisfies a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition may be any condition. The predetermined condition may be, for example, a condition in which the cartridge identifier indicates the toner cartridge <NUM> previously registered in the management server <NUM>. The authentication information indicates an instruction based on results of the authenticating. Specifically, the authentication information indicates one of the following three instructions. One instruction is an instruction (hereinafter, referred to as a "permission instruction") which does not prohibit an image from being formed by the image forming apparatus <NUM>. Another instruction is an instruction (hereinafter, referred to as a "temporary permission instruction") that permits image formation performed by the image forming apparatus <NUM> only for a predetermined period of time. The other instruction is an instruction (hereinafter, referred to as a "prohibition instruction") that prohibits an image from being formed by the image forming apparatus <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific functional configuration of the cartridge <NUM> according to the first embodiment.

The cartridge <NUM> includes an identifier storage unit (a storage) <NUM>, a connection unit <NUM>, and a toner containing portion <NUM>.

The identifier storage unit <NUM> is configured by using a storage device such as a semiconductor memory device. The identifier storage unit <NUM> stores a cartridge identifier.

The connection unit <NUM> includes a communication interface for connecting the cartridge <NUM> to the image forming apparatus <NUM>. The connection unit <NUM> communicates with the image forming apparatus <NUM> via a communication line.

The toner containing portion <NUM> contains toner.

<FIG> is an external view illustrating the entire configuration example of the image forming apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus <NUM> is, for example, a multifunction peripheral. The image forming apparatus <NUM> includes a display <NUM>, a control panel <NUM>, an image forming unit <NUM>, a sheet containing portion <NUM>, and an image reading unit <NUM>. The image forming unit <NUM> of the image forming apparatus <NUM> may be an apparatus that fixes a toner image or may be an apparatus of an ink jet type.

The display <NUM> is an image display device such as a liquid crystal display, or an organic electro luminescence (EL) display. The display <NUM> displays various types of information relating to the image forming apparatus <NUM>.

The control panel <NUM> includes a plurality of buttons. The control panel <NUM> receives an operation of a user. The control panel <NUM> outputs a signal according to the operation performed by the user to a control unit of the image forming apparatus <NUM>. The display <NUM> and the control panel <NUM> may be configured as an integral touch panel.

The image forming unit <NUM> forms an image on a sheet, based on image information generated by the image reading unit <NUM> or image information received via the communication line. The image forming unit <NUM> forms an image through, for example, the following processing. The image forming portion of the image forming unit <NUM> forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductive drum, based on the image information. The image forming portion of the image forming unit <NUM> forms a visible image by attaching a developer to an electrostatic latent image. The toner is a specific example of the developer. A transfer unit of the image forming unit <NUM> transfers the visible image formed by the toner onto the sheet. A fixing unit of the image forming unit <NUM> heats and pressurizes a sheet to which the toner is transferred, thereby, fixing the visible image formed by the toner onto the sheet. The sheet on which an image is formed may be a sheet contained in the sheet containing portion204 or may be a sheet held by a hand.

The sheet containing portion <NUM> contains a sheet to be used for forming an image in the image forming unit <NUM>.

The image reading unit <NUM> reads image information to be read as light and dark of light. The image reading unit <NUM> records the read image information. The recorded image information may be transmitted to another information processing apparatus via a communication line such as a network. The recorded image information may be formed on the sheet by the image forming unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus <NUM> includes the display <NUM>, the control panel <NUM>, the image forming unit <NUM>, the sheet containing portion <NUM>, the image reading unit <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, a mounting portion <NUM>, a central processing unit (CPU) <NUM>, a random access memory (RAM) <NUM>, and an auxiliary storage device <NUM>, which are connected to each other by a bus. The CPU <NUM> reads a program stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> into the RAM <NUM> to execute the program, and thereby, the control unit <NUM> is generated. The control unit <NUM> controls the display <NUM>, the control panel <NUM>, the image forming unit <NUM>, the sheet containing portion <NUM>, the image reading unit <NUM>, the communication unit <NUM>, and the mounting portion <NUM>.

Hereinafter, elements having the same functions as the elements illustrated in <FIG> are denoted by the same reference numerals or symbols, and description thereof will be omitted.

The communication unit <NUM> includes a communication interface for connecting the image forming apparatus <NUM> to the management server <NUM> and an external device. The communication unit <NUM> communicates with the management server <NUM> and the external device via a communication line.

The mounting portion <NUM> includes a cartridge containing portion <NUM> and a connection unit <NUM>. The cartridge containing portion <NUM> includes an opening, and detachably contains the cartridge <NUM> inserted through the opening.

The connection unit <NUM> includes a communication interface for connecting the image forming apparatus <NUM> to the cartridge <NUM>. The connection unit <NUM> communicates with the cartridge <NUM> contained in the cartridge containing portion <NUM> via the communication line and the connection unit <NUM>.

The auxiliary storage device <NUM> is configured by using a nonvolatile memory device such as a magnetic hard disk device or a semiconductor memory device. The auxiliary storage device <NUM> stores mounting cartridge information and state information. The mounting cartridge information indicates a cartridge identifier of the cartridge <NUM> mounted in the image forming apparatus <NUM>. The state information indicates a state relating to image formation performed by the image forming apparatus <NUM>. Specifically, the state information indicates one of a possible state, a temporary possible state and an impossible state. The possible state is a state in which an image can be formed by the image forming apparatus <NUM>. The image forming apparatus <NUM> in a state where an image can be formed forms an image if an instruction to form an image is input to the image forming apparatus <NUM>. The temporarily possible state is a state where image formation performed by the image forming apparatus <NUM> is possible for a predetermined period of time. The impossible state is a state where image formation performed by the image forming apparatus <NUM> is impossible. The image forming apparatus <NUM> in a state where an image cannot be formed does not form an image even if the instruction to form an image is input to the image forming apparatus <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a functional configuration of a main part of the image forming apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus <NUM> includes an exchange detection unit <NUM>, an identifier acquisition unit <NUM>, an authentication information determination unit <NUM>, and an image formation control unit <NUM>.

The exchange detection unit <NUM> detects that the cartridge <NUM> is previously contained in the cartridge containing portion <NUM>. The exchange detection unit <NUM> is an electronic circuit which is electrically connected to the connection unit <NUM> and includes an electronic component that satisfies a predetermined condition. The electrical connection may be not only a wired connection but also a wireless connection. The predetermined condition is a condition in which a predetermined voltage or current is applied to an electronic component, if the connection unit <NUM> is electrically connected to the connection unit <NUM>. The exchange detection unit <NUM> generates a connection signal if the predetermined voltage or current is applied to an electronic component satisfying a predetermined condition. The connection signal indicates that the cartridge <NUM> is connected to the image forming apparatus <NUM>. The exchange detection unit <NUM> may not be limited to an electronic circuit, and may be an electric circuit or an optical circuit.

The identifier acquisition unit <NUM> acquires the cartridge identifier stored in the identifier storage unit <NUM> via the connection unit <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>. The identifier acquisition unit <NUM> compares the cartridge identifier indicated by the mounting cartridge information previously stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> with the acquired cartridge identifier. If two identifiers do not coincide with each other, the identifier acquisition unit <NUM> transmits the cartridge identifier obtained via the connection unit <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> to the management server <NUM>. In addition, if the two identifiers do not coincide with each other, the identifier acquisition unit <NUM> overwrites the cartridge identifier obtained via the connection unit <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> onto the cartridge identifier which is stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> and is indicated by the mounting cartridge information. In addition, the identifier acquisition unit <NUM> overwrites a value indicating the impossible sate onto a value of the state information stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM>.

The authentication information determination unit <NUM> acquires authentication information transmitted by the management server <NUM> via the communication unit <NUM>, and determines a state indicated by the acquired authentication information. Specifically, the authentication information determination unit <NUM> determines which one of a permission instruction, a temporary permission instruction, and a prohibition instruction is indicated by the acquired authentication information.

The authentication information determination unit <NUM> overwrites a value corresponding to the determination result onto a value of the state information stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM>. Specifically, if the authentication information indicates the permission instruction, the authentication information determination unit <NUM> overwrites a value indicating the possible state onto the value of the state information. If the authentication information indicates the temporary permission instruction, the authentication information determination unit <NUM> overwrites a value indicating the temporary possible state onto the value of the state information. If the authentication information indicates the non-permission instruction, the authentication information determination unit <NUM> overwrites a value indicating the impossible state onto the value of the state information.

The image formation control unit <NUM> controls the image forming unit <NUM>, based on the state information stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a hardware configuration of the management server <NUM> according to the first embodiment. The management server <NUM> includes a central processing unit (CPU) <NUM>, a random access memory (RAM) <NUM>, an auxiliary storage device <NUM>, and a communication unit <NUM> which are connected to each other by a bus. The CPU <NUM> reads a program stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> into the RAM <NUM> to execute the program, and thereby, the control unit <NUM> is generated. The control unit <NUM> controls the communication unit <NUM>.

The auxiliary storage device <NUM> is configured by using a nonvolatile memory device such as a magnetic hard disk device or a semiconductor memory device. The auxiliary storage device <NUM> stores the cartridge identifier.

The communication unit <NUM> includes a communication interface for connecting the management server <NUM> to the image forming apparatus <NUM>. The communication unit <NUM> communicates with the image forming apparatus <NUM> via a communication line.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a functional configuration of a main part of the management server <NUM> according to the first embodiment.

The management server <NUM> includes an identifier information acquisition unit <NUM>, an identifier determination unit <NUM>, an authentication information generation unit <NUM>, an authentication information transmission unit <NUM>, and a time determination unit <NUM>.

The identifier information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires the identifier information transmitted by the image forming apparatus <NUM> via the communication unit <NUM>.

The identifier determination unit <NUM> performs genuine product determining. The genuine product determining determines whether or not the cartridge identifier indicated by the identifier information acquired by the identifier information acquisition unit <NUM> is a cartridge identifier of a genuine product.

The authentication information generation unit <NUM> generates any one of authentication information indicating a permission instruction, authentication information indicating a temporary permission instruction, and authentication information indicating a prohibition instruction, based on the determination result of the identifier determination unit <NUM>. If a determination result of the identifier determination unit <NUM> is not a cartridge identifier of a genuine product, the authentication information generation unit <NUM> generates the authentication information indicating the temporary permission instruction. If the authentication information indicating the temporary permission instruction is generated, the authentication information generation unit <NUM> generates the authentication information indicating the prohibition instruction when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

The authentication information transmission unit <NUM> acquires the authentication information generated by the authentication information generation unit <NUM>, and transmits the authentication information generated by the authentication information generation unit <NUM> to the image forming apparatus <NUM> via the communication unit <NUM>.

The time determination unit <NUM> determines whether or not a predetermined time elapses after the authentication information indicating the temporary permission instruction is generated.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a flow of processing when the cartridge in the image forming system <NUM> according to the first embodiment is exchanged.

The exchange detection unit <NUM> detects that the cartridge <NUM> is contained in the cartridge containing portion <NUM> (ACT <NUM>). The exchange detection unit <NUM> transmits a connection signal to the identifier acquisition unit <NUM>. The identifier acquisition unit <NUM> in which the connection signal is acquired reads a cartridge identifier from the identifier storage unit <NUM> included in the cartridge (ACT <NUM>). The identifier acquisition unit <NUM> does not transmit a signal indicating that the cartridge identifier is acquired to the cartridge <NUM>. The identifier acquisition unit <NUM> sets the value of the state information stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> to the value indicating the impossible state. The image formation control unit <NUM> acquires the value of the state information stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> and shifts to the impossible state (ACT <NUM>). The identifier acquisition unit <NUM> transmits the identifier information indicating the cartridge identifier to the management server <NUM> (ACT <NUM>). The identifier information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires the identifier information transmitted by the identifier acquisition unit <NUM> (ACT <NUM>). The identifier determination unit <NUM> performs genuine product determining for the cartridge identifier indicated by the acquired identifier information. By performing the genuine product determining (a first determination), the identifier determination unit <NUM> determines whether or not the cartridge identifier indicated by the identifier information is the cartridge identifier of a genuine product (ACT <NUM>). If the cartridge identifier indicated by the identifier information is the cartridge identifier of a genuine product (ACT <NUM>: YES), the authentication information generation unit <NUM> generates the authentication information indicating the permission instruction (ACT <NUM>). The authentication information transmission unit <NUM> transmits the authentication information indicating the permission instruction to the image forming apparatus <NUM> (ACT <NUM>). The authentication information determination unit <NUM> of the image forming apparatus <NUM> acquires the authentication information transmitted by the authentication information transmission unit <NUM> in the ACT <NUM> (ACT <NUM>). The authentication information determination unit <NUM> determines which of the permission instruction, the temporary permission instruction, and the prohibition instruction is indicated by the acquired authentication information (ACT <NUM>). If the authentication information indicates the permission instruction (ACT <NUM>: permission instruction), the authentication information determination unit <NUM> overwrites the value indicating the possible state onto the value of the state information stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM>. The image formation control unit <NUM> acquires the value of the state information stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> and shifts to the possible state (ACT <NUM>).

Meanwhile, in ACT <NUM>, if the cartridge identifier indicated by the identifier information is not the cartridge identifier of a genuine product (ACT <NUM>: NO), the authentication information generation unit <NUM> generates the authentication information indicating the temporary permission instruction (ACT <NUM>). The authentication information transmission unit <NUM> transmits the authentication information indicating the temporary permission instruction to the image forming apparatus <NUM> (ACT <NUM>). The authentication information determination unit <NUM> of the image forming apparatus <NUM> acquires the authentication information transmitted by the authentication information transmission unit <NUM> in the ACT <NUM> (ACT <NUM>). The authentication information determination unit <NUM> determines which of the permission instruction, the temporary permission instruction, and the prohibition instruction is indicated by the acquired authentication information (ACT <NUM>). If the authentication information indicates the temporary permission instruction (ACT <NUM>: temporary permission instruction), the authentication information determination unit <NUM> overwrites the value indicating the temporary possible state onto the value of the state information stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM>. The image formation control unit <NUM> acquires the value of the state information stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> and shifts to the temporarily possible state (ACT <NUM>).

In the ACT <NUM>, after the authentication information generation unit <NUM> generates the authentication information indicating the temporary permission instruction, the time determination unit <NUM> periodically performs elapse time determining (a second determination). The elapse time determining determines whether or not a predetermined time elapses after the authentication information indicating the temporary permission instruction is generated (ACT <NUM>). If it is determined that the predetermined time elapsed as a result of the elapse time determining (ACT <NUM>: YES), the authentication information generation unit <NUM> generates the authentication information indicating the prohibition instruction (ACT <NUM>). Next, the authentication information transmission unit <NUM> transmits the authentication information indicating the prohibition instruction (ACT <NUM>). When it is determined that the predetermined time does not elapse as the result of the elapse time determination process (ACT <NUM>: NO), the elapse time determining is periodically repeated thereafter. The authentication information determination unit <NUM> of the image forming apparatus <NUM> acquires the authentication information transmitted by the authentication information transmission unit <NUM> in the ACT <NUM> (ACT <NUM>). The authentication information determination unit <NUM> determines which of the permission instruction, the temporary permission instruction, and the prohibition instruction is indicated by the acquired authentication information (ACT <NUM>). If the authentication information indicates the prohibition instruction (ACT <NUM>: prohibition instruction), the authentication information determination unit <NUM> overwrites a value indicating the impossible state onto the value of the state information stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM>. The image formation control unit <NUM> shifts to the impossible state (ACT <NUM>).

The image forming system <NUM> configured as described above can form an image using the image forming apparatus <NUM> within a predetermined period, even if the cartridge <NUM> is not a genuine product. Accordingly, the image forming system <NUM> configured as described above can maintain image quality and prevent the image forming apparatus from failing, and can improve convenience of a user.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific system configuration of an image forming system 100a according to a second embodiment. Hereinafter, functional units having the same functions as the functional units illustrated in <FIG> are denoted by the same reference numerals or symbols, and description thereof will be omitted.

The image forming system 100a is different from the image forming system <NUM> in that a management server 3a is provided instead of the management server <NUM>.

The management server 3a manages the image forming apparatus <NUM>. The management server 3a receives the identifier information transmitted by the image forming apparatus <NUM> and manages the image forming apparatus <NUM>, based on the cartridge identifier indicated by the received identifier information. The management server 3a acquires the identifier information and generates authentication information corresponding to the identifier information. The management server 3a controls image formation performed by the image forming apparatus <NUM> by transmitting the authentication information to the image forming apparatus <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a hardware configuration of the management server 3a according to the second embodiment. The management server 3a is different from the management server <NUM> in that an auxiliary storage device 303a is provided instead of the auxiliary storage device <NUM> and the control unit 30a is provided instead of the control unit <NUM>. Hereinafter, functional units having the same functions as the functional units illustrated in <FIG> are denoted by the same reference numerals or symbols, and description thereof will be omitted.

The auxiliary storage device 303a is different from the auxiliary storage device <NUM> in that authenticated genuine product information is further stored in addition to the cartridge identifier of a genuine product. The authenticated genuine product information indicates the cartridge <NUM> in which authenticating is previously performed by the management server <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the authenticated genuine product information, according to the second embodiment. The authenticated genuine product information is stored in the auxiliary storage device 303a as, for example, an authenticated genuine product information table <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. The authenticated genuine product information table <NUM> includes records for each "registration ID". Each record includes each value of a "registration ID" and an "authentication situation". The "registration ID" indicates a cartridge identifier of a genuine product. The "authentication situation" indicates whether or not the cartridge <NUM> is previously used. The "authentication situation" includes values indicating "authenticated" and "non-authentication". The "authenticated" indicates that authenticating for the cartridge identifier of the cartridge <NUM> indicated by the "registration ID" is previously performed. The "non-authentication" indicates that the authenticating for the cartridge identifier of the cartridge <NUM> indicated by the "registration ID" is not performed. A record <NUM> indicates that the authenticating for the cartridge identifier of the cartridge <NUM> whose cartridge identifier is "AA1" is previously performed.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a functional configuration of a main part of the management server 3a, according to the second embodiment. Hereinafter, functional units having the same functions as the functional units illustrated in <FIG> are denoted by the same reference numerals or symbols, and description thereof will be omitted.

The management server 3a is different from the identifier determination unit <NUM> in that an identifier determination unit 32a is included instead of the identifier determination unit <NUM>. The identifier determination unit 32a performs genuine product determining and authenticated determining. The authenticated determining determines whether or not the cartridge identifier is an identifier for which the authenticating is previously performed.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a flow of processing when the cartridge in the image forming system 100a according to the second embodiment is exchanged. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals or symbols are attached to the same processing as the processing illustrated in <FIG>, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Processing of <FIG> is different from the processing of <FIG> in that processing of ACT <NUM> and ACT <NUM> is included.

In ACT <NUM>, if the cartridge identifier indicated by the identifier information is a cartridge identifier of a genuine product (ACT <NUM>: YES), the identifier determination unit 32a performs the authenticated determining (ACT <NUM>). By performing the authenticated determining, the identifier determination unit 32a determines whether or not a target identifier is a cartridge identifier for which the authenticating is previously performed. The target identifier is the cartridge identifier acquired in ACT <NUM>. Specifically, the identifier determination unit 32a refers to the authenticated genuine product information table <NUM> stored in the auxiliary storage device 303a. The identifier determination unit 32a selects a record in which the "registration ID" in the authenticated genuine product information table <NUM> is an example of a target identifier. The identifier determination unit 32a acquires a value indicated by the "authentication situation" of the selected record. If the acquired value is a value indicating the "authenticated", the identifier determination unit 32a determines that the target identifier is the cartridge identifier for which the authenticating is already performed. If the acquired value is a value indicating the "non-authentication", the identifier determination unit 32a determines that the target identifier is a cartridge identifier for which the authenticating is not performed yet. In ACT <NUM>, if the determination result indicates that the target identifier is not the cartridge identifier for which the authenticating is previously performed (ACT <NUM>: NO), the identifier determination unit 32a records the target identifier in the auxiliary storage device 303a as an authenticated identifier (ACT <NUM>). Specifically, the identifier determination unit 32a selects a record in which the "registration ID" in the authenticated genuine product information table <NUM> is the target identifier. The identifier determination unit 32a sets the value indicated by the "authentication situation" of the selected record to the value indicating the "authenticated".

Meanwhile, in ACT <NUM>, if the determination result indicates that the target identifier is the cartridge identifier for which the authenticating is previously performed (ACT <NUM>: YES), the processing of ACT <NUM> is performed.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific system configuration of an image forming system 100b according to a third embodiment. Hereinafter, functional units having the same functions as the functional units illustrated in <FIG> are denoted by the same reference numerals or symbols, and description thereof will be omitted.

The image forming system 100b is different from the image forming system <NUM> in that an image forming apparatus 2b is provided instead of the image forming apparatus <NUM> and a management server 3b is provided instead of the management server <NUM>.

The image forming apparatus 2b forms an image using toner supplied by the cartridge <NUM>. The image forming apparatus 2b acquires a cartridge identifier for identifying the cartridge <NUM>. The image forming apparatus 2b transmits the acquired identifier information to the management server 3b.

The management server 3b manages the image forming apparatus 2b. The management server 3b receives the identifier information transmitted by the image forming apparatus 2b and manages the image forming apparatus 2b, based on the cartridge identifier indicated by the received identifier information. The management server 3b acquires the identifier information, performs authenticating, and generates authentication information corresponding to results of the processing.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 2b according to the third embodiment. The image forming apparatus 2b is different from the image forming apparatus <NUM> in that a use amount acquisition unit <NUM> is included. Hereinafter, elements having the same functions as the elements illustrated in <FIG> are denoted by the same reference numerals or symbols, and description thereof will be omitted.

The use amount acquisition unit <NUM> acquires the amount of use, which is caused by forming an image, of an object used when an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 2b. The object which is used by image formation performed by the image forming apparatus 2b is, for example, a sheet on which an image is formed. In this case, the use amount acquisition unit <NUM> acquires the number of sheets used for forming the image. In addition, the object used by image formation performed by the image forming apparatus 2b is, for example, toner. In this case, the use amount acquisition unit <NUM> acquires the amount of toner used for forming the image.

Hereinafter, description will be made by assuming that the use amount acquisition unit <NUM> acquires the number of sheets used for forming an image, for the sake of simplicity.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a hardware configuration of the management server 3b according to the third embodiment. The management server 3b is different from the management server <NUM> in that a control unit 30b is provided instead of the control unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a functional configuration of the management server 3b according to the third embodiment. The management server 3b is different from the management server <NUM> in that an authentication information generation unit 33b is provided instead of the authentication information generation unit <NUM> and a use amount determination unit <NUM> is provided instead of the time determination unit <NUM>.

The use amount determination unit <NUM> determines whether or not the number of sheets acquired by the use amount acquisition unit <NUM> after the image forming apparatus <NUM> acquires authentication information indicating the temporary permission instruction is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

The authentication information generation unit 33b generates authentication information indicating one of a permission instruction, a temporary permission instruction, and a prohibition instruction, based on the determination result of the identifier determination unit <NUM> and the determination result of the use amount determination unit <NUM>. If a determination result of the genuine product determining performed by the identifier determination unit <NUM> indicates that the target identifier is not the cartridge identifier of a genuine product, the authentication information generation unit 33b generates authentication information indicating the temporary permission instruction. After the authentication information indicating the temporary permission instruction is generated, when the determination result of the use amount determination unit <NUM> indicates the result indicating that the number of sheets is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the authentication information generation unit 33b generates the authentication information indicating the prohibition instruction.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a flow of processing when a cartridge in the image forming system 100b according to the third embodiment is exchanged. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals or symbols are attached to the same processing as the processing of <FIG>, and description thereof will be omitted.

The processing of <FIG> is different from the processing of <FIG> in that processing of ACT <NUM> is provided instead of the processing of ACT <NUM>.

In ACT <NUM>, the use amount determination unit <NUM> determines whether or not the number of sheets is greater than a predetermined threshold value. If the number of sheets is larger than the predetermined threshold value (ACT <NUM>: YES), the processing proceeds to ACT <NUM>. If the number of sheets is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value (ACT <NUM>: NO), the processing of the ACT <NUM> is periodically repeated thereafter.

Transmission and reception of the cartridge identifier, the identifier information, and the authentication information in the image forming system <NUM>, 100a or 100b may be performed by being encrypted using a random number. The encryption using the random number may be, for example, a stream encryption.

The cartridge identifier of a genuine product may be an identifier represented by a predetermined mathematical expression. In this case, the cartridge identifiers of a genuine product need not be registered one by one in the auxiliary storage devices <NUM> and 303a in advance, and a mathematical expression indicating the cartridge identifier may be registered.

The identifier determination unit <NUM> or 32a may perform the following invalid identifier recording in ACT <NUM> of a flow of processing in <FIG> or <FIG>. The invalid identifier recording records the cartridge identifier of the cartridge <NUM> which is a non-genuine product in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> or 303a as an identifier of a non-genuine product. The non-genuine product is the cartridges <NUM> which is not a genuine product. Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, a case where the identifier determination unit 32a performs the invalid identifier recording in the image forming system 100a according to the second embodiment will be described.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a flow of processing when a cartridge in the image forming system 100a according to the modification example is exchanged. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals or symbols are attached to the same processing as the processing of <FIG>, and description thereof will be omitted.

Processing of <FIG> is different from the processing of <FIG> in that ACT <NUM> is provided. In ACT <NUM>, if the target identifier is not the cartridge identifier of a genuine product (ACT <NUM>: NO), the identifier determination unit 32a performs the invalid identifier recording (ACT <NUM>).

All or a part of the respective functions of the image forming apparatuses <NUM> and 2b do not or does not need to be included in one case. All or a part of the respective functions of the image forming apparatuses <NUM> and 2b may be included in, for example, the management servers <NUM>, 3a, and 3b.

All or a part of the respective functions of the management servers <NUM>, 3a, and 3b do not or does not need to be included in one case. All or a part of the respective functions of the management servers <NUM>, 3a, and 3b may be included in, for example, the image forming apparatuses <NUM> and 2b.

The identifier determination units <NUM> and 32a are examples of a first determination unit. The time determination unit <NUM> and the use amount determination unit <NUM> are examples of a second determination unit. The identifier information acquisition unit <NUM> is an example of an acquisition unit. The auxiliary storage devices <NUM> and 303a are examples of a storage unit.

All or a part of the respective functions of the cartridge <NUM>, the image forming apparatuses <NUM> and 2b, and the management servers <NUM>, 3a, and 3b may be realized by using hardware such as an application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). A program may be recorded on a computer readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium may be a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, or a CD-ROM, or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. A program may be transmitted via an electric communication line.

According to at least one embodiment described above, the image forming systems <NUM>, 100a, and 100b enable image formation performed by the image forming apparatus <NUM> or 2b even if the cartridge <NUM> is not a genuine product. Accordingly, the image forming system <NUM> configured as described above can maintain image quality and prevent the image forming apparatus from failing, and can improve convenience of a user.

Claim 1:
An image forming system (<NUM>) comprising:
an image forming unit (<NUM>) configured to form an image by using toner supplied by a toner cartridge (<NUM>);
an acquisition unit (<NUM>) configured to acquire identification information from the toner cartridge;
a first determination unit (<NUM>) configured to determine whether or not the toner cartridge satisfies a first condition, based on the identification information;
a second determination unit (<NUM>) configured to determine whether or not a second condition is satisfied when a determination result of the first determination unit indicates that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the first condition;
an authentication information generation unit (<NUM>) configured to:
generate an authentication information indicating permission instruction to permit the image forming unit to form an image, when the determination result of the first determination unit indicates that the toner cartridge satisfies the first condition,
generate an authentication information indicating temporary permission instruction to temporarily permit the image forming unit to form an image, when the determination result of the first determination unit indicates that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the first condition, and
generate an authentication information indicating prohibition instruction to prohibit the image forming unit to form an image, when the determination result of the second determination unit indicates that the second condition is satisfied after generating the authentication information indicating temporary permission instruction;
an authentication information determination unit (<NUM>) configured to acquire the generated authentication information and store state information corresponding to the authentication information in a storage device (<NUM>);
a controller (<NUM>) configured to control the image forming unit based on the stored state information
wherein the first condition is that the cartridge is a genuine product,
wherein the second condition is that a predetermined period has elapsed, and
wherein the temporary permission instruction is to permit the image forming unit to form an image only for the predetermined period when the determination result of the first determination unit indicates that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the first condition.