Patent ID: 7854383

Claim:
A printing system comprising: an image forming apparatus; and a server configured to store management information relevant to an identifier to be printed at the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises: an interface configured to receive print data from an external apparatus; a scanner configured to scan an original; an operation unit configured to input a required number of copies of the original to be made by the scanner; a storing device configured to store the print data received at the interface, and image data of the original scanned by the scanner; an identifier processing unit, configured to function in at least a first and second mode, wherein in the first mode when the print data from the storing device is output by the image forming apparatus, the identifier processing unit is configured to generate and print a first identifier on the original to be output and to transmit the first identifier to the server, and wherein in the second mode when an identifier image corresponding to the first identifier is detected from image data of the original scanned by the scanner, the identifier processing unit is configured to obtain information from the server on whether or not an image to which the first identifier is associated is allowed to be copied, and when copying is allowed, to generate and print a second identifier on a copy and transmit the second identifier to the server; and an image forming unit, when the print data is output, configured to form image data of the print data and a first identifier image corresponding to the first identifier on the original, and when the scanned image data is output, is configured to form the image data and a second identifier image corresponding to the second identifier on the copy, wherein, the server, when the print data is output, is configured to set information on the allowable number of copies of the original to be made, by association with the first identifier, and wherein the server, when an original including the first identifier is copied, is configured to determine whether or not copying is allowable based on information on the allowable number of copies and a required number of copies, and wherein the server prohibits the image forming apparatus from copying when copying is determined as disallowable, and upon determining copying as allowable and performing the copying, the server is configured to reduce the number allowable copies associated with the first identifier based on the required number of copies and to sets the printing of the second identifier to the copy sheet indicating copying of the copy sheet is disallowable.