Patent ID: 8248633

Claim:
An image forming apparatus having a function to store a job therein and to execute the job in accordance with a command, the image forming apparatus comprising: a determination portion that, in response to operation for giving instructions to enhance a security level of the image forming apparatus, determines job stored includes a job that is not to satisfy security requirements after the security level is enhanced; an execution portion that, if the determination portion determines that there is a job that is not to satisfy the security requirements, performs predetermined processing for satisfying the security requirements of the image forming apparatus with execution of the job ensured in the subject apparatus or another device; and a security mode switching portion that, if the determination portion determines that there is a job that is not to satisfy the security requirements, enhances the security level after the execution portion finishes the predetermined processing, and, if the determination portion determines that there is no job that is not to satisfy the security requirements, enhances the security level promptly; wherein the predetermined processing is at least one of the following processes: a process for encrypting data contained in the job, attaching the data to an electronic mail message to be sent to a user who has issued the job to send the data, and deleting the job after sending the data; a process for transferring the job from the image forming apparatus to another device that is configured to execute and store said job therein, and deleting the job after the transfer; and a process for storing the job in a storage portion for an administrator to set a password for the storage portion or to encrypt the job to be stored by using a password, and the security requirements are at least any one of the following: a password satisfying predetermined regulations; presence of background pattern setting; a document satisfying a predetermined confidentiality level; and settings for user authority for using a stored job function.