Patent ID: 8312527

Claim:
An image forming apparatus communicably connected to a directory server that comprises a directory service part and a ticket service part, the image forming apparatus comprising: a reading unit, configured to read card information stored in a card; a login information memory unit, configured to store data based on the read card information as first login information including at least user identification information and a password, which are required for issuance of an authentication ticket by the ticket service part; an operation unit, configured to accept input information obtained from an input operation by a user as second login information including at least user identification information and a password; a ticket request unit, configured to request an authentication ticket from the ticket service part using (a) the first login information stored in said login information memory unit when card authentication is to be performed, and (b) the second login information when input authentication is to be performed, wherein the authentication ticket indicates verification of authenticity of the first login information or the second login information; an authentication request unit, configured to request authentication by the directory service part with the authentication ticket obtained by said ticket request unit; a search request unit, configured to, when the authentication requested by said authentication request unit is successful, (a) send the card information to the directory service part and request a search for user management information in the case of the card authentication, and (b) send the input information to the directory service part and request a search for user management information in the case of the input authentication; and a setting unit, configured to set the user management information searched for by said search request unit as information for logging in to the image forming apparatus, wherein the logging in to the image forming apparatus is performed with (a) the user management information searched for based on the card information in the case of the card authentication, and (b) the user management information searched for based on the input information in the case of the input authentication.