Patent ID: 8867059

Claim:
An image forming apparatus for receiving authentication print data and performing a printing operation, comprising: a print administration unit for printing the authentication print data when individual identification information matches to identification information of a print data administrator of the authentication print data; a server unit for providing a service relative to an instruction from an external operation unit through a network; an authentication unit for controlling the server unit to be capable of providing the service after a user of the external operation unit is authenticated; and a notification transmission unit for transmitting a notice through the network, wherein said authentication unit is configured to authenticate the user of the external operation unit and obtain the individual identification information, said server unit is configured to control the external operation unit to display the authentication print data to be selectable, and to control the external operation unit to display a first screen through which identification information of an authority transferred person, to whom administrative authority of the authentication print data is transferred, can be input when the individual identification information related to the user of the external operation unit matches to the identification information of the print data administrator of the authentication print data, said print administration unit is configured to correlate the identification information of the print data administrator of the authentication print data selected through the external operation unit to the identification information of the authority transferred person selected through the external operation unit, said notification transmission unit is configured to transmit a first notification to the authority transferred person rewritten to the print data administrator and a print data creating person when the print data administrator of the authentication print data is correlated, and said print administration unit is configured to correlate the identification information of the print data administrator of the authentication print data selected through the external operation unit to the identification information of the authority transferred person selected through the external operation unit when the identification information of the authority transferred person is input through the external operation unit after the print administration unit invalidates a correlation of a previous authority transferred person as the print data administrator of the authentication print data correlated before the identification information of the authority transferred person is input.