Patent ID: 7612920

Claim:
A multifunction image forming apparatus comprising: a document storing unit which stores document information including at least one of a copied document, a scanner read document, and an e-mailed document; a usage frequency information storing unit which stores usage frequency information of the documents which are stored; an authorized person authentication information storing unit which stores authentication information concerning the authorized person who has authority for searching a document stored in said document storing unit; an operator authentication information input unit configured to input authentication information concerning the operator; a determining unit which matches authentication information concerning the operator, obtained by said operator authentication information input unit, against authentication information concerning an authorized person stored in said authorized person authentication information storing unit, and determines whether the operator is an authorized person; a searching unit which searches the usage frequency information, in a case where it is determined by said determining unit that the operator is an authorized person; and a displaying unit which displays information concerning documents searched by said searching unit, in an order of high usage frequency of the documents.