Patent ID: 8640254

Claim:
A process execution apparatus comprising: a first input unit that is configured to receive an instruction from a user; an image forming unit that is configured to execute a process according to the instruction; a database memory including a record, wherein the record includes a user name and a phone number associated with the user name; a communication unit that is configured to make a call to a terminal device using a phone number; a controller that is coupled to the first input unit, the image forming unit, the database memory and the communication unit, wherein the controller includes a processing unit; and memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the controller to perform the steps of: detecting that a user name has been selected via the first input unit; retrieving a phone number associated with the user name from the database memory; causing the communication unit to make a call to a terminal device having the retrieved phone number responsive to the controller detecting that the user name has been selected; detecting whether the communication unit has received a signal indicating that the communication unit is successfully coupled to the terminal device having the retrieved phone number, wherein the signal is generated in response to the terminal device, which has the retrieved phone number, receiving the call from the communication unit and connecting to the call; determining whether authentication by user name is successful including determining that authentication by user name is successful and causing the image forming unit to execute the process in response to the communication unit receiving the signal indicating that the communication unit is successfully coupled to the terminal device having the retrieved phone number; and determining that authentication by user name is unsuccessful and not causing the image forming unit to execute the process when the controller does not detect that the communication unit receives the signal indicating that the communication unit is successfully coupled to the terminal device having the retrieved phone number; causing execution of authentication by password when authentication by user name is determined to be unsuccessful; and causing the image forming unit to execute the process when authentication by password is successful.