Patent ID: 8151362

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a user authentication part executing authentication of a user; a function enabling part enabling at least one function available for a first user based on authority of the first user set in advance when authentication of the first user executed by said user authentication part results in success; and a function extending part extending at least one function available for the first user by adding authority set in advance for a second user in addition to authority of the first user when authentication of the second user executed by said user authentication part results in success with at least one function available for the first user being enabled, wherein said function extending part specifies additional authority for authority of the first user corresponding to the status of the image forming apparatus at time of authentication of the second user executed by said user authentication part, and adds the specified authority of authority set in advance for the second user, wherein the status of the image forming apparatus includes fax, copy, print and scan.