Patent ID: 8711385

Claim:
An image forming apparatus connectable with an authorization apparatus via a communications network, the image forming apparatus comprising: an apparatus control section configured to control an image forming section based on a processable number of sheets that an image forming process can be performed, to limit execution of an image forming job, the processable number of sheets being set by the authorization apparatus; an initial inquiry section configured to transmit, in executing the job, initial condition information related to a process to be performed to a first page of the job, to inquire the processable number of sheets in a case where the process is performed based on the initial condition information; a change detection section configured to detect a change in condition information while the job is being executed; and a re-inquiry section configured to transmit, to the authorization apparatus, (i) a changed condition information and (ii) information of the number of sheets being processed based on a current condition information prior to the change in condition information, each time the change in condition information is detected by the change detection section, to inquire a processable number of sheets in a case where the process is performed based on the changed condition information, the apparatus control section starting execution of the job upon obtaining the processable number of sheets as a result of inquiring with the initial inquiry section, and in a case where, while the job is executed, a processed number of sheets meets the processable number of sheets that is approved for performing the process based on the current condition information, the apparatus control section forbidding the image forming apparatus to perform the process to a new recording sheet and stopping the job.