Authentication system having an authentication apparatus including an authentication unit configured to search records of identification information associated with group information to find matching identification information matching obtained identification information of a user, authentication method, and apparatus

1. An authentication system, comprising:

an apparatus; and

an authentication apparatus configured to perform authentication of a user of the apparatus,

wherein the apparatus includes

an identification information obtaining unit configured to obtain identification information of the user,

an authentication requesting unit configured to send the obtained identification information and group information indicating a group to which the user belongs to the authentication apparatus to request authentication of the user, and

a display unit configured to display a user information input screen based on a result of the authentication,

a second authentication unit configured to compare user information entered by the user via the user information input screen with user information sent from the authentication apparatus to authenticate the user, and

wherein the authentication apparatus includes a first authentication unit configured to search records of identification information associated with the group information to find matching identification information matching the obtained identification information of the user, and

wherein the display unit is configured to display the user information input screen when the obtained identification information of the user matches the identification information of plural users among the records of identification information.

2. The authentication system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the apparatus further includes

a group information obtaining unit configured to obtain sets of group information registered in the authentication apparatus; and

a group selection screen display unit configured to display a group selection screen based on the obtained sets of group information,

wherein the authentication requesting unit is configured to send the group information that is selected by the user on the group selection screen to the authentication apparatus together with the identification information.

3. The authentication system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the identification information is biometric information of the user.

4. The authentication system as claimed in claim 3 ,

wherein the authentication apparatus further includes

a biometric information storing unit configured to store records of biometric information of users; and

a reporting unit configured to send, to the apparatus, a result of the authentication determined based on a number of records of matching biometric information in the biometric information storing unit whose matching rates with the obtained biometric information satisfy a predetermined condition and user information of the users corresponding to the records of matching biometric information.

5. The authentication system as claimed in claim 3 ,

wherein the authentication apparatus further includes

a biometric information storing unit configured to store records of biometric information of users, and

a reporting unit configured to send, to the apparatus, user information of the users corresponding to records of matching biometric information in the biometric information storing unit whose matching rates with the obtained biometric information satisfy a predetermined condition together with the predetermined condition; and

wherein the apparatus further includes an authentication result determining unit configured to determine a result of the authentication based on a number of the records of matching biometric information indicated by the user information received from the reporting unit.

6. The authentication system as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising:

a second authentication apparatus,

wherein the authentication apparatus further includes

a biometric information storing unit configured to store records of biometric information of users, and

a reporting unit configured to send, to the second authentication apparatus, user information of the users corresponding to records of matching biometric information in the biometric information storing unit whose matching rates with the obtained biometric information satisfy a predetermined condition together with the predetermined condition; and

wherein the second authentication apparatus includes a result reporting unit configured to

determine a result of the authentication based on a number of the records of matching biometric information indicated by the user information received from the reporting unit, and

send the result of the authentication and the user information to the apparatus.

7. The authentication system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the

second authentication unit configured to compare user information entered by the user via the user information input screen and the user information sent from the second authentication apparatus to authenticate the user.

8. The authentication system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

an identification information reading device connected to the apparatus,

wherein the identification information obtaining unit is configured to obtain the identification information of the user via the identification information reading device.

9. The authentication system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the authentication apparatus is located in an organization that is different from an organization where the apparatus is located.

10. The authentication system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the group information identifies the organization where the apparatus is located.

11. A method of performing user authentication for an authentication system including an apparatus and an authentication apparatus, the method comprising:

obtaining, by the apparatus, identification information of a user of the apparatus;

sending, by the apparatus, the obtained identification information and group information indicating a group to which the user belongs to the authentication apparatus to request authentication of the user;

displaying, by a display unit, a user information input screen based on a result of the authentication,

comparing, by a second authentication unit, user information entered by the user via the user information input screen with user information sent from the authentication apparatus to authenticate the user,

searching, by a first authentication apparatus, records of identification information associated with the group information to find matching identification information matching the obtained identification information of the user, and

displaying, by the display unit, the user information input screen when the obtained identification information of the user matches the identification information of plural users among the records of identification information.

12. An apparatus connected to an authentication apparatus in an authentication system, said authentication apparatus having a first authentication unit configured to search records of identification information associated with group information to find matching identification information matching identification information of a user, the apparatus comprising:

an identification information obtaining unit configured to obtain the identification information of the user of the apparatus;

a group information obtaining unit configured to obtain sets of group information registered in the authentication apparatus;

a group selection screen display unit configured to display a group selection screen based on the obtained sets of group information;

an authentication requesting unit configured to send group information selected by the user on the group selection screen and the obtained identification information to the authentication apparatus to request authentication of the user,

a display unit configured to display a user information input screen based on a result of the authentication, and

a second authentication unit configured to compare user information entered by the user via the user information input screen with user information sent from the authentication apparatus to authenticate the user,

wherein the display unit is configured to display the user information input screen when the obtained identification information of the user matches the identification information of plural users among the records of identification information.