Information processing system, information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, methods for controlling the same, and storage medium

1. An information processing system that includes an image forming apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and a relay server,

the information processing apparatus comprising:

a memory device that stores a set of first instructions;

a display unit; and

at least one processor that executes the first instructions to:

make a request to the relay server to obtain a first session ID for communicating with the image forming apparatus via the relay server and temporary authentication information, and

display the obtained temporary authentication information on the display unit,

the image forming apparatus comprising:

a memory device that stores a set of second instructions; and

at least one processor that executes the second instructions to:

accept the temporary authentication information via user input, and

make a request to the relay server using the accepted temporary authentication information to obtain access destination information corresponding to the temporary authentication information and a second session ID for communicating with the information processing apparatus via the relay server, and

the relay server comprising:

a memory device that stores a set of third instructions; and

at least one processor that executes the third instructions to:

issue the first session ID and the temporary authentication information in accordance with a request from the information processing apparatus, and issue the access destination information corresponding to the temporary authentication information accepted by the image forming apparatus and the second session ID, in accordance with a request from the image forming apparatus.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the at least one processor of the relay server further executes the third instructions in the memory device of the relay server to:

authenticate the information processing apparatus that has accessed the relay server,

provide a list indicating a plurality of access destinations for performing communication with the image forming apparatus and usage situations of the access destinations to the information processing apparatus if the authentication is successful, and

issue the first session ID and the temporary authentication information for an access destination selected from among the plurality of access destinations by the information processing apparatus.

3. The information processing system according to claim 2 , wherein

the relay server further comprises

a storage unit that stores, for each of the plurality of access destinations, a list in which the temporary authentication information, a session ID, and user information indicating a host user using the access destination are registered.

4. The information processing system according to claim 3 , wherein

the at least one processor of the relay server further executes the third instructions in the memory device of the relay server to:

when the first session ID and the temporary authentication information are to be issued in accordance with a request from the information processing apparatus, register the first session ID and the temporary authentication information in the corresponding access destination in the list stored in the storage unit and register a user of the information processing apparatus as a host user.

5. The information processing system according to claim 4 , wherein

the at least one processor of the relay server further executes the third instructions in the memory device of the relay server to:

when the access destination information and the second session ID are to be issued in accordance with a request from the image forming apparatus, register the second session ID in a corresponding access destination in the list stored in the storage unit.

6. The information processing system according to claim 5 , wherein

the at least one processor of the relay server further executes the third instructions in the memory device of the relay server to:

upon receiving a request to end access to the access destination from the image forming apparatus, delete the second session ID registered in the corresponding access destination in the list stored in the storage unit.

7. The information processing system according to claim 5 , wherein

the at least one processor of the relay server further executes the third instructions in the memory device of the relay server to:

upon receiving a request to end access to the access destination from the information processing apparatus, delete the first session ID, the temporary authentication information, and the user information registered in the corresponding access destination in the list stored in the storage unit.

8. The information processing system according to claim 7 , wherein

the at least one processor of the relay server further executes the third instructions in the memory device of the relay server to:

when a request to end access to the access destination is received from the information processing apparatus, further delete the second session ID if the second session ID has been registered in the corresponding access destination in the list stored in the storage unit.

9. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the at least one processor of the image forming apparatus further executes the second instructions in the memory device of the image forming apparatus to:

hold the obtained temporary authentication information, and

if the temporary authentication information is held, display the temporary authentication information such that the temporary authentication information can be modified on an acceptance screen for accepting the temporary authentication information.

10. The information processing system according to claim 9 , wherein

the at least one processor of the image forming apparatus further executes the second instructions in the memory device of the image forming apparatus to:

even if the temporary authentication information is held, if a predetermined time has elapsed since the temporary authentication information was held, display the acceptance screen without using the temporary authentication information held.

11. The information processing system according to claim 9 , wherein

the at least one processor of the image forming apparatus further executes the second instructions in the memory device of the image forming apparatus to:

when power of the image forming apparatus is to be turned off, upon accepting user input or data from the information processing apparatus via the relay server indicating that the currently-connected access destination is not to be re-connected to during restarting, delete the held temporary authentication information.

12. An image forming apparatus configured to perform communication with an information processing apparatus via a relay server, the image forming apparatus comprising:

a memory device that stores a set of instructions; and

at least one processor that executes the instructions to:

accept temporary authentication information issued from the relay server to the information processing apparatus via user input, and

make a request to the relay server using the accepted temporary authentication information to obtain access destination information corresponding to the temporary authentication information and a session ID for communicating with the information processing apparatus via the relay server.

13. A method for controlling an information processing system that includes an image forming apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and a relay server, the method comprising:

in the information processing apparatus, which includes a display unit,

making a request to the relay server to obtain a first session ID and temporary authentication information for communicating with the image forming apparatus via the relay server; and

displaying the obtained temporary authentication information on the display unit;

in the image forming apparatus,

accepting the temporary authentication information via user input; and

making a request to the relay server using the accepted temporary authentication information to obtain access destination information corresponding to the temporary authentication information and a second session ID for communicating with the information processing apparatus via the relay server; and

in the relay server,

issuing the first session ID and the temporary authentication information in accordance with a request from the information processing apparatus, and issuing the access destination information corresponding to the temporary authentication information accepted by the image forming apparatus and the second session ID in accordance with a request from the image forming apparatus.

14. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus configured to perform communication with an information processing apparatus via a relay server, the method comprising:

accepting temporary authentication information issued from the relay server to the information processing apparatus via user input; and

making a request to the relay server using the accepted temporary authentication information to obtain access destination information corresponding to the temporary authentication information and a session ID for communicating with the information processing apparatus via the relay server.

15. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute steps of a method for controlling an image forming apparatus configured to perform communication with an information processing apparatus via a relay server, the method comprising:

accepting temporary authentication information issued from the relay server to the information processing apparatus via user input; and

making a request to the relay server using the accepted temporary authentication information to obtain access destination information corresponding to the temporary authentication information and a session ID for communicating with the information processing apparatus via the relay server.