BACKGROUND

[0001] An image forming apparatus such as a multifunctional printer may support functions such as printing, scanning, copying, and faxing functions, and a user may use a corresponding function by executing a system-provided application corresponding to each function in the image forming apparatus. [0002] In order to expand the functions supported by an image forming apparatus or address errors that occur in the image forming apparatus, a cloud platform may provide an application or firmware developed by a third party or a vendor of the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates a service environment in which an image forming apparatus is provided with a solution from a cloud server according to an example. [0004] FIG. 2 illustrates an image forming apparatus according to an example.

[0005] FIG. 3 illustrates a process in which a host image forming apparatus registers image forming apparatuses in an account of a cloud server according to an example.

[0006] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of collecting information about peripheral image forming apparatuses on a network to which a host image forming apparatus belongs and obtaining device identification information of image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of a cloud server. [0007] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of selecting image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of a cloud server using an Internet protocol (IP) address and obtaining device identification information of the image forming apparatuses to be registered in the account of the cloud server.

[0008] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of obtaining device identification information of image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of a cloud server among peripheral image forming apparatuses on a network to which a host image forming apparatus belongs and peripheral image forming apparatuses added using an IP address.

[0009] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of collecting information about peripheral image forming apparatuses by specifying a range of IP addresses and obtaining device identification information of image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of a cloud server.

[0010] FIG. 8A illustrates a screen that provides an authentication uniform resource locator (URL) and user verification information according to an example. [0011] FIG. 8B illustrates a registration screen to register an image forming apparatus in an account of a cloud server according to an example.

[0012] FIG. 9 illustrates a method of registering image forming apparatuses in an account of a cloud server according to an example.

[0013] FIG. 10 illustrates instructions stored in a memory of an image forming apparatus according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

[0014] In order to receive a service provided by a cloud server, an image forming apparatus may be registered in an account of a user of the cloud server. For example, in a case where the user is a reseller, if the reseller registers an image forming apparatus of a customer in any account of an account list for customer management, the image forming apparatus of the customer may be managed by the service provided by the cloud server. For a plurality of image forming apparatuses belonging to a person or a group, registering each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses individually in an account may be a cumbersome task hereinafter, an example of group onboarding in which one image forming apparatus collects information of a plurality of image forming apparatuses and registers the plurality of image forming apparatuses together in an account of a user of a cloud server will be described.

[0015] Hereinafter, various examples will be described with reference to the drawings. Like reference numerals in the specification and the drawings denote like elements, and thus their descriptions will be omitted.

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a service environment in which an image forming apparatus is provided with a solution from a cloud server according to an example. [0017] Referring to FIG. 1 , an image forming apparatus 100 may refer to an apparatus capable of performing an image forming job, such as a printer, a copier, a scanner, a fax machine, a multifunction printer, etc. The image forming job may refer to any of various jobs related to an image, for example, printing, copying, scanning, faxing, or related functions, and may include a series of processes for performing the image forming job. The image forming apparatus 100 may be connected to a peripheral image forming apparatus, and in a case where the image forming apparatus 100 belongs to a person or a group, image forming apparatuses belonging to the person or the group may be managed on a predetermined network.

[0018] The cloud server 200 may be a cloud-based platform that provides a solution to the image forming apparatus 100. In an example, the solution may include software to address errors associated with software packages, application programs, or applications that are installed on the image forming apparatus 100, and may be provided to the image forming apparatus 100 from the cloud server 200 by upgrading existing installed firmware or applications or providing new firmware or applications. The cloud server 200 may store an installation file of the solution that may be provided to the image forming apparatus 100 in a database. Based on an account of the cloud server 200, the cloud server 200 may provide the solution to the image forming apparatus 100 registered in the account according to an authority of the account. The image forming apparatus 100 may be connected to the cloud server 200 to request the solution and download the solution or receive the solution provided by the cloud server 200 in a push manner. [0019] To receive the solution from the cloud server 200, the image forming apparatus 100 may be registered in an account managed by the cloud server 200. To register the image forming apparatus 100 in the account of the cloud server 200, the cloud server 200 may include modules or servers for performing a process of authenticating each of the image forming apparatus 100 and the user and a process of registering the image forming apparatus 100 to the account managed by the cloud server 200.

[0020] A mobile terminal 300 may be a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop, etc. The mobile terminal 300 may communicate with the image forming apparatus 100 or another external server to exchange information.

[0021] A device authentication server 400 may determine the validity of device identification information and perform authentication of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the request of the cloud server 200.

[0022] A portal server 500 may provide information about the solution that the cloud server 200 may provide and provide an interface to the cloud server 200 by linking the solution to the account of the cloud server 200 such that the solution is provided to the image forming apparatus 100 registered in the account. For example, a reseller may verify the solution information through a solution catalog, through the portal server 500, and configure a solution portfolio with respect to the account of the cloud server 200 such that the solution included in the solution portfolio is provided to the image forming apparatus 100 registered in the account.

[0023] In order to register the image forming apparatus 100 in the account of the cloud server 200 such that the image forming apparatus 100 may be provided with the solution from the cloud server 200, various processes such as authenticating each of the image forming apparatus 100 and the user and registering the image forming apparatus 100 in an account used in the cloud server 200 may be performed. In a case where a plurality of image forming apparatuses belong to a person or a group, it may be cumbersome to perform a process of registering each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses in the account of the cloud server 200. Hereinafter, an example method, performed by the image forming apparatus 100, of registering a plurality of image forming apparatuses in an account of the cloud server 200 at a time will be described. [0024] FIG. 2 illustrates an image forming apparatus according to an example.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 may include a user interface unit 110, a processor 120, a communication interface unit 130, a memory 140, and a print engine 150. Although not shown, the image forming apparatus 100 may include other components, such as a power supply unit for supplying power to the respective components.

[0026] The user interface unit 110 may include an input unit for receiving an input from a user such as an input for performing an image forming job, and an output unit for displaying information such as a result of performing the image forming job or a state of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0027] The processor 120 may control an operation of the image forming apparatus 100 and may include a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU). The processor 120 may control other components included in the image forming apparatus 100 to perform an operation corresponding to the user input received through the user interface unit 110. The processor 120 may include a specialized processor corresponding to a predetermined function. The processor 120 may execute a program stored in the memory 140, read data or files stored in the memory 140, or store a new program or application in the memory 140. [0028] The communication interface unit 130 may perform wired or wireless communication with another device or a network. The communication interface unit 130 may include a communication module (e.g., a transceiver) supporting various wired or wireless communication methods. The communication interface unit 130 may be connected to an external apparatus of the image forming apparatus 100 to transmit and receive signals or data. The image forming apparatus 100 may be connected to the cloud server 200, the mobile terminal 300, or a peripheral image forming apparatus through the communication interface unit 130.

[0029] The memory 140 may store various types of program files or data such as software packages, application programs, applications, etc. The processor 120 may access and use the files or the data stored in the memory 140 or store new files or data in the memory 140. In addition, the processor 120 may install and execute a program stored in the memory 140 in the image forming apparatus 100. For example, the processor 120 may install and execute a solution in the form of firmware or an application received from the cloud server 200 through the communication interface unit 130 of the image forming apparatus 100. [0030] The print engine 150 may include both hardware and software that may perform an image forming job such as copying, printing, scanning, or faxing, and may include modules such as a printing unit, a scanning unit, and a faxing unit. The printing unit may form an image on a recording medium by various printing methods such as an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, a thermal transfer method, a thermal method, etc. The scanning unit may irradiate light onto a document, receive reflected light, and read an image recorded on the document. In the faxing unit, a device for scanning an image may be shared with the scanning unit, and a device for printing a received file may be shared with the printing unit. The faxing unit may transmit a scan file to a destination or receive a file from the outside.

[0031] The image forming apparatus 100 (hereinafter referred to as a host image forming apparatus) may obtain device identification information of a plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of the cloud server 200, through the communication interface unit 130, in order to register the plurality of image forming apparatuses in the account of the cloud server 200 at one time. The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive device verification information and user verification information from the cloud server 200 through the communication interface unit 130 in response to transmitting the obtained device identification information to the cloud server 200 through the communication interface unit 130. If authentication of the plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in the account of the cloud server 200 is completed by using the device identification information, the cloud server 200 may generate the device verification information and the user verification information. The device verification information is information used by the cloud server 200 to verify the host image forming apparatus 100 that registers the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and the user verification information is information used by the cloud server 200 to verify a user who registers the plurality of image forming apparatuses. After storing the device verification information and the user verification information, the cloud server 200 may transmit the device verification information and the user verification information to the host image forming apparatus 100. The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive an account list of the user from the cloud server 200 through the communication interface unit 130, using the device verification information and the user verification information. The host image forming apparatus 100 may register a plurality of image forming apparatuses in an account of the received account list. The host image forming apparatus 100 may transmit a result of registering the plurality of image forming apparatuses in the account of the account list to the cloud server 200 through the communication interface unit 130. Hereinafter, an example process in which the host image forming apparatus 100 registers a plurality of image forming apparatuses in an account of the cloud server 200 at one time will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates a process in which a host image forming apparatus registers image forming apparatuses in an account of a cloud server according to an example.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 3, the host image forming apparatus 100 may perform a process of executing a predetermined application or an administrator setting menu and registering the image forming apparatuses in the account of the cloud server 200, and perform the following processes.

[0034] The host image forming apparatus 100 may collect information of peripheral image forming apparatuses in operation S305. For example, the host image forming apparatus 100 may search for peripheral image forming apparatuses on the same network as the host image forming apparatus 100 or receive information about the peripheral image forming apparatus from a user. [0035] The host image forming apparatus 100 may request device identification information of a plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in the account of the cloud server 200 from among the peripheral image forming apparatuses, and receive the device identification information from the plurality of image forming apparatuses in operation S310. For example, the host image forming apparatus 100 may obtain the device identification information in the form of a post card (e.g., using a packet data based network) from each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in the account of the cloud server 200.

[0036] FIGS. 4 to 7 are diagrams illustrating examples in which the host image forming apparatus 100 collects information about peripheral image forming apparatuses and obtains device identification information of a plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of the cloud server 200. Instead of registering the plurality of image forming apparatuses belonging to a person or a group in the account of the cloud server 200 one by one, the one host image forming apparatus 100 may prepare for registering the plurality of image forming apparatuses in the account of the cloud server 200 by collecting the information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses and obtaining the device identification information.

[0037] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of collecting information about peripheral image forming apparatuses on a network to which a host image forming apparatus belongs and obtaining device identification information of image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of a cloud server. [0038] Referring to FIG. 4, the host image forming apparatus 100 may display a result obtained by searching for peripheral image forming apparatuses on a network to which the host image forming apparatus 100 belongs and receive an input for selecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses from among the displayed peripheral image forming apparatuses, through the user interface unit 110. In the example of FIG. 4, the host image forming apparatus 100 may collect the information of the peripheral image forming apparatuses on the same network having Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of “15.40.152.2”, “15.40.152.3”, and “15.40.152.4” and display a screen (e.g., a user interface (Ul)) indicating a search result on the user interface unit 110. The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive a user input for selecting the plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in the account of the cloud server 200 from among the peripheral image forming apparatuses displayed on the user interface unit 110. As shown in FIG. 4, the user may select the plurality of image forming apparatuses by checking a respective plurality of check boxes corresponding to the plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in the account of the cloud server 200, through the user interface unit 110. Flowever, the disclosure is not limited to the check box and the Ul method.

[0039] The host image forming apparatus 100 may request the device identification information from the plurality of selected image forming apparatuses and receive the device identification information from the plurality of selected image forming apparatuses, through the communication interface unit 130. The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive the device identification information in the form of a post card (e.g., packet data) from the image forming apparatuses through a path in which security is maintained.

[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of selecting image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of a cloud server using an IP address and obtaining device identification information of the image forming apparatuses to be registered in the account of the cloud server.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 5, the host image forming apparatus 100 may receive an input for selecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses. As an example, the host image forming apparatus 100 may receive an input of an IP address of an image forming apparatus or receive a file in which IP addresses of image forming apparatuses are stored, through the user interface unit 110. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the host image forming apparatus 100 may receive IP addresses of “15.40.152.2”, “15.40.152.3”, and Ί 5.40.155.1 ” from a user input or a received file and display a screen indicating a result obtained by collecting information of the peripheral image forming apparatuses corresponding to the IP addresses on the user interface unit 110. The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive a user input for selecting the plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in the account of the cloud server 200 from among the peripheral image forming apparatuses displayed on the user interface unit 110.

[0042] The host image forming apparatus 100 may request the device identification information from the plurality of selected image forming apparatuses and receive the device identification information from the plurality of selected image forming apparatuses, through the communication interface unit 130. [0043] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of obtaining device identification information of image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of a cloud server among peripheral image forming apparatuses on a network to which a host image forming apparatus belongs and peripheral image forming apparatuses added using an IP address. [0044] Referring to FIG. 6, the host image forming apparatus 100 may display a result obtained by searching for peripheral image forming apparatuses on a network to which the host image forming apparatus 100 belongs, receive an input to add and display, with the previously displayed search result, a peripheral image forming apparatus on a network different from the host image forming apparatus 100 according to an IP address input, and receive a user input for selecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses from among the displayed peripheral image forming apparatuses, through the user interface unit 110. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the host image forming apparatus 100 may collect information of the peripheral image forming apparatuses on the same network having IP addresses of “15.40.152.2” and “15.40.152.3”, and display a screen indicating the search result on the user interface unit 110. The host image forming apparatus 100 may add and display the peripheral image forming apparatus on the network different from the host image forming apparatus 100 on the screen of the user interface unit 110 by inputting the IP address "15.40.155.1". The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive the user input for selecting the plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in the account of the cloud server 200 from among the peripheral image forming apparatuses displayed on the user interface unit 110.

[0045] The host image forming apparatus 100 may request the device identification information from the plurality of selected image forming apparatuses and receive the device identification information from the plurality of selected image forming apparatuses, through the communication interface unit 130. [0046] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of collecting information about peripheral image forming apparatuses by specifying a range of IP addresses and obtaining device identification information of image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of a cloud server.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 7, the host image forming apparatus 100 may specify a range of IP addresses, display a result obtained by searching for peripheral image forming apparatuses, and receive a user input for selecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses from among the displayed peripheral image forming apparatuses, through the user interface unit 110. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the host image forming apparatus 100 may receive the range of IP addresses of “15.40.150.1 to 15.40.155.1” from a user, and display a screen indicating a result obtained by collecting information about the peripheral image forming apparatuses belonging to the range on the user interface unit 110. The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive the user input for selecting the plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of the cloud server 200 from among the peripheral image forming apparatuses displayed on the user interface unit 110.

[0048] The host image forming apparatus 100 may request the device identification information from the plurality of selected image forming apparatuses and receive the device identification information from the plurality of selected image forming apparatuses, through the communication interface unit 130. [0049] Referring back to FIG. 3, the host image forming apparatus 100 may transmit the device identification information obtained from the plurality of image forming apparatuses to the cloud server 200 in operation S315. In an example, the host image forming apparatus 100 may request the device verification information and the user verification information from the cloud server 200. [0050] The cloud server 200 may transmit the device identification information received from the host image forming apparatus 100 to the device authentication server 400 to request authentication of image forming apparatuses corresponding to the device identification information in operation S320. Authenticating the plurality of image forming apparatuses using the device identification information corresponds to a task of verifying whether each image forming apparatus is authorized (e.g., genuine). The device authentication server 400 may manage the device identification information such as a serial number assigned to each device at the time of manufacture of the image forming apparatus as a database, receive the device identification information, and query whether the received device identification information is in the database, thereby authenticating the image forming apparatus.

[0051] The cloud server 200 may receive an authentication result from the device authentication server 400 in operation S325. If authentication of all image forming apparatuses corresponding to the device identification information received from the cloud server 200 is completed, the device authentication server 400 may transmit the authentication result to the cloud server 200. If authentication of any image forming apparatus fails, the device authentication server 400 may stop the authentication process and notify the cloud server 200 of an authentication failure, or complete the authentication process using the device identification information and transmit the authentication result including information of the image forming apparatus of which authentication fails to the cloud server 200.

[0052] The cloud server 200 may verify the authentication result of the plurality of image forming apparatuses and generate the device verification information and the user verification information in operation S330. The device verification information and the user verification information may include a pair of information corresponding to each other and may be stored in a predetermined space of the cloud server 200.

[0053] The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive the device verification information and the user verification information from the cloud server 200 in operation S335. In order for the host image forming apparatus 100 to collectively perform processes of registering the plurality of authenticated image forming apparatuses in the account of the cloud server 200 based on the device identification information, the device verification information and the user verification information may be provided to the host image forming apparatus 100 from the cloud server 200.

[0054] The host image forming apparatus 100 may provide a screen including an authentication uniform resource locator (URL) for user authentication and the user verification information in operation S340.

[0055] FIG. 8A illustrates a screen that provides an authentication URL and user verification information according to an example.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 8A, an example is illustrated in which an authentication URL "hpcommandcenter.com/claim" of the portal server 500 and the user verification information "RJFXSZFIFI" are provided. The user verification information is information used by the cloud server 200 to verify a user who registers image forming apparatuses. In an example as shown in FIG. 8A, the user verification information may include a string code in a predetermined form of a combination of arbitrary letters, numbers, etc. made by the cloud server 200, but is not limited thereto. In addition, for user convenience, the authentication URL and the user verification information may also be provided in the form of a quick response (QR) code.

[0057] Referring back to FIG. 3, the host image forming apparatus 100 may request a token from the cloud server 200 using device verification information in operation S345. In an example, the host image forming apparatus 100 may periodically request the token from the cloud server 200 using the device verification information. The token may be an access token used by the host image forming apparatus 100 to receive an account list from the cloud server 200 later. The host image forming apparatus 100 may periodically request the token from the cloud server 200 until the cloud server 200 approves the device verification information.

[0058] The mobile terminal 300 may access and log in to the authentication URL of the portal server 500 based on the authentication URL and the user verification information of the screen provided by the host image forming apparatus 100, and input the user verification information to a user verification information input screen in operation S350. In a case where a QR code is provided on the screen provided by the host image forming apparatus 100, the mobile terminal 300 may access the authentication URL using the QR code, and automatically display the user verification information on an access screen. [0059] The mobile terminal 300 may transmit the input user verification information to the portal server 500 in operation S355. In order to authenticate that a user who is able to log in to the authentication URL of the portal server 500 is trying to register image forming apparatuses that are authorized (e.g., certified to be genuine), the user verification information input to the mobile terminal 300 may be transmitted to the portal server 500.

[0060] The portal server 500 may transmit the received user verification information to the cloud server 200 in operation S360. Because the cloud server 200 corresponds to and stores the device verification information and the user verification information, the cloud server 200 may verify whether the user verification information transmitted by the portal server 500 is valid user verification information stored in the cloud server 200.

[0061] The portal server 500 may receive an authentication result of the user verification information from the cloud server 200 in operation S365. The cloud server 200 may verify whether the user verification information received from the portal server 500 is the user verification information generated by the cloud server 200 for registration of the image forming apparatus that is authorized (e.g., certified to be genuine), and transmit the authentication result to the portal server 500.

[0062] The mobile terminal 300 may receive the authentication result of the user verification information from the portal server 500 and display the received authentication result on the screen of the mobile terminal 300 in operation S370. As a result, the user is authenticated as a user who is able to register the image forming apparatuses.

[0063] The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive the token from the cloud server 200 in operation S375. The cloud server 200 may also authenticate the device verification information transmitted from the host image forming apparatus 100 if the user verification information that is paired with the device verification information is authenticated. As a result, the cloud server 200 may provide the generated token to the host image forming apparatus 100 that is authenticated as a device capable of registering the image forming apparatuses. [0064] The host image forming apparatus 100 may request an account list of the cloud server 200 using the token in operation S380. The cloud server 200 may store the account list for customer management, and periodically receive update information about the account list through the portal server 500 to have a latest account list. The host image forming apparatus 100 may request the cloud server 200 for an account list of the user who is authenticated to be able to register the image forming apparatuses.

[0065] The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive the account list from the cloud server 200 in operation S385. The cloud server 200 may transmit the account list of the user who is authenticated as the user capable of registering the image forming apparatuses to the host image forming apparatus 100 in response to a request for the account list from the host image forming apparatus 100.

[0066] The host image forming apparatus 100 may display a registration screen providing a list of the plurality of image forming apparatuses and the account list received from the cloud server 200 in operation S390. The list of the plurality of image forming apparatuses may include a list of image forming apparatuses that are authorized (e.g., certified to be genuine), and the account list may include a user account list for customer management.

[0067] FIG. 8B illustrates a registration screen that registers image forming apparatuses in an account of a cloud server according to an example.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 8B, the example screen that provides an authentication URL and user verification information authentication shown in FIG. 8A described above may be switched to a registration screen. The registration screen of FIG. 8B may be used to register the image forming apparatuses in the account of the cloud server 200 if the host image forming apparatus 100 receives a token necessary for performing an operation from the cloud server 200 through an authentication procedure of user verification information and device verification information.

[0069] The registration screen may provide a list of a plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in the account of the cloud server 200 and an account list of the cloud server 200. In the example of FIG. 8B, information of four image forming apparatuses including the host image forming apparatus 100 may be displayed on the registration screen, and the image forming apparatuses may be selected for registration in an account using a check box for each image forming apparatus. In an example, the image forming apparatuses may be registered in different accounts.

[0070] A user may select the image forming apparatuses on the registration screen, select an account from the account list provided in a manner such as a top-down menu, a scroll menu, etc., and store each image forming apparatus corresponding to any one account included in the account list, thereby registering the plurality of image forming apparatuses in the account of the cloud server 200 at one time. [0071] Referring back to FIG. 3, the host image forming apparatus 100 may register the plurality of image forming apparatuses in an account in the account list received from the cloud server 200 in operation S395. The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive an input for storing each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses corresponding to an account included in the received account list on the registration screen, and transmit a result obtained by storing each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses corresponding to any one account to the cloud server 200.

[0072] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering image forming apparatuses in an account of a cloud server according to an example. [0073] Referring to FIG. 9, the host image forming apparatus 100 may obtain device identification information of a plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of the cloud server 200 that provides a solution to an image forming apparatus in operation S910.

[0074] For example, the host image forming apparatus 100 may display a result of searching for peripheral image forming apparatuses on a network to which the host image forming apparatus 100 belongs, and receive an input for selecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of the cloud server 200 from among the displayed peripheral image forming apparatuses. The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive device identification information from the plurality of selected image forming apparatuses. [0075] As another example, the host image forming apparatus 100 may receive an input for selecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of the cloud server 200 by receiving an IP address input of an image forming apparatus or using a file in which IP addresses are stored, and receive device identification information from the plurality of selected image forming apparatuses.

[0076] As another example, the host image forming apparatus 100 may display a result obtained by searching for peripheral image forming apparatuses on a network to which the host image forming apparatus 100 belongs, and add and display a peripheral image forming apparatus on a network different from the host image forming apparatus 100 to the previous search result according to the IP address input. The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive an input for selecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses from among the displayed peripheral image forming apparatuses and receive device identification information from the plurality of selected image forming apparatuses.

[0077] As another example, the host image forming apparatus 100 may specify a range of an IP address, display a result obtained by searching for peripheral image forming apparatuses, and receive an input for selecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses to be registered in an account of the cloud server 200 from among the displayed peripheral image forming apparatuses. The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive the device identification information from the plurality of selected image forming apparatuses.

[0078] The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive device verification information and user verification information from the cloud server 200 in response to transmitting the obtained device identification information to the cloud server 200 in operation S920.

[0079] The host image forming apparatus 100 may transmit the device identification information upon requesting the device verification information and the user verification information from the cloud server 200. In order for the host image forming apparatus 100 to collectively perform processes of registering the plurality of image forming apparatuses authenticated based on the device identification information in the account of the cloud server 200, the device verification information and the user verification information may be provided to the host image forming apparatus 100 from the cloud server 200. The device verification information and the user verification information are a pair of information corresponding to each other, may be generated by the cloud server 200 for registration of an image forming apparatus which is authorized (e.g., certified to be genuine) and stored in the cloud server 200.

[0080] The host image forming apparatus 100 may receive a user account list from the cloud server 200 by using the device verification information and the user verification information in operation S930. If a user may be authenticated by the cloud server 200 that the user is able to register the image forming apparatuses using the user verification information displayed on the host image forming apparatus 100 through the mobile terminal 300, and if the host image forming apparatus 100 is authenticated by the cloud server 200 that the host image forming apparatus 100 is a device capable of registering the image forming apparatuses using the device verification information, the host image forming apparatus 100 may receive the user account list from the cloud server 200. [0081] The host image forming apparatus 100 may register the plurality of image forming apparatuses in an account of the received account list in operation S940. The host image forming apparatus 100 may register the plurality of image forming apparatuses in the selected account, if an account suitable for customer management is selected from the account list. In an example, the image forming apparatuses may be registered in different accounts and an image forming apparatus may be registered in a plurality of accounts.

[0082] The host image forming apparatus 100 may display a registration screen that provides a list of the plurality of image forming apparatuses and the account list received from the cloud server 200, and receive an input for storing each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses corresponding to an account included in the received account list on the registration screen. The host image forming apparatus 100 may transmit a result obtained by storing each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses corresponding to an account to the cloud server 200.

[0083] FIG. 10 illustrates instructions stored in a memory of an image forming apparatus according to an example.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 10, the image forming apparatus 100 may include the user interface unit 110, the processor 120, the communication interface unit 130, the memory 140, and the print engine 150. In this regard, redundant descriptions between FIG. 10 and FIG. 2 will be omitted below.

[0085] The memory 140 may store computer executable instructions. In an example, the processor 120 of the image forming apparatus 100 may correspond to a computer capable of executing the computer executable instructions.

[0086] The memory 140 may store first instructions used to obtain device identification information of a plurality of image forming apparatuses, second instructions used to receive device verification information and user verification information from the cloud server 200 in response to transmitting the obtained device identification information to the cloud server 200, third instructions used to receive a user account list from the cloud server 200 using the device verification information and the user verification information, and fourth instructions used to register the plurality of image forming apparatuses in an account of the received account list. The processor 120 may load each instruction from the memory 140 and execute the corresponding instructions.

[0087] An example method, performed by the host image forming apparatus 100, of registering image forming apparatuses in an account of the cloud server 200 described above may be in part or completely implemented by a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions or data executable by a computer or a processor. The examples may be written as computer programs and may be implemented in general-use digital computers that execute the programs by using a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Examples of the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), flash memory, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD+Rs, CD-RWs, CD+RWs, DVD-ROMs, DVD-Rs, DVD+Rs, DVD-RWs, DVD+RWs, DVD-RAMs, BD-ROMs, BD-Rs, BD-R LTHs, BD-REs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, magneto-optical data storage devices, optical data storage devices, hard disks, solid-status disks (SSDs), and instructions or software, associated data, data files, and data structures, and any device capable of providing instructions or software, associated data, data files, and data structures to a processor or a computer such that the processor or computer may execute instructions.