User Account Type Detection for Secure Educational File Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for printing files from a network, particularly in educational settings, are cumbersome and lack efficient methods for determining user account types to manage access and printing of shared files.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a determination unit to identify user account types, a decision unit to select the appropriate printing target files based on user type, and a printing unit to obtain and print the selected files, facilitating easier operation and secure access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual file selection and printing is performed for each user type, then printing control flexibility is improved, but operation complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting operation simplicityVSAvoidsystem control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The determination unit performs preliminary action by automatically identifying user account types and pre-determining printing target files before the printing process. This eliminates the need for manual file selection and complex user-specific printing controls, thereby simplifying the printing operation while maintaining system functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If automatic user type determination is implemented, then printing efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting efficiencyVSAvoidsystem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The determination unit performs self-service by automatically determining user account types and selecting printing target files without requiring manual intervention. The system uses its own resources (user account information and file metadata) to autonomously complete the printing preparation process, thereby improving efficiency while adding minimal external complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If authorization settings are added for different user types, then security is improved, but operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess securityVSAvoidprinting operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The determination unit performs preliminary action by automatically determining user account types and pre-identifying authorized printing target files before printing occurs. This eliminates the need for manual authorization settings and complex user-specific printing controls, thereby maintaining security while simplifying the printing operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by autonomously determining user types and selecting authorized files without requiring manual authorization input. The determination unit uses its own judgment based on user account information and file metadata to ensure secure access while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12204803B2System and control method to obtain print file for sharing between a teacher and a student in education field

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 CANON KK

AI summary

A system for obtaining a file on a network and printing the file, comprises: a determination unit configured to determine a type of an account of a user; a decision unit configured to decide a printing target file from a plurality of files on the network in accordance with a condition corresponding to the type determined by the determination unit; and a printing unit configured to obtain the printing target file decided by the decision unit from the network and print the printing target file.