Audit Log Compression for Multifunction Peripheral Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing log management systems in multifunction peripherals (MFPs) stop operation when the audit log file size exceeds a threshold, leading to inconvenient user usage and potential loss of error logs due to overwriting, which compromises traceability and auditability.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with a log collection unit that compresses and separately stores audit log files during errors, allowing continuous log recording and user usage while preserving error logs, using a detection unit to manage storage and index information effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the MFP stops operation when the audit log file size exceeds a predetermined threshold, then the audit log can be preserved without being overwritten, but the user cannot use the MFP which is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the audit log storage into two separate files: a current audit log file for continuous writing and a backup audit log file for preserving error state logs. When the current file reaches the threshold size, the system switches to the backup file, allowing both user operation continuity and error log preservation without overwriting critical data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating a backup of the audit log file before it reaches the critical threshold size. The detection unit monitors file size and triggers a backup operation in advance, ensuring that error logs are preserved before potential overwriting occurs, while allowing the system to continue operating.
2Reliability
If the MFP stops operation when the audit log file size exceeds a predetermined threshold, then the association between MFP operation and audit log is maintained, but productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous audit logging by implementing automatic switching between current and backup log files. The log collection unit continues to write to the current audit log file without interruption, and the system automatically manages file switching based on size thresholds, ensuring both audit log integrity and continuous MFP operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically manages audit log storage by monitoring file size and automatically switching between current and backup files based on predetermined thresholds. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to storage conditions while maintaining continuous operation and audit log integrity without manual intervention.
3Productivity
If the audit log file is continuously written without compression, then log recording is simple and fast, but storage space is consumed quickly leading to potential log loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the audit log data by applying compression to the backup audit log file. The compression unit reduces the file size of the backup log, allowing the system to preserve error logs in a compact form while maintaining fast writing speeds for the current log file, thus extending storage capacity without sacrificing recording speed.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus configured to record logs includes a log collection unit that collects logs recorded according to executed functions and store an audit log file including the collected logs, a detection unit that detects an error in the collection of logs recorded according to the executed functions, and a control unit that, when the error is detected, compresses the stored audit log file and separately stores the compressed log file while continuing to collect logs.