Electronic Certificate Management for Storage Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in automatically managing electronic certificates, particularly in updating and deleting them efficiently, especially when storage limits are reached or certificates expire, leading to user inconvenience and potential communication disruptions.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus, such as a multifunction peripheral, is equipped with automated functions to manage electronic certificates through a web-based interface, allowing for automatic updates and deletions based on predefined settings, using protocols like SCEP for certificate issuance and management, ensuring seamless communication and storage optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electronic certificate is acquired every time it is updated, then the certificate remains valid and secure communication is maintained, but the number of stored certificates reaches the upper limit and new certificates cannot be added
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by deleting expired or unnecessary certificates before new certificates are acquired. The certificate management unit automatically identifies and removes certificates that have exceeded their validity period or are no longer needed, creating space for new certificates without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards expired or unnecessary certificates and recovers storage space for new certificates. The automatic deletion function identifies certificates meeting deletion criteria (expired, superseded by new versions) and removes them, allowing the system to maintain an optimal number of active certificates.
2Quantity of substance
If manual deletion of expired certificates is implemented, then storage space is freed for new certificates, but user operation complexity increases and user convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The certificate management system performs self-service by automatically monitoring certificate validity periods, identifying expired or unnecessary certificates, and deleting them without user intervention. The system autonomously manages its own certificate inventory, freeing storage space and maintaining operational simplicity for users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring certificate status and automatically triggering deletion processes when certificates meet predefined deletion criteria. This closed-loop management ensures storage space is dynamically optimized without requiring user awareness or action.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If automatic certificate update is implemented, then communication continuity is maintained, but storage limits are reached and certificate addition becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary deletion of expired certificates before new certificates are acquired during update cycles. This proactive space management ensures that automatic updates can proceed without encountering storage limitations, maintaining communication continuity while preventing certificate addition failures.
Solution Approach 2:
During automatic certificate updates, the system discards expired or superseded certificates and recovers storage space for new valid certificates. This dynamic management allows continuous certificate renewal while maintaining optimal storage utilization.
Data Source
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AI summary
An information processing apparatus automatically deletes an electronic certificate according to acquisition of an electronic certificate.