Cloud Authentication via Claim Code for Uninterrupted Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in authenticating user access to scanned documents at cloud-based servers without interrupting the printing process, particularly for applications like Windows Port Monitor, which struggle to display login dialogs within the normal printing flow.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates a claim code for uploaded scanned documents, allowing the authentication process to occur in a browser while the printing process continues uninterrupted, using a unique URL address to redirect the user for authentication, thus offloading authentication complexity and minimizing development efforts in client programs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If authentication is performed through a login dialog in the client application, then user access control is ensured, but the printing flow is interrupted and client program complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication process is extracted from the client application and relocated to a web browser. The client application only needs to launch the browser with a URL containing a claim code, while the actual authentication UI and processing occur in the browser environment, separating authentication from the printing workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
A browser-based authentication intermediary is introduced between the client application and the cloud-based server. The browser acts as a mediator that handles the authentication dialog and communicates with the server, allowing the client application to remain simple while maintaining security.
2Reliability
If a login dialog is displayed in the client application, then user authentication is achieved, but the client program becomes more complex and difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication functionality is extracted from the client application and implemented in the browser. The client application only needs to generate and pass a claim code to the browser, while the browser handles the authentication UI, user input, and communication with the server, significantly reducing client program complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The browser provides self-service authentication capabilities using its built-in UI and communication mechanisms. The browser automatically handles the authentication dialog, processes user credentials, and manages the interaction with the cloud-based server, eliminating the need for the client application to implement complex authentication logic.
3Reliability
If the printing process waits for user authentication, then secure access is ensured, but the printing speed and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The claim code is generated and provided to the browser in advance, allowing authentication to proceed independently of the printing process. The cloud-based server prepares the authentication URL with the claim code before the user needs to authenticate, enabling parallel processing of authentication and printing preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing process continues uninterrupted while authentication occurs in the browser. The client application maintains the printing workflow continuity by not blocking on authentication, allowing the printing system to prepare and execute print jobs while the user completes authentication separately.
Data Source
AI summary
A cloud-based server and a port monitor on a device provide authentication of a user to access scanned documents on the server. A scanning device may capture a digital image of a document. The port monitor uploads data for a scanned document to the cloud-based server. Once the data for the document is uploaded, a claim code is generated by the cloud-based server. The port monitor receives the claim code. The port monitor initiates the launch of a browser having a uniform resource locator (URL) address for the server along with the claim code. The user is authenticated using a login page and the claim code associated to the user to allow access to the document on the server.