Cloud Print Agent Locked Job Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cloud printing services do not support locked printing features, which allows unauthorized access to printouts since they push print jobs immediately for processing, lacking the control over access provided by 'locked printing' in non-cloud environments.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a cloud printing system that allows users to submit locked print jobs by configuring printing devices to receive print job settings from a cloud service provider, store print data, and alert users when it is near expiration, enabling deferred processing until user authentication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cloud printing services push print jobs immediately for processing, then productivity is improved, but security deteriorates due to unauthorized access to printouts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint job processing speedVSAvoidunauthorized access to printouts

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication of the user at the printing device before processing the print job. The print job is held in a pending state until the user provides valid authentication credentials, ensuring that only authorized users can retrieve their printouts while maintaining efficient processing when authentication succeeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If locked printing feature is implemented in cloud printing, then security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunauthorized access to printoutsVSAvoidprinting system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cloud printing service acts as an intermediary between the client device and the printing device, managing the locked printing functionality. The service handles authentication verification, job status monitoring, and user notification, thereby implementing security features without increasing the complexity of the printing device itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If print data is stored indefinitely for locked print jobs, then reliability is improved, but storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint data availabilityVSAvoidstorage space for print data

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic expiration of stored print data after a predetermined period. Print jobs are retained in the cloud printing service for a specific duration to ensure availability for authenticated users, after which they are automatically deleted. This periodic cleanup maintains reliability during the retention period while preventing unbounded storage growth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9965229B2Locked print in cloud printing environments

Publication Date: 2018.05.08 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

An approach is provided for managing locked printing requests in cloud printing environments. In a cloud printing environment, a cloud printing service provider provides a platform that enables client devices to send print requests for processing by any printing device that is configured to communicate with the cloud printing service provider over a network, such as the Internet. A printing device comprises a cloud print agent that is configured to manage locked printing requests received from client devices via a cloud printing platform. The cloud print agent may be further configured to notify a user when print job data for a print job submitted by the user is approaching expiration.