Communication Device Authentication Without Local Parameter Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication devices like printers require storage space to store parameters for authentication with authorization servers, which is inefficient and limits flexibility in handling multiple service providers.

Innovation Solution

A communication device obtains parameters from a specific server and uses them to request authentication information from an authentication server, eliminating the need for local storage of these parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If parameters are stored in advance in the communication device, then authentication can be performed, but storage space is required and flexibility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in handling multiple service providersVSAvoidstorage space for parameters

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the parameter storage function from the communication device and relocates it to an external server. The communication device no longer stores authentication parameters locally but retrieves them dynamically from a server when needed, thereby eliminating the need for local storage space while maintaining authentication capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the communication device and the authentication server. This server stores the authentication parameters and provides them to the communication device on demand, acting as a mediator that enables flexible authentication without requiring the communication device to have local storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If parameters are stored in advance in the communication device, then authentication can be performed, but device complexity increases due to storage area requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication capabilityVSAvoidstorage area structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the parameter storage component from the communication device's internal structure. By extracting this function to an external server, the device's complexity is reduced while authentication reliability is maintained through dynamic retrieval of parameters when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If parameters are stored locally, then authentication requests can be sent, but memory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication processing speedVSAvoidmemory capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a server as an intermediary that holds the authentication parameters. The communication device requests parameters from this server during the authentication process, eliminating the need for local memory allocation while maintaining efficient authentication processing through rapid parameter retrieval over the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12445425B2Communication device and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing computer-readable instructions for communication device

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A communication device, may comprise a controller configured to: in response to receiving a predetermined signal from a terminal device, send a parameter request to a specific server, wherein the parameter request is for requesting a parameter for communication with an authentication server; receive the parameter from the specific server; send an authentication information request by using the parameter received from the specific server; in a case where a specific condition is met, receive a authentication information from the authentication server as a response to the authentication information request, wherein the specific condition is that the terminal device, which is a sender of the predetermined signal, is logged in at least one of the authentication server or a service server by using specific account information; and communicate target data with the service server.