Communication Device Dynamic Timeout for Secure Connection Setup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication apparatuses lack appropriate control over the timeout time in connection setting modes, leading to potential unintended connections and security risks due to prolonged operation in an insecure connection setting state.

Innovation Solution

The timeout time of the connection setting mode is controlled based on the completion time of the initial setting process, extending it if necessary to accommodate user operations, thereby ensuring secure and timely transition out of the connection setting mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the timeout time of the connection setting mode is extended to accommodate user operations, then user convenience is improved, but security risks increase due to prolonged operation in an insecure state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidsecurity risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The timeout time is made dynamic rather than fixed. The control unit extends the timeout time based on the actual completion time of the initial setting process, allowing the system to adapt the connection setting mode duration to actual user needs while automatically returning to a secure state when no longer needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The timeout parameter is changed from a fixed value to a variable value that depends on the completion time of the initial setting process. This allows the system to optimize the balance between user convenience and security by adjusting the timeout duration based on actual operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the timeout time is shortened to improve security, then security risks are reduced, but user convenience deteriorates due to insufficient time for completing initial settings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity risksVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses dynamic timeout adjustment based on the actual duration of the initial setting process. This ensures that the timeout is never shorter than necessary for completing user operations, while also ensuring it doesn't extend longer than needed, thus maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit monitors the completion time of the initial setting process and uses this feedback to appropriately set the timeout time. This feedback mechanism ensures the timeout is optimized based on actual operational requirements rather than using a fixed conservative or aggressive value.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If a fixed timeout time is used for the connection setting mode, then system simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different user operation durations is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to user operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The timeout parameter is changed from a fixed value to a variable value that adapts to different user operation durations. This is achieved by calculating the timeout based on the actual completion time of the initial setting process, allowing the system to handle various scenarios appropriately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static fixed timeout to a dynamic timeout that automatically adjusts based on the actual duration of user operations. This dynamic adjustment provides adaptability without requiring complex user configuration or manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4114053B1Communication apparatus and method for controlling the same
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 CANON KK
  • EP4114053B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4114053B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4114053B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A communication apparatus includes a control unit configured to perform, in a case where the communication apparatus is operating in a connection setting mode and a predetermined process is completed, control to stop operation in the connection setting mode based on passage of a second time longer than a first time without performance of connection setting from a start of an operation of the communication apparatus in the connection setting mode.