Consumables Identification for Secure Privilege Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing system for granting privileges in a printing service does not allow for accurate association of privileges with consumables and lacks protection against illegal extraction of user information during collection.
Innovation Solution
An information management system that uses consumables identification information to associate privileges with each consumable, eliminating the need to store user information in the consumables and preventing unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user ID is stored in the memory of consumables to identify users and grant privileges, then user identification and privilege granting is enabled, but user information can be extracted and used illegally by malicious third parties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts user information from the consumable memory and stores it separately in the information management apparatus. Only consumable identification information remains in the consumable memory, while user ID and privilege data are maintained in the server's database, preventing illegal extraction while preserving identification functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The information management apparatus acts as an intermediary between the consumable and the user identification system. It receives consumable identification information, retrieves corresponding user information from its database, and processes privilege granting, thereby eliminating the need to store sensitive user data in the consumable itself.
2Ease of operation
If the same user ID is stored in multiple consumables, then user identification is simplified, but privileges cannot be associated with each consumable individually
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the identification system into two distinct parts: consumable identification information (stored in each consumable) and user information (stored in the information management apparatus). This segmentation allows individual consumables to be identified separately while maintaining their association with specific user privileges through the server's database records.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to the identification system by introducing a separate storage layer in the information management apparatus. Instead of relying solely on consumable memory, user information is maintained in a parallel database structure that can associate multiple consumables with individual user accounts and track consumable-specific privilege usage.
3Extent of automation
If user information is stored in consumable memory, then privilege granting can be performed, but the system cannot trace which collection resulted in privilege grant
Solution Approach 1:
The information management apparatus implements a feedback mechanism that records and tracks each consumable collection event. When a consumable is collected, the system retrieves its identification information, checks the associated user account, and logs the collection event with timestamp and consumable details, enabling full traceability of privilege granting while maintaining automated processing.
Data Source
AI summary
An information management system includes: an information handling apparatus; and an information management apparatus which communicates with the information handling apparatus via a network. The information handling apparatus executes: an identification information obtaining process; and an identification information sending process. The information management apparatus executes: an identification information receiving process; a recipient associating process; a collection information obtaining process; a privilege information generating process; a recipient determining process; and a privilege information granting process.