Device Management System Automatic Tenant Re-registration

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing network device registration process in device management systems is cumbersome, particularly for installation workers who need to manage multiple customer registration codes, increasing the workload and requiring pre-registration of customers before installation.

Innovation Solution

A device management system that issues a register key specifying a worker tenant, allowing network devices to register and automatically re-register under a user tenant after initial communication, reducing the operational load by eliminating the need for pre-registered customer codes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If network devices are registered using customer registration codes in advance, then device management can be organized by customer, but the workload for installation workers increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice management organizationVSAvoidinstallation worker workload

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic registration of network devices by the device itself or through automated processes, eliminating the need for manual code input by installation workers. The device management server automatically associates devices with customers based on device information, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring human intervention for each registration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary registration code that is issued by the device management server and transmitted to the network device. This intermediary mechanism facilitates automatic association between devices and customers without requiring installation workers to manually handle multiple customer registration codes, thus reducing their workload while maintaining organized device management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If installation workers must obtain and store multiple customer registration codes, then devices can be registered for different customers, but the complexity of the registration process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-customer device registrationVSAvoidregistration process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device management server performs multiple functions: it issues registration codes, receives device registration requests, automatically associates devices with customers, and manages the registration process end-to-end. This universal system handles all customer registrations through a single interface, eliminating the need for workers to manage multiple separate registration processes for different customers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary registration code that is issued by the device management server and transmitted to the network device. This intermediary mechanism facilitates automatic association between devices and customers without requiring installation workers to manually handle multiple customer registration codes, thus reducing their workload while maintaining organized device management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If pre-registration of customers is required before installation, then device management can be organized by customer, but the time required for the registration process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer-based device managementVSAvoidregistration process time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The device management server performs preliminary actions by automatically generating and transmitting registration codes to network devices during the installation process itself, rather than requiring pre-registration of customers. This allows the system to prepare the registration information in advance as part of the installation workflow, eliminating the need for separate pre-registration steps and reducing overall registration time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables automatic registration of network devices by the device itself or through automated processes, eliminating the need for manual code input by installation workers. The device management server automatically associates devices with customers based on device information, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring human intervention for each registration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11245696B2Device management system and device management method

Publication Date: 2022.02.08 CANON KK

AI summary

A device management system according to the present invention issues a register key that specifies a worker tenant, receives a registration request including the register key from a network device, and transmits first authentication information to the network device. The first authentication information is registered in the worker tenant that is specified by the register key of the registration request. If there has been communication that uses the first authentication information from the network device after the tenant is created, the information about the network device registered in the worker tenant is automatically changed to be registered in the different tenant.