Display Controller Job Information Concealment

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing systems fail to effectively manage and display job information, particularly concealing sensitive print jobs from unauthorized users while maintaining transparency for authorized users, leading to potential storage capacity issues and operational inconsistencies.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus with a display controller that differentiates between concealed and non-concealed jobs, displaying detailed information for non-concealed jobs and only indicating the presence of concealed jobs, while controlling user access and operations based on authentication levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If job information is concealed from unauthorized users, then security and confidentiality are improved, but user transparency and system maintainability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejob information securityVSAvoiduser transparency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the display of job information based on user authentication levels. Authorized users see detailed job information, while unauthorized users see only concealed job indicators. This localized differentiation of information quality resolves the contradiction by providing transparency where security permits and maintaining security where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary mechanism (authentication controller and display controller) that mediates between the job information storage and the user interface. This intermediary layer filters and selectively reveals information based on user credentials, enabling both security and controlled transparency without direct exposure of all job details to all users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If all job information is displayed, then user transparency is improved, but unauthorized access and security risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser transparencyVSAvoidunauthorized access risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the display of job information based on user authentication levels. Authorized users see detailed job information, while unauthorized users see only concealed job indicators. This localized differentiation of information quality resolves the contradiction by providing transparency where security permits and maintaining security where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary mechanism (authentication controller and display controller) that mediates between the job information storage and the user interface. This intermediary layer filters and selectively reveals information based on user credentials, enabling both security and controlled transparency without direct exposure of all job details to all users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If concealed jobs are not indicated, then security is maintained, but storage capacity management and operational consistency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejob information securityVSAvoidstorage capacity management

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential presence indication of concealed jobs from the full job details. Instead of displaying complete information, the system extracts and displays only the fact that concealed jobs exist (through icons or indicators). This extraction enables storage capacity management and operational awareness without compromising the security of actual job details.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9992363B2Image processing apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2018.06.05 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An image processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a display controller that controls, for a piece of processing information stored in a memory and that is not concealed, to display details of the piece of processing information on a display, controls, for a piece of processing information stored in the memory and that is concealed, to not display details of the piece of processing information but to indicate a presence of the piece of processing information on the display, and controls to display details of both concealed and non-concealed pieces of processing information on the display, for a user that has been identified as an administrator. The display controller receives a request to delete a piece of processing information that is stored in the memory and that is selected by the user that has been identified as the administrator, even if the piece of processing information is concealed.