Document Image Superimposed Code for Data Leakage Tracing

Solution Overview

Problem

Current image forming apparatuses lack effective mechanisms to trace and manage personal information, such as fax numbers and email addresses, which can lead to unauthorized data leakage, making it difficult to identify who accessed and leaked the data.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus that generates a document image with a superimposed code image containing a medium ID, allowing correlation of managed data with the ID, enabling tracing of data leakage by storing correspondence information and using a medium ID to retrieve relevant data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If access control permission flags are used to restrict data access, then data security is improved, but the ability to trace data leakage is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata securityVSAvoidtracing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by embedding trace information (medium ID, timestamp, user ID) into the document image before output. This ensures that even if data is later accessed or leaked, the trace information is already embedded and can be used to identify the source of leakage, thus resolving the contradiction between access control and tracing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary trace information layer that mediates between the controlled data and the output medium. This trace information acts as a bridge that connects the original data to its output instance, enabling tracing without interfering with the access control mechanism. The trace information includes medium ID, timestamp, and user ID that link back to the original data access event.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If personal information is stored inside the image forming apparatus for convenient access, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of data leakage is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access convenienceVSAvoiddata leakage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by embedding trace information (medium ID, timestamp, user ID) into the document image before output. This ensures that even if data is later accessed or leaked, the trace information is already embedded and can be used to identify the source of leakage, thus resolving the contradiction between access control and tracing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by creating a traceability loop where output documents contain embedded identifiers that can be tracked back to their source. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor and trace data usage, providing accountability for stored personal information while maintaining convenient access capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If data access permission is granted to authorized users, then productivity is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring data leakage is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access efficiencyVSAvoidleakage detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by embedding trace information (medium ID, timestamp, user ID) into the document image before output. This ensures that even if data is later accessed or leaked, the trace information is already embedded and can be used to identify the source of leakage, thus resolving the contradiction between access control and tracing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary trace information layer that mediates between the controlled data and the output medium. This trace information acts as a bridge that connects the original data to its output instance, enabling tracing without interfering with the access control mechanism. The trace information includes medium ID, timestamp, and user ID that link back to the original data access event.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7619781B2Image processing and medium management with medium ID code image superimposed on document image

Publication Date: 2009.11.17 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An image processing apparatus includes a document image generating section, a medium ID generating section, a correspondence information storing section and an image output section. A document image generating section generates a document image based on a managed data in the apparatus. A medium ID generating section generates a medium ID for identifying a medium on which the document image is printed. A correspondence information storing section stores correspondence information by which the managed data and the medium ID are correlated with each other. An image output section outputs an image in which a code image indicating the medium ID is superimposed on the document image.