Document Reading Apparatus with Access Authority Search
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing document scanning technologies are inefficient and prone to information leakage, as they allow unrestricted access to image files stored in databases, leading to potential data breaches during the scanning of multiple-page documents.
Innovation Solution
A document reading apparatus that includes a document-feeding unit, a document-reading unit, a file-storage apparatus with set access authority, a file-search unit, and a notification unit, which allows users to search for and access only relevant image files, reducing scanning time and preventing information leakage by limiting access to authorized users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If image files are stored in a database for quick access, then scanning time is reduced, but information security deteriorates due to unrestricted access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different access rights for different users. The file storage apparatus stores image files with associated access right information, and the file search unit selectively searches only for files that the current user has permission to access. This creates localized access control where each user can only retrieve files within their authorized scope, resolving the contradiction between fast database access and information security.
2Ease of operation
If all image files are made accessible to all users, then ease of operation is improved, but information leakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of access right information that mediates between users and image files. The file search unit acts as an intermediary that automatically filters files based on user permissions, eliminating the need for manual security checks while preventing unauthorized access. This intermediary layer maintains ease of operation for authorized users while blocking information leakage to unauthorized users.
Data Source
AI summary
The amount of time for scanning a document that includes plural pages is shortened and information leakage is prevented.A file-storage apparatus (12) stores image data of a document that is scanned before as an image file for which access authority is set. A document-feeding unit (3) feeds a document one page at a time from the starting page. A document-reading unit (2) reads that document that is fed by the document-feeding unit (3), and converts the document to image data. A file-search unit (111) that, when a specified number of pages from the start of a document is read by the document-reading unit (2) according to an instruction from a user, searches, based on respective image data of the specified number of pages at the start that are read and access authority, for an image file from the file-storage apparatus (12) that is accessible by the user and that corresponds to the document as a corresponding image file. A liquid-crystal-display unit of an operation unit (5) as a notification unit notifies the user of a corresponding image file that is found by the file-search unit (111).