Dynamic Spool Buffer for Secure Print Job Memory Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In shared office printers, there is a risk of confidential information being exposed or stolen when print jobs are not securely managed, as printers often output documents immediately after data transmission, leading to potential unauthorized access or theft.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a memory spool buffer that controls the size of the spool area for secure print jobs, allowing secure printing only after user authorization, thereby preventing premature output and utilizing volatile memory efficiently to prolong its lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If print data is immediately output after transmission, then printing speed is improved, but confidential information may be exposed to unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by requiring user authentication and authorization before print data is output. The system stores print data in a spool buffer and waits for user confirmation at the printer device before releasing the data for printing. This preliminary authentication step prevents unauthorized access to confidential information while maintaining the ability to print quickly once authorized.
2Reliability
If a large spool area is allocated for secure print jobs, then secure printing capability is improved, but memory resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the spool area allocation flexible rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the spool area size based on the actual needs of secure print jobs. The system can allocate memory resources adaptively, expanding the spool area when secure print jobs require it and reducing allocation when not needed, thereby balancing secure printing capability with memory resource efficiency.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If print data is held in memory for secure printing, then information security is improved, but memory lifespan is reduced due to increased write operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing memory management parameters for secure print jobs. The system carefully controls write operations to the spool buffer, manages memory allocation efficiently, and implements strategies to reduce unnecessary write cycles. By adjusting these memory management parameters, the system maintains information security through proper data holding while minimizing the impact on memory lifespan.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus accepts an input related to a secure print job, controls a size of a spool area in a predetermined memory for secure print jobs in response to an input related to the accepted secure print job, and executes secure printing based on the secure print job in response to a user operation. Non-secure printing is executed based on a non-secure print job without a user operation being performed, acceptance of the input related to the secure print job is acceptance of an input indicating that an environment of the printing apparatus is an environment in which secure printing is executed more than non-secure printing, and in response to the accepted input, the size of the spool area for secure print jobs in the predetermined memory becomes larger than a size of a spool area for non-secure print jobs in the predetermined memory.