Enterprise Print Authentication via Email Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
In enterprise settings, users face complexity when submitting print jobs to multiple web-connected printers across various geographical locations, requiring determination of email addresses and printer specifications, along with navigating security measures to ensure only authorized users can access enterprise printers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where users submit print jobs to an email address assigned within the enterprise network, with authentication processes performed within the enterprise network to verify user authorization before sending the job to a cloud print service, which then renders and directs the print job to a proximate web-connected printer, maintaining security by keeping sensitive information within the enterprise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users directly connect to web-connected printers across the network, then printing functionality is available, but user complexity increases due to needing to determine printer email addresses and specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an email service as an intermediary between users and web-connected printers. Users send print jobs to a generic email address managed by the email service, which then routes the job to the appropriate printer. This eliminates the need for users to know printer email addresses or specifications, as the email service handles the routing based on user identity and printer availability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If enterprise printers are made accessible over the network, then printing capability is provided, but security risks increase due to potential unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authentication by the authentication service before print jobs are routed to printers. The authentication service verifies user credentials and authorization levels in advance, ensuring that only authorized users can access specific printers. This preliminary security check prevents unauthorized access while maintaining network-wide printing accessibility.
3Reliability
If authentication service is made inaccessible to cloud print service, then enterprise security is maintained, but cloud printing functionality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the printing system into distinct functional components: the email service for job submission, the authentication service for security verification, and the cloud print service for job routing and execution. The authentication service remains inaccessible to the cloud print service, maintaining enterprise security, while the email service acts as a bridge that submits authenticated jobs to the cloud print service without exposing the authentication service itself.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples disclosed herein provide methods and systems for the authentication of a print request. As an example, an email service associated with an enterprise network may receive an electronic message having a destination address indicative of a request to print data included in the message, wherein the destination address may have a domain name associated with the enterprise network. The email service may access an authentication service associated with the enterprise network to determine whether a sender address of the electronic message is a valid address to submit print jobs. Upon determining the sender address is a valid address, the email service may forward the electronic message to a cloud print service to prepare the print job comprising the data included in the message for printing.