Guest Printing via Temporary PIN Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current printing systems restrict access to only registered users, causing inconvenience for guests who need to print data, and providing a common guest account can lead to security breaches and increased economic burdens by requiring additional infrastructure.

Innovation Solution

A system that allows guest users to print by generating a Personal Identification Number (PIN) code associated with their print requests, enabling them to access and print data without prior account registration, while maintaining security through user identification and authentication processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a common guest account is provided for printing, then guest users can print data, but security is compromised and economic burden increases due to additional infrastructure requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting accessibility for guestsVSAvoidsecurity of print data
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments guest access by creating individual temporary user accounts with unique identification information for each print request, rather than using a single common account. This segmentation allows multiple guests to print simultaneously while maintaining security isolation between their print jobs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism that generates temporary user accounts based on mail address information. This intermediary layer mediates between the guest user and the print system, enabling secure access without requiring permanent account registration or additional infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If user authentication is required for printing, then security is maintained, but convenience is reduced for guests who need to print without prior account registration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity through authenticationVSAvoidconvenience for guest users
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication by extracting user identification information from the mail address of the print request email. This preliminary action occurs before the printing process, allowing guests to authenticate automatically without needing to register accounts in advance, thus maintaining security while improving convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service authentication for guests by automatically generating temporary user accounts based on their mail address information. Guests serve themselves by simply sending a print request email, and the system automatically handles account creation and authentication without requiring manual registration or administrator intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If dedicated infrastructure is established for guest printing, then guest printing capability is ensured, but economic burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguest printing capabilityVSAvoideconomic cost of infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves multi-functionality by enabling the existing print system to serve both registered users and guest users through a unified architecture. The same print server and authentication mechanisms handle both user types, eliminating the need for separate dedicated infrastructure for guests and reducing economic costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates virtual copies of user accounts temporarily for guest printing needs. Instead of building physical dedicated infrastructure, the system generates software-based temporary account representations that allow guests to access printing services, providing the necessary capability without additional hardware investment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2994824B1Information processing system, information processing method and non-transitory computer readable information recording medium
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP2994824B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2994824B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2994824B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing system includes one or more information processing apparatuses. The system receives, via a network, mail data including output data or output target data; and determines user identification information to be associated with the received output data or output data generated based on the received output target data from user information stored by using address information of a sender of the mail data or address information in transmission destinations of the mail data. When the user identification information is not determined from the address information of the sender but is determined from the address information in the transmission destinations, the system associates data identification information with the output data and stores them; notifies of the data identification information via a network; and transmits, via a network, the output data associated with the user identification information or the data identification information received via a network.