Image Data Property Extraction for Printing Restriction Enforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses cannot determine if printing is restricted based on additional information until the image file is retrieved and converted to print data, limiting their ability to enforce printing restrictions without accessing and processing the image data stored in a storage device.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus with a controller that generates property and setting data from scanned images, transmits this data along with the image data to a server, allowing for storage and retrieval of additional information without needing to access the original image file, enabling the enforcement of printing restrictions based on user-defined authorities and access tokens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the image forming apparatus retrieves and converts the image file to print data to check additional information, then the additional information can be accessed, but the printing process is delayed and cannot determine restrictions until data retrieval is complete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the additional information from the image file and stores it separately in a database. This allows the image forming apparatus to access restriction information without retrieving and converting the entire image file, significantly reducing the time required to check printing restrictions while maintaining full access to the additional information.
2Device complexity
If the image forming apparatus stores only image data without additional information, then storage is simpler, but the apparatus cannot enforce printing restrictions without accessing the original image file
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data storage into two separate components: image data stored in a storage device and additional information (including restriction data) stored separately in a database. This segmentation maintains simple storage structure while enabling reliable printing restriction enforcement through the establishment of a correspondence relationship between image data and additional information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a correspondence relationship (linking information) as an intermediary that connects image data with additional information in the database. This intermediary enables the image forming apparatus to access restriction information without directly accessing the original image file, thus maintaining storage simplicity while ensuring reliable restriction enforcement.
3Productivity
If the apparatus converts image files to print data locally, then printing can be performed, but the apparatus must process and store large amounts of image data increasing memory and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential additional information (such as printing restrictions) from the image file and stores it separately in a database. This allows the apparatus to maintain full printing capability by accessing restriction information from the database without needing to retrieve, store, or process the entire image data, significantly reducing memory and processing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes a scanner, a communication interface, and a controller. The controller is configured to generate property and setting data of image data that is generated based on image scanning by the scanner, and control the communication interface to transmit the image data and the property and setting data thereof to a server connected to the image processing apparatus through a network, so that the image data and the property and setting data thereof are stored therein in association with each other.