Image Forming Apparatus Cloud Sync Security
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in securely synchronizing personal setting information with external devices while managing data size and performance, especially when third-party extension programs are involved, leading to security concerns and usability issues.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a platform that distinguishes between data handled by third-party and vendor-developed programs, using a synchronization unit to manage personal setting information, ensuring secure cloud synchronization by specifying registration destinations and permissions, and employing a tree structure for access rights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cloud-based data linkage is applied to personal setting information handled by third-party extension programs without restriction, then data sharing capability is improved, but security control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments personal setting information into two distinct categories: information that can be synchronized to the cloud and information that cannot. This is achieved through identification mechanisms that differentiate between data types, allowing selective synchronization. The segmentation enables third-party programs to access and share appropriate data while maintaining security boundaries for sensitive information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary identification mechanism that acts as a mediator between third-party extension programs and the cloud synchronization system. This intermediary layer verifies and identifies which personal setting information should be synchronized, preventing direct unrestricted access while enabling controlled data sharing. The identification system serves as a security gateway that balances accessibility and protection.
2Ease of operation
If all personal setting information is synchronized with the cloud, then data accessibility is improved, but data size and performance overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary and appropriate personal setting information for cloud synchronization, separating it from information that should remain local. By identifying and extracting only the relevant data subset, the system achieves cloud accessibility without the performance overhead of synchronizing all data. This selective extraction reduces data transmission volume and storage requirements while maintaining essential functionality.
3Reliability
If analysis processing is performed to categorize data content, then security control is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary identification mechanisms that categorize personal setting information in advance, before synchronization operations occur. By pre-identifying which data should be synchronized and which should not, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming analysis processing during actual synchronization operations. The preliminary categorization maintains security control while significantly reducing processing time during data operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Permission of an extension program is checked, the data of an extension program having authority is distinguished from the data of an extension program having no authority, and only the data of the extension program having authority is synchronized, thereby ensuring the performance and security.