Image Forming Apparatus Face Authentication Tracking Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face delays in user authentication via face recognition, leading to inefficiencies as users cannot operate the device until authentication is complete, and there is a risk of displaying incorrect user screens if multiple users approach the device before authentication is finished.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus equipped with an image capturing unit, display, and a controller that captures user images, performs face authentication, tracks authenticated users, and displays user-specific screens only when the user reaches a specific proximity, allowing for faster authentication and preventing incorrect screen displays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If face authentication is performed when a user approaches the image forming apparatus, then the user can be authenticated before reaching the device, but the authentication process takes time and may complete after the user has already reached the device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication timeVSAvoidscreen display accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs face authentication in advance when the user is at a predetermined distance from the image forming apparatus, before the user reaches the device. This preliminary action allows the authentication process to complete ahead of time, reducing waiting time when the user arrives at the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional manual authentication methods (inputting user ID and password) with automated face recognition technology using an image capturing unit. This substitution enables contactless, rapid authentication that completes faster and improves user convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If authentication is started early to complete before the user reaches the device, then authentication speed improves, but the wrong user's screen may be displayed if another user approaches before authentication completes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication speedVSAvoiduser identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the user's approach using the image capturing unit and dynamically adjusts the authentication process. When a user is detected approaching, the system initiates authentication and tracks the user's progress, ensuring the correct user-specific screen is displayed based on real-time feedback about which user is present.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of time

If the image capturing unit starts capturing when the user is far away, then authentication can be prepared in advance, but the device complexity increases due to continuous monitoring requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser waiting timeVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the image capturing unit operates periodically or event-driven. The unit captures images at specific intervals or when motion is detected, reducing computational load and system complexity while still enabling timely authentication when users approach the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12052402B2Image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, and storage medium storing computer program

Publication Date: 2024.07.30 CANON KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus that includes an image capturing unit capturing an image in front of the apparatus; a display displaying a screen; and a controller including one or more processors, the controller configured to function as: an acquisition unit acquiring a face image of a user from the image captured by the image capturing unit; an authentication unit authenticating, using the face image of the user acquired by the acquisition unit, the user who is within a first distance from the apparatus; a tracking unit tracking the user authenticated by the authentication unit; and a control unit causing the display to display a screen that is based on information corresponding to the user tracked by the tracking unit when the user has reached a position at a second distance from the apparatus, the second distance being shorter than the first distance.