Image Forming Apparatus Login Program Abnormality Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face issues where an abnormality in the login program leads to forced termination, resulting in unrestricted access to all menus, including administrator menus, compromising security and functionality.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a user authentication system that includes a reception unit, a restriction unit, and a control unit to detect abnormalities in the login program, restrict job execution, and allow disabling operations without terminating the login program, ensuring continued normal operation and secure access control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the login program is forcibly terminated when an abnormality is detected, then system stability is improved, but security is worsened because all menus including administrator menus become accessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the login program from the system when an abnormality is detected, rather than forcibly terminating it. By removing the problematic component while maintaining the authentication mechanism, the system prevents unauthorized access to administrator menus while still handling the abnormal login program appropriately. This resolves the contradiction by achieving both system stability and security.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the login program continues to operate when an abnormality is detected, then security is maintained, but system reliability is worsened due to continued abnormal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful abnormal operation of the login program into a beneficial state by detecting the abnormality and transitioning to a restricted mode. The abnormal operation is transformed into an opportunity to enhance security by restricting menu access, thus converting the harmful situation into a beneficial security measure while maintaining system control.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If job execution is restricted when login program abnormality is detected, then security is improved, but ease of operation is worsened due to limited functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by restricting only the specific functionality related to the abnormal login program while maintaining other system operations. Instead of globally restricting all job execution, the system selectively limits access to administrator menus and specific functions that could be compromised, while allowing normal user operations to continue, thus balancing security with ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus that performs authentication of a user by a login program that operates on firmware and that, upon detection an abnormality of the login program, restricts execution of a job without causing the login program to terminate, and, while execution of the job is being restricted, controls to enable reception of an operation for disabling the login program via a reception unit for receiving an operation by a user via an operation unit, and, in accordance with the operation for disabling, causes the restricted job to be executed.