Networked Image Forming Device Login State Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In image forming systems, the lack of secure exclusive permission for registered users leads to security issues and operational inefficiencies due to unintended login states and function settings, particularly when users fail to log out properly, causing other users to be locked out and necessitating inconvenient resets on different devices.

Innovation Solution

An image forming system that includes multiple devices connected via a network, where each device has a storage unit for authentication information and an operational unit for inputting authentication data, with a controller that checks for and manages login states and function settings across devices to ensure secure logout and maintain appropriate settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a user logs into multiple image forming devices without logout, then the user can access functions on different devices, but security is compromised and other users cannot login to those devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser access to multiple devicesVSAvoidsecurity of login permission

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by having the newly logged-in device (second device) automatically detect the user's existing login status on other devices and send logout instructions to those devices. This feedback mechanism ensures that a user can only be logged into one device at a time, maintaining security while allowing flexible access across the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the user to manually logout from each device, the system inverts the approach by having the system automatically initiate logout from previous devices when the user logs into a new device. This inversion of the logout initiation responsibility simplifies user operation while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a user moves to another image forming device with different functions, then the user can access desired functions, but the user must perform troublesome reset operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to different functionsVSAvoidreset operation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically copying the function settings from the device the user just logged out of to the new device the user logged into. This preliminary setting transfer eliminates the need for the user to manually reset or reconfigure functions when moving between devices, significantly improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides self-service by automatically managing the transfer and application of function settings between devices without requiring user intervention. The system detects which functions were used and automatically configures the new device with appropriate settings, freeing the user from manual reset operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the system automatically logs out users from previous devices, then security is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of login permissionVSAvoidlogin management control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller in each image forming device is designed with multi-functionality, handling both local login authentication and network-wide login status management. This universal design allows the same controller to manage security protocols across multiple devices without requiring additional specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9369600B2Image forming system and image forming device for performing control in accordance with user authentication information

Publication Date: 2016.06.14 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

An image forming system includes a plurality of image forming devices connected in data communication with each other via a network. Each of the image forming devices includes a storage unit, an operational unit, and a controller. If one user logs into a first image forming device among the image forming devices, a controller of the first image forming device checks for the existence of a second image forming device into which the user has logged. If the controller of the first image forming device determines the second image forming device into which the user has logged, the controller transmits a logout instruction of the user to the second image forming device.