Image Forming Apparatus Authentication for Secure Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses lack effective security measures for authentication processing of maintenance users, despite regulations requiring unique passwords for Internet of Things devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing authentication processing that requires an administrator user to input their password as the maintenance password or confirm a random password, ensuring secure login and subsequent password change for maintenance users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the maintenance user uses the administrator user's authentication information, then the maintenance user can access the image forming apparatus, but the security is compromised because anyone with the administrator password can perform maintenance operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication process into two distinct phases: initial authentication using the administrator's password to verify identity, and subsequent authentication using a separately generated random password for maintenance operations. This segmentation ensures that the administrator password is not stored or reused, maintaining security while enabling maintenance access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary authentication by verifying the administrator user's identity before granting maintenance access. The administrator's password is used in advance to authenticate the maintenance user's identity, and then a random password is generated and transmitted to the administrator's terminal. This preliminary action ensures that only authorized maintenance users can access the system.
2Reliability
If a random password is generated for the maintenance user, then security is enhanced, but the administrator user must manually confirm and input the password which increases operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the administrator's terminal as an intermediary to transmit the random password securely. Instead of directly displaying or storing the password, the system generates it, transmits it through the authenticated administrator's terminal, and then uses it for maintenance authentication. This intermediary approach enhances security while managing complexity through automated processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automates the password generation and transmission process, reducing manual intervention. The random password is automatically generated by the system, transmitted to the administrator's terminal, and can be automatically input or displayed for confirmation, minimizing the administrative burden while maintaining security.
3Ease of operation
If the maintenance password is stored in the storage device, then authentication is simplified, but security is weakened because the stored password can be extracted or compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication using the administrator's password before storing or using any maintenance password. The administrator's identity is verified in advance, and only after successful authentication is a random password generated and used for maintenance operations. This preliminary action ensures that even if passwords are stored, they are protected by prior authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the authentication parameter from a static stored password to a dynamically generated random password that is transmitted and used in memory without permanent storage. This parameter change from static to dynamic authentication significantly reduces the risk of password extraction while maintaining authentication functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a display; one or more storage devices that store authentication information of a user of the apparatus; and one or more controllers that control authentication processing for the user, in which the one or more controllers: control the display such that, when authentication information of an administrator user who performs management of the apparatus is stored as authentication information of a maintenance user who performs maintenance of the device, a notification that requests input of the authentication information by the administrator user is displayed on an authentication screen for the maintenance user; control the display such that, when authentication processing for the maintenance user is successful, a notification prompting a change of the authentication information of the maintenance user is displayed; and store the changed authentication information of the maintenance user when the authentication information of the maintenance user is changed.