Image Forming Apparatus Print Restriction Approval Workflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image forming apparatuses lack a secure mechanism to ensure that documents under print restriction are only printed after approval from authorized approvers, as existing systems allow approvers to grant approval without confirming the document content, compromising security.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a print restriction information table that stores documents under restriction and their corresponding approvers, which communicates with the approvers' terminals to request approval and only executes the print job when approval is received from all authorized approvers within a specified time frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image forming apparatus stores print restriction information and communicates with approvers' terminals to request approval, then document security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image forming apparatus acts as an intermediary between the document management system and approvers' terminals. It receives print jobs, checks them against stored print restriction information, communicates with approvers' terminals to obtain approval, and only executes printing when approval is confirmed. This intermediary role enables secure document printing control without requiring direct integration between all system components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing print restriction information in advance and checking print jobs against this information before execution. The apparatus proactively communicates with approvers' terminals to obtain approval before printing restricted documents, rather than reacting after a printing attempt. This preliminary verification mechanism enhances security while maintaining systematic control.
2Reliability
If the apparatus checks print jobs against stored restriction information and communicates with approvers, then printing security is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by communicating with approvers' terminals to obtain approval status for restricted print jobs. The image forming apparatus sends requests to approvers' terminals and waits for their responses before proceeding with printing. This feedback mechanism ensures that printing security requirements are met while providing a clear approval workflow.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a print restriction information table, a print job receiver, a print job decider, a communication unit, a print job reception notifier, and a print job executor. The print restriction information table contains a document under print restriction and an approver. The print job receiver receives a print job for printing the document. The print job reception notifier transmits a notice that the print job has been received, to the terminal managed by the approver through the communication unit, when the print job decider has decided that the print job is for printing the document registered in the print restriction information table. The print job executor executes the print job, when the print job that is same as the print job received by the print job receiver is received from the terminal managed by the approver.