Image Forming Apparatus Security Document Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses lack the capability to generate and transmit security documents tailored to specific security levels for multiple destinations, leading to potential security breaches and inefficient information dissemination.

Innovation Solution

The image forming apparatus is equipped with a processor that detects security levels of scanned documents and user destinations by comparing document content with pre-registered security images or keywords. It then generates and transmits security documents containing only the information accessible to each user based on their designated security level.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the image forming apparatus transmits the same scanned document to multiple destinations without security level differentiation, then the transmission process is simple and fast, but sensitive information may be exposed to unauthorized users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation securityVSAvoiddocument processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scanned document is segmented into multiple security levels based on sensitivity. The processor identifies different security levels within the document and creates separate security documents for each level, transmitting only appropriate portions to each destination based on their authorized security clearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different security levels are assigned to different portions of the document based on their sensitivity. Each section of the document receives a specific security classification, allowing selective transmission of appropriate content to each destination according to their security level without affecting the entire document.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the image forming apparatus generates customized security documents for each destination based on security levels, then information security is improved, but the processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation securityVSAvoiddocument transmission time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Security levels are pre-assigned to different portions of the document during the scanning process. The processor maintains a security level map that identifies which sections belong to which security level, enabling rapid generation of customized security documents for multiple destinations without time-consuming analysis during transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of manually creating separate documents for each security level, the processor automatically generates multiple copies of the document with appropriate security-level-based content filtering. Each copy is quickly produced by referencing the pre-established security level mappings and transmitting to corresponding destinations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If the image forming apparatus transmits all document information to all destinations, then complete information dissemination is achieved, but unauthorized access to sensitive information occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation dissemination efficiencyVSAvoidunauthorized information access

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission process dynamically adjusts the content parameter based on the security level of each destination. The processor modifies which portions of the document are included in the transmission by comparing destination security levels with document section security levels, ensuring efficient dissemination of only appropriate information to each recipient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If the image forming apparatus implements security level detection and document customization, then access control is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess controlVSAvoidsecurity processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The processor automatically performs security level detection, document segmentation, and customized generation without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the complex security processing by autonomously comparing destination security levels with document content security levels and generating appropriate security documents for each destination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250126218A1Sending security document according to security level of multiple destinations

Publication Date: 2025.04.17 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

An example image forming apparatus includes a scanner, a communication unit, a user interface unit, a processor, and a memory to store instructions executable by the processor. The processor is to execute the instructions to obtain information about a plurality of destinations through the user interface unit, generate a scanned document by scanning a document using the scanner, obtain security level information of the scanned document based on security setting information used to detect a security level, generate security documents respectively corresponding to security levels of the plurality of destinations from the scanned document based on the security level information of the scanned document and security level information of the plurality of destinations, and transmit, through the communication unit, the security documents respectively corresponding to the security levels of the plurality of destinations to the plurality of destinations, respectively.