Image Forming Apparatus Transmission Destination Rewriting for Security

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image forming apparatuses face a trade-off between security and user convenience, as restricting transmission destinations to authenticated user addresses can limit functionality and convenience.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a control unit that rewrites registered transmission destinations to a predetermined authenticated user's address when security restrictions are applied, maintaining user convenience while enhancing security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If transmission destinations are restricted to authenticated user addresses, then security is improved, but user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines the authenticated user's address and rewrites transmission destinations without requiring manual user input or confirmation. The apparatus serves itself by autonomously resolving the conflict between security restrictions and transmission settings, thereby maintaining user convenience while enforcing security policies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs destination rewriting in advance during the transmission setup phase, before the user executes the transmission. By proactively adjusting the transmission destination to match the authenticated user's address, the system prevents security violations before they occur, eliminating the need for post-authentication restrictions that would inconvenience users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If transmission destinations are restricted to authenticated user addresses, then security is improved, but transmission functionality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidtransmission functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system proactively rewrites transmission destinations to authenticated user addresses before transmission execution. This preliminary intervention ensures that security constraints are satisfied in advance, allowing the transmission function to operate freely within the constrained destination space, thereby maintaining versatility without compromising security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission destination is dynamically adjusted based on the authenticated user's identity. Rather than using a fixed restriction policy, the system adapts the transmission destination to match the current user's registered address, enabling flexible transmission functionality that automatically conforms to security requirements for each user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11522853B2Image forming apparatus having transmission function, and control method and storage medium therefor
Publication Date: 2022.12.06 CANON KK
  • US11522853B2 patent drawing
  • US11522853B2 patent drawing
  • US11522853B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An image forming apparatus capable of maintaining user's convenience in performing transmission while utilizing a transmission setting even when destinations usable for the transmission according to the transmission setting are restricted to a predetermined destination such as an authenticated user's address in order to enhance security. In a case where destinations usable for the transmission according to the transmission setting are restricted to an authenticated user's address and where at least one transmission destination registered in the transmission setting differs from the user's address, the at least one transmission destination registered in the transmission setting is rewritten to the authenticated user's address.