Image Forming Apparatus Web Server Connection Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in balancing security and user usability, particularly when transmitting web screen data to terminal devices connected via both network and non-network connections, as they often require excessive user input for approval, which is burdensome and insecure for non-network connections.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a controller with a network driver and a non-network driver, along with a web server that determines the transmission method based on connection type, ensuring secure transmission over networks while eliminating unnecessary approval processes for non-network connections, thereby reducing user burden.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image forming apparatus transmits web screen data to terminal devices connected via network, then security is improved through notification and approval processes, but user operation burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different security policies to different connection types: network connections require notification and approval processes, while non-network connections bypass these processes. This local differentiation of security measures resolves the contradiction by applying appropriate security levels to each connection type rather than a uniform approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication interface into two distinct drivers: a network driver for network connections and a non-network driver for direct connections. This segmentation allows the system to apply different security protocols to each segment, improving security for network connections while maintaining ease of operation for non-network connections.
2Reliability
If the image forming apparatus requires approval input for all transmission requests, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates for non-network connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by applying different security measures to different connection types. Non-network connections (direct USB connections) bypass the approval process entirely, while network connections require notification and approval. This resolves the contradiction by making the security process adaptive to the connection type rather than uniformly applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its security behavior based on the connection type detected. When a non-network driver is used, the system automatically permits transmission without approval. When a network driver is used, the system activates notification and approval processes. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between security and ease of operation.
3Device complexity
If the image forming apparatus uses a single communication driver for both network and non-network connections, then device complexity is reduced, but security and functionality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication driver into two separate drivers: a network driver for network-based communications and a non-network driver for direct USB communications. This segmentation improves security by allowing different security policies for each driver while maintaining clear functional boundaries. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by showing that increased structural complexity enables improved security and functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal communication interface that can handle both network and non-network connections through separate drivers. The web server can serve both connection types, but the communication layer is divided into specialized drivers. This multi-functionality approach resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to handle diverse connection types with appropriate security measures for each.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a user interface, a notification device, and a controller including a network driver performing communication via a network, a non-network driver performing communication with a terminal device connected to the image forming apparatus in a wired manner, without via the network, and a processor configuring a web server generating web screen data. The processor performs: determining whether a request of the web screen data is transmitted via the network driver or the non-network driver; when the request is transmitted via the network driver, notification processing, confirmation processing, and limitedly transmitting the web screen data to the terminal device; and when the request is transmitted via the non-network driver, unlimitedly transmitting the web screen data to the terminal device, without the notification processing and the confirmation processing.