Image Job Routing by Security Level Across Networked Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing systems face challenges in efficiently executing jobs with appropriate security levels, particularly when users accidentally attempt to perform confidential tasks on general-use devices, leading to potential information leakage, and existing solutions are cumbersome or not applicable to stand-alone multi-function peripherals.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that identifies job and device security levels, transfers jobs to higher-security devices when necessary, and provides user interfaces for job management, including temporary security level adjustments to execute confidential tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a censorship server is used to determine security class before job transmission, then information leakage risk is reduced, but user operation becomes more troublesome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing apparatus automatically performs security level determination and job transfer operations without requiring user intervention. The apparatus autonomously compares the job security level with its own security level, and if insufficient, automatically transfers the job to another apparatus with adequate security level, eliminating the need for users to manually find appropriate devices
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automatic feedback mechanisms where the image processing apparatus receives job data, determines its own security level, compares it with the job security level, and based on this comparison feedback, either executes the job or transfers it to another apparatus. This closed-loop feedback system automates the security verification process
2Reliability
If separate image processing apparatuses are used for confidential and general jobs, then information leakage risk is reduced, but device complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing apparatus is designed with multi-functionality to handle both general jobs and confidential jobs. By equipping each apparatus with automatic security level determination and job transfer capabilities, a single apparatus can serve multiple security levels, eliminating the need for completely separate systems for confidential and general operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses security level as a dynamic parameter that can be determined and compared automatically. Each apparatus has a configurable security level parameter, and the system dynamically adjusts job routing based on the comparison between job security level and apparatus security level, allowing flexible security management without fixed physical separations
3Reliability
If users must manually find and re-transmit jobs to appropriate devices, then security level compliance is maintained, but time consumption and user effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing apparatus performs preliminary security level determination and comparison before job execution. By automatically checking whether its security level is sufficient for the job before attempting execution, and proactively transferring the job to an appropriate apparatus if not, the system prevents security violations and eliminates the need for users to manually search for suitable devices
Solution Approach 2:
The image processing apparatus acts as an intermediary between job submission and job execution. It receives jobs, determines its own security level, compares it with the job security level, and based on this intermediary assessment, either executes the job or transfers it to another apparatus, automating what would otherwise require manual user intervention
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus determines the security level of an obtained job with a job security level determination unit, and determines the security level of the image processing apparatus with a device security level determination unit. The image processing apparatus compares the job security level and the device security level and, in a case where the device security level is lower than the job security level, searches for an image processing apparatus on the same network with a device security level higher than or equal to the job security level, which is able to execute the job, with a network device search unit. In a case where an image processing apparatus which is able to execute the job is present, the image processing apparatus transfers to the job to this image processing apparatus with a job transfer unit without executing the job.