Image Processing Apparatus Cloud Authentication Relay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image processing apparatuses face challenges in transmitting image data to cloud services due to difficulties in obtaining user authentication data for specific users, leading to issues with data distribution and access.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus equipped with a detection unit for transmission requests, an acquisition unit for obtaining necessary authentication data, a transmission unit for sending image data to the server, and a setting unit for sharing the data with specific users, enabling secure and appropriate distribution of image data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the image processing apparatus uses its own authentication data to access cloud services, then the data transmission to cloud service is enabled, but the ability to distribute data to specific users is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication function by introducing a relay server that handles user-specific authentication separately from the image processing apparatus's own authentication. This allows the apparatus to maintain its own authentication data for basic cloud access while the relay server manages additional user-specific authentication credentials for targeted data distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay server acts as an intermediary between the image processing apparatus and the cloud service. It receives image data from the apparatus, authenticates using both the apparatus's authentication data and user-specific authentication data, then transmits the data to the cloud service. This intermediary enables the apparatus to distribute data to specific users without compromising its own authentication mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the image processing apparatus obtains user authentication data for each transmission, then user-specific data distribution is enabled, but the complexity of obtaining and managing authentication data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay server serves as an intermediary that centralizes the management of user-specific authentication data. Instead of the image processing apparatus needing to store and manage multiple user authentication credentials, the relay server handles this complexity by maintaining a database of user authentication data and automatically retrieving the appropriate credentials for each transmission request.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay server provides universal authentication handling for multiple users and multiple cloud services. It can authenticate image data transmissions to various users across different cloud service platforms using a unified approach, eliminating the need for the image processing apparatus to implement separate authentication mechanisms for each user and service.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a relay server is introduced to manage authentication data, then user authentication capability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay server is positioned as a dedicated intermediary component that handles authentication complexities externally from the image processing apparatus. This separate authentication server manages user credentials and cloud service connections, allowing the main apparatus to remain relatively simple while gaining enhanced authentication capabilities through the relay server's specialized functions.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus communicable with a server via a network and a control method for the image processing apparatus. A comment including a request to transmit image data to a particular user is monitored, and upon detection of registration of a comment, authentication data of the image processing apparatus, necessary to transmit the image data to the server, is obtained. The image data is transmitted to the server using the obtained authentication data, and setting is made for sharing with the particular user with respect to the image data.