Image Processing System User Consent for Data Search

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing systems do not adequately protect sensitive information, such as personal or secret data, when providing related information to users, and they lack mechanisms to ensure user consent for data searches.

Innovation Solution

The system allows users to select whether to permit searches using extracted information from image data, extracts relevant information, searches a database for related information, and registers the extracted information and source image data, while ensuring user consent and protecting sensitive information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the system extracts and searches for related information from image data without user consent, then the user can receive relevant information, but the user's sensitive information may be exposed and the user loses control over their data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation relevanceVSAvoidinformation protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by obtaining user consent before extracting and searching for related information. The permission acquisition unit secures user approval in advance, ensuring that sensitive information is not exposed without user knowledge or agreement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by providing users with the ability to review and control their information usage. Users can see what information is extracted and searched, and can revoke permission at any time, creating a feedback loop that protects user privacy while maintaining information relevance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the system automatically extracts and searches for related information, then the information provision is efficient, but the user cannot control whether their data is used for searches

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation provision efficiencyVSAvoiduser control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by obtaining user consent before extracting and searching for related information. The permission acquisition unit secures user approval in advance, ensuring that sensitive information is not exposed without user knowledge or agreement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamics by allowing users to adjust their permission settings flexibly. Users can grant or revoke permission at any time during the information provision process, making the system adaptable to user needs while maintaining efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of information

If the system provides related information based on extracted data, then the user receives useful information, but the system cannot distinguish between public and sensitive information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation relevanceVSAvoidinformation safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by obtaining user consent before extracting and searching for related information. The permission acquisition unit secures user approval in advance, ensuring that sensitive information is not exposed without user knowledge or agreement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses an intermediary approach by introducing a permission management layer between the information extraction and the user. This intermediary unit controls what information is processed and shared, acting as a mediator that protects user privacy while enabling relevant information provision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12277357B2Related information providing method for image processing, image processing system, and image processing device

Publication Date: 2025.04.15 SHARP KK

AI summary

A related information providing method for providing related information comprises, controlling an image processing device, and executing a job pertaining to image processing that performs at least one of processing that reads a document and outputs or stores image data, or processing that loads print data and prints or stores image data; causing a user to select whether or not performing a search is permitted using extracted information, which is obtained by extracting information about at least one of a character or an image from image data of the document or the print data; extracting the extracted information from the image data when a search using the extracted information is permitted; searching a database stored in a data storage device for related information that relates to the extracted information; providing the user with the related information; and registering the extracted information and the image data in the database.