Image Processing Apparatus Administrator-Controlled Management Code Superimposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing systems fail to effectively suppress unauthorized use and information leakage by not allowing administrators to restrict the addition of job history or access information as images on print or scan data, which is unnecessary for users but crucial for administrators.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that includes an authenticator, management information collector, necessity determiner, and superimposer to add a code related to management information as an image on data, controlled by an administrator's settings to prevent unauthorized access and leakage, ensuring the code is visually recognizable but not directly ascertainable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If management information codes are superimposed on print or scan data, then unauthorized use and information leakage are suppressed, but the data becomes more complex and user operation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments user rights into different levels: general users who cannot modify management information settings, and administrators who have exclusive rights to configure superimposition parameters. This segmentation allows security features to be enabled without burdening general users with complex settings.
Solution Approach 2:
An administrator acts as an intermediary between the security requirements and general users. The administrator configures the superimposition of management information codes on behalf of users, shielding users from the complexity while ensuring security requirements are met.
2Reliability
If management information is added to data, then tracing and unauthorized use suppression are improved, but the clarity and simplicity of data for general users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses code images (such as barcodes or QR codes) that visually represent management information. These code images serve as compact copies of complex data, enabling tracing and security verification without cluttering the visual presentation with raw text data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of information representation from human-readable text to machine-readable code images. This transformation maintains the full information content for tracing purposes while presenting a simpler visual appearance to general users.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users are allowed to set management information addition, then user flexibility is improved, but the administrator's control and security policy enforcement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing users to freely set management information parameters, the system inverts the control structure: administrators pre-configure the parameters, and users simply receive or reject the configured settings. This ensures security policies are enforced while maintaining user autonomy in accepting or declining.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables administrators to self-configure security parameters without requiring user input. The administrator interface allows independent configuration of superimposition settings, which are then automatically applied to relevant data operations, ensuring consistent security enforcement.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes: an image processor which performs image processing; an authenticator which authenticates an administrator; a management information collector which collects management information related to the image processing; a management information necessity determiner which determines whether or not to add, as an image, a code related to the management information to data subjected to the image processing; a determination condition setter which receives a setting of a determination condition for use in the determination restrictively from the authenticated administrator; a management information superimposing member which superimposes the code related to the management information on the data as an image, based on the determination condition; and an output controller which controls an output of the data to which the image related to the management information is added or not added.