Image Reading Apparatus with Destination-Based Password Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image reading apparatuses often transmit scan data to erroneous destinations or require password protection for all data, leading to user inconvenience and security risks.

Innovation Solution

An image reading apparatus that transmits scan data without a password to the operator's designated destination and protects it with a password for other destinations, allowing users to set security levels based on transmission preferences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If scan data is transmitted without password protection, then user convenience is improved, but security is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating password protection based on the transmission destination. Scan data transmitted to destinations other than the operator's own receives password protection, while data transmitted to the operator's destination does not require protection. This localized differentiation of security measures resolves the contradiction by providing security only where necessary, maintaining convenience for self-access while protecting against unauthorized access for external destinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If password protection is applied to all scan data, then security is improved, but user convenience is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements local quality by applying password protection selectively only to scan data destined for locations other than the operator's own. This localized security approach ensures that security measures are in place where needed (external transmissions) while eliminating unnecessary security steps for internal access (operator's own destination), thereby resolving the contradiction between security and convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If scan data is transmitted to multiple destinations, then versatility is improved, but security management complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission flexibilityVSAvoidsecurity management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing transmission destinations into two distinct categories: the operator's own destination and other destinations. This segmentation enables the system to automatically apply different security treatments to different destination groups, managing security complexity through systematic classification while maintaining versatility in multi-destination transmission capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by automatically determining which destinations require password protection based on pre-stored operator identification information. The processor autonomously compares transmission destinations against stored operator data and applies appropriate security measures without requiring manual security configuration for each destination, thereby reducing security management complexity while supporting versatile transmission options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4131915B1Image reading apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 TOSHIBA TEC KK
  • EP4131915B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4131915B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4131915B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An image reading apparatus includes a scanner, an operation panel, a communication interface, and a processor. The scanner is configured to read an image of a document. The operation panel is configured to designate a transmission destination of scan data, the scan data including image data of the document read by the scanner. The communication interface is configured to transmit the scan data to the transmission destination designated on the operation panel. The processor is configured to transmit the scan data to the transmission destination without a password in response to the transmission destination designated on the operation panel being a transmission destination of an operator who operates the operation panel, and transmit the scan data protected with a password to the transmission destination in response to the transmission destination designated on the operation panel including a transmission destination of any person other than the operator.