Master-Slave Image Processing Authentication Token Relay
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication systems where a master machine facilitates external access for a slave machine, there is a need for a mechanism to enable the master machine to acquire an access token for the slave machine, especially in advanced authentication scenarios like OAuth, to allow secure and authorized access to external servers.
Innovation Solution
The system includes image processing apparatuses configured as both master and slave machines, where the master machine acquires an access token from an authorization server based on pre-set authentication settings and uses it to access external servers, and in case of failure, the slave machine can perform authentication and access if set conditions are met, ensuring continuous data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the slave machine performs authentication and accesses the external server directly, then the access reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to requiring authentication mechanisms in both master and slave machines
Solution Approach 1:
The master machine serves as an intermediary between the slave machine and the external server. The slave machine sends transmission requests to the master machine, which then performs authentication with the external server using its own credentials and relays the data. This eliminates the need for the slave machine to have direct authentication capabilities while maintaining access reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the master machine acquires access token for the slave machine, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of information increases due to token management complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The master machine autonomously manages its own authentication credentials and access tokens without requiring external assistance. When the slave machine needs to access the external server, the master machine independently performs the authentication flow, obtains the necessary tokens, and uses them to relay data. This self-service approach simplifies operation while minimizing information loss through proper token management.
3Reliability
If the slave machine can take over authentication when master machine fails, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to dual authentication capability
Solution Approach 1:
The slave machine pre-acquires authentication credentials and access tokens in advance, storing them securely for future use. This preliminary authentication setup enables the slave machine to immediately take over the master machine's role in case of failure, ensuring system reliability without requiring complex real-time authentication mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operational parameters of the slave machine based on the master machine's status. When the master machine is operational, the slave machine operates in a simplified mode without direct authentication. When the master machine fails, the slave machine transitions to an authenticated mode using pre-acquired credentials, thereby taking over the external server access role.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system includes plural image processing apparatuses for which a master machine and a slave machine are set, in which the image processing apparatus set as the slave machine has a function of transmitting an execution request for processing of transmitting data to an external server, and image data of a transmission target to the image processing apparatus set as the master machine, and the image processing apparatus set as the master machine has a function of acquiring an access token for accessing the external server from an authorization server based on an authentication setting performed for the authorization server in advance, and accessing the external server by using the access token, and a function of, in a case where the execution request and the image data are received from the image processing apparatus set as the slave machine, acquiring the access token for accessing the external server from the authorization server based on the authentication setting of the image processing apparatus set as the master machine, accessing the external server by using the access token, and transmitting the image data, in a form attached to an email, to the external server.