Multifunction Peripheral Authentication Information Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multifunction peripherals (MFPs) that support multiple authentication schemes face complexity in managing user information, leading to overlapping sets of user data and reduced user-friendliness due to the need for individual passwords for each authentication scheme.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with separate authentication units for each scheme, an input unit for user information registration, and a control unit that manages user information uniquely for each scheme while allowing unified management of common information across schemes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If user information is managed individually for each authentication scheme, then each scheme can be implemented independently, but the management of user information becomes complex and overlapping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments user information into two distinct types: common user information (managed by the common user information management unit) and scheme-specific user information (managed by the individual user information management units). This segmentation allows each authentication scheme to be implemented independently while avoiding management complexity through clear separation of concerns.
2Reliability
If different authentication passwords are registered for each authentication scheme, then security can be maintained for each scheme, but user-friendliness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by allowing a single common authentication password to be used across multiple authentication schemes. The common user information management unit stores authentication passwords that can be utilized by different authentication schemes, eliminating the need for users to remember and manage separate passwords for each scheme while maintaining security through the distributed architecture.
3Ease of operation
If common user information is shared across multiple authentication schemes, then user-friendliness is improved, but the individual scheme requirements may not be met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments user information management into two independent layers: common user information (user IDs, common passwords) managed by a common unit, and scheme-specific information (algorithm selections, protocol parameters) managed by individual units for each authentication scheme. This segmentation enables both common access and scheme-specific requirements to be satisfied simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the common user information management unit and the individual user information management units. It determines which authentication scheme to use based on the access method, retrieves appropriate common user information, and passes it to the corresponding scheme-specific management unit for validation, ensuring both commonality and scheme-specific requirements are met.
Data Source
AI summary
When user information to be registered for SNMP authentication is input, an information processing apparatus confirms whether or not user information for MFP authentication is already managed for a user to be registered who is indicated by the input user information. In the case where the user information for MFP authentication is not managed for the user to be registered, the information processing apparatus registers the input user information as user information for SNMP authentication. In the case where the user information for MFP authentication is managed for the user, the information processing apparatus registers information specific to SNMP authentication, i.e. information other than an authentication password, out of the input user information.