Image Processing Apparatus OCR Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing apparatuses face challenges in securely restricting the use of OCR functions while maintaining usability, as prohibiting OCR functions also disables related features like orientation detection and business card scanning, leading to decreased usability and potential information leaks.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus with a controller that restricts the use of character recognition processing based on system settings, allowing internal use while preventing user access, and enabling restricted use of related functions even when OCR is prohibited, ensuring security and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the OCR function is prohibited to ensure security, then information leak prevention is improved, but usability deteriorates because related features like orientation detection and business card scanning are also disabled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the OCR function into two distinct usage modes: internal processing mode and user access mode. The controller separates these functions by allowing internal processes to execute OCR while restricting user access to OCR results, thereby maintaining security while preserving usability of related features
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different access rights to different users or processes. Internal processes are granted full access to OCR results, while regular users are restricted. This local differentiation of permissions allows the system to maintain both security and usability by treating internal and user operations differently
2Reliability
If the character recognition processing is restricted for user access, then security is improved, but the functionality of related features deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments character recognition processing into internal processing operations and user access operations. Internal processes can utilize OCR results for orientation detection, business card scanning, and other features, while user access to OCR results is restricted. This segmentation maintains security while preserving feature functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that manages access to OCR results. It allows internal processes to access character recognition results while blocking user access. This intermediary mechanism ensures that security restrictions do not prevent related features from functioning properly
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a technology or the like including an acquirer that acquires an input image, a character recognizer that performs character recognition processing for recognizing a character included in the input image based on a first setting, an image processer that executes image processing on the input image based on a result of the character recognition processing, an outputter that outputs an output file using at least one of a result of the image processing and the result of the character recognition processing, and a controller that restricts, when a second setting is set, a use of the result of the character recognition processing in the outputter regardless of the first setting.