Offline Policy-Based Printing System with Cost Reimbursement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing policy-based printing systems are limited to closed private domain environments, making it difficult for users, such as on-the-go professionals, to access and print data in public locations where policy-based printing is not supported.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves printing a document, determining its cost, generating a cost reimbursement data file using a mobile application, and submitting it to a public server, which then associates the file with a ledger on a private server, applying the relevant policy for payment processing, even when the private server is not available.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If policy-based printing is implemented in a closed private domain environment, then security and policy compliance are improved, but accessibility and ease of operation in public locations deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a public server as an intermediary between users in public locations and the private domain printing system. This mediator enables users to access printing services in public locations while maintaining security and policy compliance through the private server, thus resolving the contradiction between accessibility and policy enforcement
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into multiple components: a public server for accessibility, a private server for security and policy management, and printing devices that can operate in both environments. This segmentation allows the system to provide public access while maintaining private domain control and policy compliance
2Productivity
If printing operations are allowed when the private server is unavailable, then productivity and ease of operation are improved, but policy compliance and security may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing printing policies and credentials locally in the printing device before the private server becomes unavailable. This allows the device to continue operating according to pre-loaded policies during offline periods, maintaining productivity while ensuring policy compliance through预先 stored guidelines
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where printing devices periodically synchronize with the private server to update policies and report printing activities. This feedback loop ensures that even when operating independently, devices remain aligned with current policies and can resume full compliance verification once the server is available again
Data Source
AI summary
A policy-based printing system is implemented to allow access to a private domain to print using a public domain. The private domain includes private servers that store documents. The public domain includes servers and a printing device. A public policy server uses a domain list and a protocol connection with a private authentication server to validate a user and identify which private domain to access. The public policy server receives requests from the printing device to process a print job of a document in the private domain. If the private server is off-line, then the printing device prints the document and a cost reimbursement request is submitted to account for the printed document.