Password Display Switching for Secure Visual Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing apparatuses lack a sophisticated mechanism to dynamically switch between display modes of confidential information, such as passwords, to ensure privacy when needed and visibility when required, without compromising user convenience.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus equipped with a controller, switching operation decider, and condition establishment decider to manage display modes between masked and express forms based on user inputs and predefined conditions, ensuring secure and user-friendly password visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the password is displayed in masked form to protect confidentiality, then security is improved, but usability deteriorates because the user cannot visually confirm the password
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic display mode switching between masked and unmasked forms. The system automatically transitions from masked display to unmasked display when specific conditions are met (such as user authentication or timeout), allowing the password visibility to change based on operational context. This resolves the contradiction by providing both security (masked view) and verification capability (unmasked view) at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the display parameter of the password from masked to unmasked state based on predetermined conditions. The controller monitors conditions such as user input, time elapsed, or authentication status, and switches the display parameter accordingly. This parameter change enables the system to maintain security while allowing verification when needed.
2Ease of operation
If the password is displayed in unmasked form to enable visual confirmation, then usability is improved, but security deteriorates because third parties can view the password
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between unmasked and masked display modes based on real-time condition monitoring. When conditions indicate security risk (such as abnormal user behavior or unauthorized access attempts), the system automatically returns to masked display, thus maintaining security while allowing verification when safe.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors system conditions and provides feedback to adjust the display mode. When conditions change (such as user authentication failure or timeout), the system receives feedback and switches the display accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures security is maintained while allowing verification when appropriate.
3Extent of automation
If automatic switching based on conditions is implemented, then security is improved by reducing manual intervention, but device complexity increases due to additional control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs multiple functions: it manages the display mode switching, monitors conditions, and executes the switching logic. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional controller, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving automation.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a controller that switches a display mode of a password between a masked display mode that restricts the password from being visually recognized, and an express display mode that enables the password to be visually recognized, a switching operation decider that decides whether a switching operation of the display mode has been performed, and a condition establishment decider that decides whether a specific switching condition has been established. The controller switches the display mode to the express display mode when the operation for switching to the express display mode is performed during the masked display mode, switches the display mode to the masked display mode when the operation for switching to the masked display mode is performed during the express display mode, and switches the display mode to the masked display mode when the specific switching condition is established during the express display mode.