Policy Extraction Unit for Multi-Company Job Execution

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In shared workspaces where multiple companies have different security policies, existing information processing apparatuses struggle to execute jobs when the user's requested policy differs from the administrator-set policy, leading to difficulties in processing jobs.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with an extraction unit that extracts specific policy information and a setting unit that sets this information as new policy information for execution, allowing jobs to be processed based on user-specific policies, even if they differ from the administrator-set policies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the administrator sets a fixed policy to the information processing apparatus, then security control is maintained, but users cannot execute jobs when their company-specific policies differ from the administrator-set policy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolicy adaptabilityVSAvoidpolicy management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The policy information is segmented into multiple types stored in a policy information storage unit, including administrator-set policies and user-requested policies. The extraction unit selectively extracts only the necessary policy type needed for the current job execution, rather than managing all policies uniformly. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different policy requirements without managing the entire policy set, resolving the contradiction between policy adaptability and management complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between different policy information types based on the job execution context. The extraction unit determines which policy type to extract based on the current job requirements, and the policy information is updated accordingly during job execution. This dynamic approach enables the apparatus to adapt to different company policies while maintaining a unified management structure, balancing adaptability with manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the system extracts and sets user-specific policy information for job execution, then job execution is enabled under different policies, but processing load increases during policy switching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejob execution capabilityVSAvoidpolicy switching time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The policy information storage unit pre-stores multiple types of policy information (administrator policies, user company policies) before job execution begins. The extraction unit is pre-configured with the capability to identify and extract the appropriate policy type based on job parameters. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming policy retrieval and processing during actual job execution, enabling fast policy switching while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of creating or processing complex policy information during job execution, the system uses pre-stored copies of different policy types in the policy information storage unit. The extraction unit selects and applies the appropriate policy copy based on the job requirements. This copying approach avoids redundant policy processing, reducing the time loss associated with policy switching while maintaining the ability to execute diverse jobs under different policies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If the apparatus processes jobs with different company policies in a shared workspace, then user flexibility is improved, but the risk of unauthorized use increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser operation flexibilityVSAvoidsecurity reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The extraction unit acts as an intermediary between the user's job request and the policy information storage unit. It selectively extracts and applies only the appropriate policy type based on job parameters, preventing direct access to all stored policies. This intermediary mechanism enables users to execute jobs with their company-specific policies while maintaining security control, as the system only applies authorized policies relevant to each job rather than exposing all policy options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Different policy information types are applied locally to specific job executions based on the job's requirements and user credentials. The system does not uniformly apply one policy to all operations, nor does it expose all policies to all users. Instead, the extraction unit applies the appropriate policy type (administrator policy or user company policy) locally to each job context, providing user flexibility while maintaining security reliability through targeted policy application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11163506B2Information processing apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium
Publication Date: 2021.11.02 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP
  • US11163506B2 patent drawing
  • US11163506B2 patent drawing
  • US11163506B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes an extraction unit and a setting unit. When a job for a specific process is obtained, the extraction unit extracts any piece of multiple different predetermined pieces of first policy information. The setting unit sets the extracted first policy information as second policy information to an execution unit. The extracted first policy information is extracted by the extraction unit. The execution unit does the job on the basis of the second policy information. The second policy information is different from the first policy information.