Print Driver Policy Compliance Service
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printer technologies lack effective mechanisms to enforce security policies on print jobs, particularly for sensitive documents, which may contain confidential information, and fail to provide timely feedback on print job status, leading to potential compliance breaches and unauthorized printing.
Innovation Solution
A dedicated or universal print driver that analyzes print jobs using machine learning techniques and communicates with a Data Leakage Prevention (DLP) service to enforce security policies, such as restricting print access based on document content, user permissions, and device-specific rules, while providing timely feedback and digital signatures for compliance verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional printer drivers are used to convert document data to printer-specific formats, then printing functionality is maintained, but security policies cannot be enforced and confidential information may be printed without authorization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component called the policy compliance service that sits between the printer driver and the printing device. This service intercepts print jobs, evaluates them against security policies, and determines whether printing should be allowed. The print driver remains unchanged in its core functionality but gains enhanced security capabilities through this intermediary layer that wraps around it, allowing policy enforcement without redesigning the entire printing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the printing system into distinct functional components: the printer driver that handles format conversion, the policy compliance service that handles security evaluation, and the printing device that executes the print job. By separating the security evaluation function from the print driver, the system can enforce policies without complicating the driver's core functionality, as each component has a dedicated responsibility.
2Reliability
If print jobs are processed without compliance verification, then printing speed is maintained, but unauthorized printing of sensitive documents may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The policy compliance service performs security evaluations and compliance verifications in advance, before the actual printing process begins. By evaluating print jobs against security policies upfront and determining approval status beforehand, the system ensures compliance without adding delays during the critical printing phase. The printing device can then execute approved jobs immediately without additional verification overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the policy compliance service evaluates print jobs and provides immediate feedback on compliance status. Approved jobs receive positive feedback allowing them to proceed to the printing device, while non-compliant jobs receive negative feedback blocking them from printing. This feedback loop ensures compliance verification is integrated seamlessly into the workflow without requiring manual intervention or slowing down the overall process.
3Reliability
If comprehensive security policies are implemented for all print jobs, then data protection is enhanced, but system complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The policy compliance service is designed as a universal component that handles multiple security policy evaluations through a single unified interface. Rather than implementing separate evaluation mechanisms for different types of print jobs or security requirements, the service provides multi-functional policy evaluation that can assess various policy types (confidentiality, integrity, authorization) through one centralized system, reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The policy compliance service autonomously evaluates print jobs against security policies without requiring external intervention or complex coordination with other system components. It independently determines compliance status, makes authorization decisions, and communicates results back to the printing system, allowing the security evaluation function to serve itself and reducing the burden on the broader system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples disclosed herein relate to receiving a request to perform an operation on a document, determining whether the document complies with a plurality of operation policies, and in response to determining that the document complies with the plurality of operation policies, providing a notification that the operation is ready to be performed and digitally signing the document.