Printer Authority Verification via Contract Server

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional document printing systems do not effectively prevent unauthorized printing by users who have falsified payment or are not contracted to use the printer, leading to potential losses for service providers and reduced user confidence.

Innovation Solution

A printing system that includes a printer and a contract processing server, where the printer determines if authority information is present for a print job and, if valid, transmits an inquiry to the contract processing server to verify the authority information, only proceeding with printing if the information is confirmed valid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the printer accepts print jobs without verifying authority information, then printing operation is simple and fast, but unauthorized printing occurs and service providers incur losses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of unauthorized printingVSAvoidprinting system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a contract processing server as an intermediary between the printer and the user's external device. This server verifies authority information (contract validity) before allowing printing operations. The printer itself remains relatively simple, delegating the complex verification process to the external contract processing server, thus maintaining reliability while controlling device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary verification of authority information before the actual printing operation. The printer sends print job information to the contract processing server in advance to check if the user has valid contract authority. Only after receiving confirmation of valid authority does the printer proceed with printing, preventing unauthorized printing before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the printer verifies authority information with a contract processing server, then unauthorized printing is prevented, but printing process time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthorization validationVSAvoidprinting process time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The verification of authority information is performed as a preliminary step before printing. The printer sends the print job information to the contract processing server to check contract validity in advance. This preliminary action ensures that only authorized print jobs proceed to the printing stage, preventing time loss from unauthorized operations while maintaining efficient processing for legitimate jobs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

For print jobs with valid authority information, the system skips further verification steps and proceeds directly to printing. The contract processing server quickly validates the authority and returns confirmation, allowing the printer to rush through the printing process without additional delays. Invalid jobs are quickly rejected, preventing time waste on unauthorized operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Reliability

If the printer requires authority verification, then service provider losses are prevented, but user confidence may decrease due to additional verification steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice securityVSAvoiduser operation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service by automatically verifying authority information without requiring manual user intervention. The printer autonomously communicates with the contract processing server to validate the user's contract status. Users simply submit their print jobs, and the system handles the verification process in the background, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring service security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The contract processing server acts as an intermediary that handles the complex verification process transparently. Users interact only with the simple interface of submitting print jobs, while the intermediary server manages the authority verification behind the scenes. This separation maintains user convenience while implementing robust security checks to prevent unauthorized printing and protect service providers from losses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20230014463A1Printing system including printer configured to print image when determining that authority information indicating authority to print image is valid

Publication Date: 2023.01.19 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A printing system includes: a printer including a controller; and a contract processing server. The controller is configured to perform: determining, in response to receiving from an external device a print job including print data representing an image, whether authority information indicating an authority to print the image has been issued; and transmitting, in response to determining that the authority information has been issued, to the contract processing server an inquiry for determining whether the authority information is valid. The contract processing server is configured to perform: transmitting, in response to receiving the inquiry, a response to the controller. The controller is configured to further perform: determining, in response to receiving the response, whether the authority information is valid on the basis of the received response; and printing, in response to determining that the authority information is valid, the image on a print medium by controlling the printer.