Printer Data Erasure Segmentation for Security and Usability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing systems, such as printers, face challenges in maintaining data security and usability due to the retention of intermediate processing data and compressed data in nonvolatile storage media after power is turned off, leading to issues of unintended data erasure and prolonged erasure times when multiple user data is present.
Innovation Solution
A data processing method that allows selective setting of erasing modes on a job-by-job basis, enabling various erasure techniques such as management information erasure, overwriting start data blocks, or entire data blocks, to ensure high-speed and secure data deletion compatible with user needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all data in storage medium are erased to maintain data security, then data security is improved, but usability deteriorates due to unintended erasure of user data and increased erasure time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the erasure operation into two distinct modes: erasure of management information only (fast mode) and erasure of all data including user data (secure mode). By dividing the erasure function into these segments, the system can selectively apply the appropriate level of erasure based on security requirements without unnecessarily affecting user data, thus resolving the contradiction between data security and usability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic erasure mode selection that adapts to different security requirements. The system can switch between erasing only management information (for normal operations) and erasing all data (for security events), making the erasure process dynamic rather than static. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain usability during normal operations while ensuring data security when needed
2Reliability
If all data existing in storage medium are erased, then data security is improved, but erasure time increases significantly when multiple data remain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by erasing only the necessary portion of data (management information) rather than all data in the storage medium. For normal security maintenance, only the management information table is erased, which is a partial erasure sufficient for security purposes. This partial approach dramatically reduces erasure time compared to erasing all user data, while still achieving the security objective
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the erasure parameter from 'erase all data' to 'erase management information only' as a default setting. This parameter change allows the system to maintain data security with minimal time loss. The parameter can be adjusted to full erasure when absolutely necessary, but the default optimized parameter setting resolves the contradiction by achieving security with significantly reduced erasure time
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an image processing apparatus which is capable of maintaining high data security and provide high convenience and high security. When a print request is transmitted from a client PC to a printer in a security print mode, a main CPU of the printer determines whether or not print data received from the client PC is for printing in the security print mode. If the print data received from the client PC is determined to be for printing in the security print mode, the main CPU causes all of the print data and temporary data to be erased from the hard disk.