Printer Data Retention via Wireless Status Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face usability issues and security concerns when print data is immediately deleted without user notification, especially when close-range wireless communication is disabled, leading to unnecessary data retention and potential security breaches.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus equipped with a close-range wireless communicator, memory, printer, communication status judger, and controller that determines whether to delete print data based on communication availability and print operation status, ensuring data security while maintaining user-friendliness by judiciously managing print data retention and deletion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If print data is immediately deleted when a trouble occurs, then data security is improved, but user convenience deteriorates because users must retransmit print data even for easily recoverable troubles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the data deletion decision adaptive rather than static. The controller dynamically adjusts whether to delete print data based on real-time assessment of trouble severity and communication status. For easily recoverable troubles with enabled communication, data is retained to maintain user convenience. For serious troubles or disabled communication, data is deleted to ensure security, thus resolving the contradiction through dynamic decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of data retention policy based on trouble type and communication availability. Instead of a fixed deletion policy, the system modifies retention parameters according to conditions: retention for minor troubles with communication enabled, deletion for serious troubles or when communication is disabled. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between security and convenience.
2Ease of operation
If print data is retained when communication is disabled, then user convenience is improved, but data security deteriorates because data may be accessed by unauthorized users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring communication status and using this information to adjust data retention decisions. When communication status changes from enabled to disabled, the system receives feedback about the security risk and automatically adjusts its behavior to delete data, thus resolving the contradiction between convenience and security through feedback-driven control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically assessing security risks and making deletion decisions without user intervention. When communication is disabled, the controller autonomously determines that data should be deleted to protect security, eliminating the need for user judgment while resolving the contradiction between retained convenience and security.
3Loss of information
If notice is displayed on display panel when communication is enabled, then user notification is improved, but data security deteriorates because data remains accessible after trouble occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the notification function from the data retention function. Instead of a single integrated approach, the system separately handles user notification (via display panel or portable terminal) and data management (retention or deletion). This segmentation allows the system to notify users while independently making security-based deletion decisions, resolving the contradiction between notification and security.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable terminal acts as an intermediary for notification. Rather than displaying notices on the image forming apparatus display panel where they might encourage data retention, the system uses the portable terminal as an intermediary communication channel to notify users, while simultaneously managing data security through automated deletion decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus judges whether or not a close-range wireless communication with a portable terminal is enabled during a period until a printer completes printing out print data. Based on a result drawn from the judgment and a print operation status of the image forming apparatus itself, which is indicated until completion of printing out the print data, the image forming apparatus deletes the print data from the memory or keeps the print data recorded in the memory.