Printer Driver Extension for Cloud Print Password Security

The patent introduces a cloud print server as an intermediary between the client terminal and the printer. The server receives print jobs from the client, secures them with encryption, and manages the printing process. This intermediary enables secure printing over the cloud by acting as a trusted third party that handles sensitive authentication and encryption operations, thus resolving the contradiction between cloud printing convenience and secure print functionality.

The patent implements preliminary authentication and encryption actions before the actual printing process. The client terminal performs authentication with the cloud print server and encrypts print data beforehand. The server stores encrypted print jobs and manages decryption keys in advance. This preliminary action ensures that secure print functions are established before printing occurs, enabling reliable secure printing while maintaining cloud service accessibility.

The patent creates a printer driver extension that provides multiple functions within a single component. The extension handles authentication, encryption, and secure print job management simultaneously. By consolidating these security-related functions into one universal driver extension rather than separate components, the system achieves enhanced secure print capability while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.

The printer driver extension automatically performs authentication and encryption operations without requiring manual user intervention. The extension self-manages security credentials, encrypts print data automatically, and coordinates with the cloud print server. This self-service approach improves secure print capability while reducing the operational complexity for users, as the security mechanisms work transparently in the background.