Printer Emulation for Secure Portable Document Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current document management systems for portable devices lack efficient methods for managing and securing document transmission and printing, particularly in paperless environments, where ensuring document security and accuracy in transmission is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A method using printer emulation on portable electronic devices, where a portable account identifier is established to manage print requests over a network, allowing secure transmission and display of output files, with features like encryption, availability checks, and secure connection protocols to ensure document integrity and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional document transmission methods are used in paperless environments, then document accessibility is improved, but document security and integrity during transmission deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that receives print requests from remote computers, manages the association between portable devices and account identifiers, and facilitates secure document transmission. This intermediary architecture enables document accessibility across the network while maintaining security through centralized control and verification mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses printer emulation to create a virtual copy of a printer device on the portable electronic device. This virtual printer driver allows the portable device to receive and process print requests without requiring physical paper output, enabling paperless document access while maintaining the security controls of a managed printing system.
2Reliability
If printer emulation is implemented on portable devices, then document transmission security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal printer driver interface that can handle multiple document formats and transmission protocols through a single standardized mechanism. The virtual printer driver on the portable device provides multi-functional capabilities including receiving print requests, managing document output, and securing transmissions, thereby reducing the need for multiple separate security systems.
3Reliability
If secure transmission protocols and encryption are used, then document integrity is improved, but transmission efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes account identifier associations and configures security parameters in advance through the server before actual document transmission occurs. This preliminary setup includes creating the virtual printer driver associations and configuring encryption settings, so that when documents need to be transmitted, the security framework is already in place and transmission can proceed efficiently without real-time security negotiations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for managing a document. A relationship is established in electronic memory of a portable electronic device between a portable account identifier and a unique identifier of the portable electronic device. A print request is received at the portable electronic device over a network. The print request originates from a computer and wherein a network printer address for the portable electronic device used to route the print request is managed by a server based on the relationship between the portable account identifier and the unique identifier. The print request includes an output file. The output file is generated on a display of the portable electronic device.