Printer Fault Recovery Locking Sensitive Print Jobs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printer fault recovery processes fail to prevent the unauthorized printing of sensitive or 'secured' information, which may be left unsecured in the output tray after a printer interruption or fault, as they do not account for the security requirements of such jobs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that monitors printer interruptions, determines if a print job is sensitive or secured, and places it on hold until the user provides proper authentication, using methods such as authentication codes or security policies to ensure only authorized printing resumes after a fault or interruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional printer fault recovery processes are used, then printing operations can resume after interruption, but sensitive or secured information may be left unsecured in the output tray
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting whether a print job is sensitive or secured before resuming printing operations after a fault. It identifies the user associated with the sensitive print job and obtains authentication code in advance, ensuring that only authenticated users can access the output tray after printing resumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring printer operations to detect faults and interruptions, then using this information to determine whether authentication is required before resuming printing. The system continuously checks authentication status and provides feedback to control whether the print job can proceed or must be locked.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If print jobs are locked during fault recovery, then data security is maintained, but printing operations are delayed until authentication occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by selectively locking only sensitive or secured print jobs while allowing non-sensitive jobs to proceed normally. It determines the sensitivity level of each print job and applies authentication requirements only where necessary, rather than implementing a blanket lock on all print jobs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service authentication where the user receives authentication code through electronic communication and can authenticate themselves without requiring physical presence at the printer or manual intervention. This allows secure authentication while minimizing time delay.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If authentication requirements are implemented for sensitive print jobs, then unauthorized printing is prevented, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an intermediary approach by implementing a printer controller that mediates between the print job and the user authentication process. The controller determines sensitivity, obtains authentication codes, and controls job release without requiring complex hardware modifications or invasive system changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication mechanism is designed with universality by using electronic communication methods (such as email or text messages) that can be delivered through various channels. The system can handle different types of sensitive print jobs through a unified authentication framework, reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for preventing a printed sensitive or secured print job being left unsecured after a print recovery process by determining if a printer has encountered an interruption in a printing of a print job; determining, when it is determined that a printer has encountered an interruption in a printing of a print job, an identification of a user associated with the interrupted print job; obtaining an authentication code and sending the obtained authentication code to the user identified as being associated with the interrupted print job; recovering from the interruption in the printing of the print job; placing, after recovery, the interrupted print job on hold; determining if a proper authentication code has been received from the user identified as being associated with the interrupted print job; and releasing the held print job when it is determined that a proper authentication code has been received from the user identified as being associated with the interrupted print job.