Printer Language Access Policy for Per-User Command Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-user environments, existing printer languages lack effective security features to control user access to printer features on a per-user basis, leading to unintentional or malicious interference with other users' printing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a printer language access policy that stores settings for each user, allowing administrators to authorize or deny specific printer language commands, ensuring that users can only execute commands based on their assigned permissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users are allowed to execute printer language commands to enhance functionality (e.g., download fonts, set default values), then user experience and printer versatility are improved, but security and system stability deteriorate due to unauthorized or malicious interference with other users' printing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments user access rights by creating distinct permission levels for different printer language commands. Each user is assigned specific permissions that allow or deny execution of particular commands (e.g., font download, deletion, default value setting). This segmentation enables selective control where authorized users can access needed features while unauthorized users are restricted, thus maintaining system stability while preserving necessary versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary authorization mechanism that mediates between users and printer language commands. Before executing a command, the system checks the user's permission status against the command type. This intermediary layer filters out unauthorized operations (preventing malicious or accidental interference) while allowing legitimate operations to proceed, thereby maintaining both security and functionality.
2Reliability
If simple password protection is implemented in PJL to control access to default value settings, then basic security is provided, but security effectiveness deteriorates because passwords are unencrypted and easily cracked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the security parameter from simple unencrypted passwords to encrypted credential verification. User credentials are stored and verified in an encrypted manner, making them resistant to interception and brute-force attacks. This parameter change significantly improves security effectiveness while the encryption mechanisms are integrated into the existing command processing framework, keeping implementation complexity manageable.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users can download and store fonts in printer memory to enhance printing capabilities, then printing versatility is improved, but system resources are depleted when storage is filled, preventing other users from uploading fonts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic font management where font storage permissions and quotas are adjustable based on user authorization levels. Administrators can configure dynamic policies that allow certain users to download fonts while restricting others, and can set storage quotas per user or group. This dynamic approach enables flexible resource allocation that maintains printing versatility while preventing storage depletion that would affect other users.
Data Source
AI summary
A method implemented in a multi-user data processing system including an image forming apparatus for processing a print job is disclosed, which includes: storing a printer language access policy in the image forming apparatus, wherein the plurality of printer language policy settings determines which printer language commands can be executed by the plurality of users on a user-by-user basis; and when a user requests to execute a printer language command for the image forming apparatus, determining whether the user is authorized to execute the printer language command based on the printer language policy settings for the user, wherein an execution of the printer language command affects at least one of a printer language feature of the image forming apparatus and a printer language setting of a printer language feature of the image forming apparatus to be effective to other users.