Printer User Authentication via Self-Service ID Registration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Small businesses face challenges in implementing on-demand printing technology due to the need for user authentication mechanisms that do not require IC cards and dedicated system administrators, and existing solutions are cumbersome for managing user IDs, especially when the number of users is small.

Innovation Solution

A printing device with a print data management unit, identification information storing unit, receiving unit, identification information obtaining unit, registration determining unit, and identification information registering unit, which allows for user identification and registration without manual intervention, enabling on-demand printing by associating print data with identification information and simplifying user management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If IC cards and card readers are used for user authentication, then user authentication becomes easy and secure, but the system cost increases and requires dedicated system administrators

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser authentication securityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the authentication function from physical IC cards and implements it through software-based identification information that can be input via touch-sensitive panel, eliminating the need for card readers and physical media while maintaining security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables users to perform self-registration by inputting their own identification information directly at the printer device, eliminating the need for dedicated system administrators to manage user accounts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual user registration is required, then user authentication can be implemented, but the ease of operation decreases and requires dedicated administrators

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser authentication capabilityVSAvoiduser registration convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service registration where users can independently register their identification information by inputting it through the touch-sensitive panel, eliminating the need for manual administrator intervention and making the system accessible to small businesses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary registration of identification information in the identification information storing unit during the initial setup, enabling subsequent authentication operations to proceed without administrative intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If password authentication is used with touch-sensitive panel, then no IC cards are needed, but inputting user ID and password becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication mechanism simplicityVSAvoiduser ID input convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring users to input long passwords and user IDs character by character, the system inverts the approach by allowing users to select from pre-displayed user buttons that represent different users, making the selection process much faster and more convenient

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS9626132B2Printing device, printing method, computer program product, and recording medium

Publication Date: 2017.04.18 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A printing device includes a print data management unit that is capable of storing and managing print data so as to be associated with corresponding identification information used in user identification; an identification information storing unit that stores the identification information; a receiving unit that receives the print data; an identification information obtaining unit that obtains the identification information included in the print data; a registration determining unit that determines whether the obtained identification information is already registered in the identification information stored in the identification information storing unit; an identification information registering unit that registers in the identification information storing unit the obtained identification information when the registration determining unit determines that the obtained identification information is unregistered; and a print data storing unit that stores the received print data in the print data management unit so as to be associated with the obtained identification information.