Printer Unique Identifier Routing for Secure Mobile Printing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In large corporate environments, exposing numerous printers to mobile devices for printing purposes poses security concerns due to the impracticality of managing and securing printer network information.
Innovation Solution
A method where a printer generates a unique identifier (UID) in response to a print request, which is sent to a print server over a secure network, allowing the mobile device to send a print job associated with the UID to the server, ensuring that only the intended printer receives the job for printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If all printers are exposed as available printing devices to mobile devices in a network environment, then mobile devices can easily find and print to printers, but security risks increase due to exposure of printer network information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a print server as an intermediary between mobile devices and printers. The print server receives print requests from mobile devices, manages printer information centrally, and routes print jobs to appropriate printers. This mediator approach allows mobile devices to print easily without directly exposing printer network information, as all communication goes through the secure print server infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts printer network information from the public network space and places it within the secure boundaries of the corporate network, accessible only through the print server. By separating printer discovery and authentication from general network access, the system enables printing functionality while removing printers from direct exposure to external network threats.
2Adaptability or versatility
If printer network information is exposed to mobile devices, then printing accessibility is improved, but management and security of printer information becomes impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The print server acts as a centralized management intermediary that handles all printer information storage, updates, and distribution. Administrators can manage printer availability, permissions, and status through the print server without needing to directly configure each printer or update mobile devices individually. This centralization maintains high printing accessibility while dramatically simplifying administrative management.
Solution Approach 2:
The print server provides universal management capabilities for multiple printers and multiple mobile devices through a single system. It handles printer registration, authentication, job routing, and status monitoring across the entire printing infrastructure, eliminating the need for separate management approaches for each device and reducing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If a unique identifier system is implemented to tie print jobs to specific printers, then security and accuracy are improved, but the printing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates unique identifiers for printers in advance and stores them in the print server before any printing occurs. When a mobile device needs to print, it automatically retrieves the appropriate printer's UID from the print server, ensuring correct job routing without requiring complex real-time matching or user configuration. This preliminary setup simplifies the actual printing process while maintaining high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The unique identifier system creates a digital copy or reference (the UID) that represents the physical printer. Instead of directly managing complex printer network addresses and configurations, the system uses these simplified identifier copies to route print jobs accurately. This abstraction layer maintains reliability while reducing the complexity of actual printer management and job routing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for printing an electronic document (ED) using a printer and a mobile device, including: receiving, by the printer, a request to print; generating, by the printer, a unique identifier (UID) in response to the request, where the mobile device sends a print job associated with the UID and the ED to a print server over a network; sending, by the printer, the UID to the print server; receiving, by the printer, the print job from the print server in response to sending the UID; and printing, by the printer, a hardcopy of the ED based on the print job.