Printing Control Apparatus Automating Security via Storage Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current printing control systems require significant time and effort for security management, as users need to set security levels for all print data, which is inefficient and prone to errors, especially in diverse user environments where information equipment and printing apparatuses are accessed both internally and externally.
Innovation Solution
A printing control apparatus that communicates with a storage system to determine the confidentiality level of print data based on its storage and installation locations, allowing or denying printing permissions automatically, thereby reducing the need for users to set security levels for each print job.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users manually set security levels for all print data, then printing security is ensured, but time and effort for security management increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service security management by automatically determining printing security based on storage location information. The printing control apparatus autonomously evaluates whether print data can be printed by comparing storage location metadata with security policies, eliminating the need for users to manually configure security levels for each print job while maintaining reliable security control
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing security policies that associate storage locations with printing permissions. Before printing occurs, the system automatically retrieves storage location information and evaluates it against predefined security rules, so that security determination is already prepared when a print job is submitted, preventing security management delays
2Reliability
If security levels are set for each print data, then printing security is improved, but operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex manual security configuration with self-service automation. When a user submits a print job, the printing control apparatus automatically retrieves storage location information from the storage system and evaluates it against security policies, eliminating the need for users to understand or configure security levels manually while maintaining strict security control
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces storage location information as an intermediary that mediates between print data and security evaluation. Instead of requiring users to directly set security levels on print data, the system uses storage location metadata as an intermediate representation that automatically reflects the security requirements, simplifying the user interface while maintaining security integrity
Data Source
AI summary
A printing control apparatus that reduces time and effort in security management for printing. The printing control apparatus is configured to communicate with a cloud storage that stores a plurality of print data with different degrees of confidentiality in different storage locations according to the degrees of confidentiality. The printing control apparatus receives a printing instruction and obtains installation location information indicating an installation location of a printing apparatus designated in the printing instruction, and storage location information indicating a storage location of print data designated in the printing instruction. Based on the storage location information and the installation location information, it is determined whether or not printing of the designated print data is allowed. When it is determined that printing of the designated print data is allowed, the designated print data is obtained from the cloud storage, and the obtained print data is printed.