Registration Device Consolidates Authentication for Multiple Printers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing printing system requires significant workload to register multiple image forming devices, as users need to generate and send registration information for each device individually, leading to increased complexity and resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

A registration system that includes a registration device connected to servers and image forming devices, which obtains authentication information from the server and sends it to the devices for registration, allowing multiple devices to be registered using the same authentication information, thereby reducing the need for individual registration processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If each device generates and sends its own registration information individually, then each device can be registered with unique authentication information, but the workload on the printing system increases significantly when registering multiple devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunique authentication information for each deviceVSAvoidregistration workload

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the registration process by having a single device (registration target device) perform registration on behalf of multiple other devices. The authentication information generated for the registration target device is reused for all other devices, consolidating what would otherwise be multiple separate registration operations into one unified process, thereby reducing system workload while maintaining unique device identification through the plurality of device identifiers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication information serves a universal function by being applicable to multiple different devices simultaneously. Instead of generating separate authentication credentials for each device, the system creates one authentication information that can authenticate multiple devices, making the registration process more efficient while still allowing each device to be uniquely identified through its device identifier.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the system processes registration for each device separately, then each device's authentication can be verified individually, but the time required to register multiple devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual device authentication verificationVSAvoidregistration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by having the registration target device generate and transmit its authentication information before the actual registration of other devices begins. This pre-generated authentication information is then reused for all subsequent device registrations, eliminating the need to perform authentication verification for each device separately and significantly reducing the total time required to register multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the printing system manages unique registration information for each device, then device security and identification are maintained, but the complexity of the registration process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice identificationVSAvoidregistration process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach where the registration target device acts as a mediator between the authentication information generation and the multiple devices needing registration. The registration target device receives the authentication information from the authentication information generation unit and then distributes it to all other devices, simplifying the overall process while maintaining secure device identification through unique device identifiers associated with each device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11748042B2Computer-readable medium, registration device, registration system, and method to reduce workload to register a plurality of devices

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer-readable instructions executable by a processor of an information processing device communicably connected with at least one server and a plurality of devices. The instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the information processing device to obtain authentication information generated by the at least one server configured to provide a service, accept designation of the plurality of devices to be registered with the at least one server based on the authentication information and to be used for the service, and send the same authentication information as obtained to the plurality of devices designated.