Relay Apparatus Authentication Token Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in securely storing large data size authentication information due to limited memory capacity, making it difficult to receive services that require such authentication.
Innovation Solution
A relay apparatus is introduced that includes a communicator, processor, and memory, storing first authentication information and identification information. It receives service requesting information from the image forming apparatus, reads out the authentication information, and transmits it to the service providing apparatus, allowing the image forming apparatus to use services without storing large authentication data locally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If image forming apparatus stores large data size authentication information locally, then authentication authority is secured, but memory capacity is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication information from the image forming apparatus and stores it externally in a relay apparatus. The image forming apparatus only retains a small identification token that references the external authentication data, thus removing the burden of storing large authentication information while maintaining authentication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay apparatus serves as an intermediary between the image forming apparatus and the service providing apparatus. It stores the authentication information and provides it to the service providing apparatus when needed, using a small identification token from the image forming apparatus as a key to retrieve the authentication data.
2Reliability
If image forming apparatus transmits large data size authentication information, then service authentication is completed, but communication data volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential identification token from the authentication data for transmission. The full authentication information remains stored in the relay apparatus and is only retrieved and transmitted when the service providing apparatus requests it using the identification token as a key.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay apparatus acts as an intermediary that receives service requests containing identification tokens, retrieves the corresponding authentication information from its storage, and transmits it to the service providing apparatus on behalf of the image forming apparatus, thus reducing the communication burden on the image forming apparatus.
3Adaptability or versatility
If image forming apparatus stores authentication information, then service access is enabled, but processing burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication management functionality from the image forming apparatus and relocates it to the relay apparatus. The image forming apparatus only needs to store and transmit a small identification token, while the relay apparatus handles the complex tasks of authentication information storage, retrieval, and management.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay apparatus serves as an intermediary that manages authentication information storage and retrieval operations. It receives identification tokens from the image forming apparatus, looks up the corresponding authentication information in its database, and provides it to service providing apparatuses, thereby shielding the image forming apparatus from complex authentication processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A relay apparatus executes: a first receiving process of receiving service requesting information and first identification information from an image forming apparatus through a communicator, the service requesting information being information requesting a service provided by the service providing apparatus; a first read-out process of reading out, from the memory, the first authentication information identified by the first identification information; a first transmitting process of transmitting, to the service providing apparatus through the communicator, the service requesting information and the first authentication information; a second receiving process of receiving service information corresponding to the service requesting information from the service providing apparatus through the communicator, the service information being information provided by the service providing apparatus in response to the service requesting information; and a second transmitting process of transmitting the service information to the image forming apparatus through the communicator.