Secure Print Job Release via Intermediary Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing networked printer systems require unique and private authentication mechanisms for secure print jobs, leading to issues when users need to share print jobs, as sharing authentication methods can compromise security and resource usage, and may not be feasible when the primary user is unavailable.
Innovation Solution
The system allows a secondary user to access and release a secure print job by providing an alternate access mechanism based on the relationship between the primary and secondary users, enabling the secondary user to print the document without needing the primary user's presence or authentication details.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If unique and private authentication mechanisms are required for each user's secure print job, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates when users need to share print jobs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a notification system as an intermediary between the primary user and secondary user. When a secondary user attempts to access a secure print job, the system sends a notification to the primary user's device, which acts as a mediator to authorize or deny access without requiring direct sharing of authentication credentials. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining security through the intermediary authorization process while enabling ease of operation for secondary users who need to print documents.
2Reliability
If the primary user must be present to authenticate and release secure print jobs, then security is maintained, but productivity deteriorates due to delays when the primary user is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by sending notifications to the primary user in advance when a secondary user attempts to access a secure print job. This allows the primary user to be notified beforehand and authorize access remotely, eliminating the need for the primary user to be physically present at the printer. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining security through pre-authorization while significantly improving productivity by eliminating waiting delays.
3Ease of operation
If authentication mechanisms are shared between users to enable print job access, then ease of operation improves, but security deteriorates and business policy is violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the authentication process into distinct components: the primary user maintains their unique authentication credentials, while secondary users receive temporary, job-specific access through notifications. This segmentation allows secondary users to access print jobs without sharing the primary user's authentication mechanism, thus maintaining security while improving ease of operation for collaborative printing scenarios.
4Ease of operation
If source files are shared between users to create print jobs, then ease of operation improves, but resource usage increases and responsibility management becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by allowing secondary users to access and print existing secure print jobs directly from the printer's memory without requiring the source file to be transferred or recreated. The system creates a copy of the authorization rather than copying the source file, which eliminates additional resource usage associated with file transfers while maintaining ease of operation for secondary users who need to print documents created by others.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices are configured to release a secure print job between users. They include receiving a print job associated with an electronic document created by a primary user, the print job comprising instructions for secure print authentication by a secondary user. They also include providing access by the secondary user to a print list comprising a subset of secure print jobs comprising the print job created by the primary user and providing the secondary user with an alternate access mechanism for the secure print authentication for printing the electronic document as part of the print job created by the primary user based on a relationship between the primary user and the secondary user. They also include providing instructions to print the electronic document when the secondary user has completed the alternate access.