Secure Print Job Release via Dual Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing networked printing systems lack secure printing capabilities, as they do not wait for authentication before sending print jobs, can be compromised by unauthorized access, and require printers with hard disk drives, limiting their applicability and security.
Innovation Solution
A system that pauses print jobs on a client computer until authentication information is provided at a release station adjacent to the printer, securely communicating the print job only after matching authentication, eliminating the need for a printer with a hard disk drive and storing the job on a hard disk drive away from the client.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the print job is sent to the printer before authentication, then the printing process is faster, but the security is compromised as the encrypted print stream may be intercepted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication actions before allowing print job transmission. The client computer authenticates the user and obtains authentication information from the release station before sending the encrypted print stream to the printer, ensuring security is established prior to any data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism between the client computer and the printer. The release station acts as an intermediary that verifies authentication information before allowing the print job to be sent, creating a security checkpoint that prevents unauthorized access.
2Ease of operation
If the print job is stored on the hard disk drive until printed, then the printing process is simplified, but the encrypted print stream may remain on the hard drive and be retrieved by hackers
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the authentication verification step from the traditional printing process. Instead of storing the print job on the printer's hard disk and then verifying authentication, the system verifies authentication first and only then sends the print job, removing the vulnerable storage step from the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system skips the intermediate storage step by rushing through the authentication verification before data transmission. The encrypted print stream is sent directly to the printer after authentication, bypassing the vulnerable hard disk storage phase entirely.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the printer includes a hard disk drive to store print jobs, then the printing system is more flexible, but the system complexity increases and not all printers can support it
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the hard disk drive requirement from the printer by moving the authentication verification function to the client computer. This allows printers without hard disk drives to participate in secure printing, as the authentication logic is transferred to the client side.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves universality by making authentication verification available on any client computer regardless of the printer's capabilities. This allows the secure printing system to work with a broad range of printers, including those without hard disk drives, by placing the authentication function in the client rather than requiring printer-specific hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for securely communicating a print job to a printer, the systems and methods pausing the print job in a print queue on a client computer, obtaining first authentication information regarding a user at the client computer, obtaining second authentication information regarding a user at a release station adjacent the printer, communicating the second authentication information from the release station to the client computer, and releasing the print job from the print queue if the second authentication information matches the first authentication information.