Secure Print Method for Encrypted Files

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Solution Overview

Problem

In print systems, encrypted files lack adequate confidentiality during printing, as printers start processing immediately upon receiving print data, potentially exposing sensitive content to third parties in shared environments.

Innovation Solution

A print method and system that decrypts encrypted files using a received password, generates restricted data to restrict print processing, and only releases the restriction upon user operation, allowing secure printing of normal data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the printer starts print processing immediately upon receiving print data, then printing efficiency is improved, but confidentiality of encrypted files is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting efficiencyVSAvoidexposure to unauthorized parties

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by requiring password input and authentication before print processing begins. The system prepares and validates authentication credentials in advance, ensuring that only authorized users can initiate printing of encrypted files. This prevents unauthorized exposure while maintaining efficient processing once authentication is complete.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an authentication intermediary layer between the print data reception and print processing. This intermediary verifies user credentials and authorization status before allowing the printer to process encrypted file contents, thus protecting confidentiality while enabling efficient printing for authorized users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If password authentication is required before printing, then confidentiality is improved, but printing time is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfidentiality protectionVSAvoidprinting time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs password authentication and authorization verification as preliminary actions before print processing. By completing these security checks in advance and caching authentication results, the system minimizes the time impact on actual printing while ensuring confidentiality protection is maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11409480B2Print method and print system for image forming device that prints re-encrypted and re-decrypted data

Publication Date: 2022.08.09 OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO LTD

AI summary

A print method for using an image forming device to print an encrypted file transmitted from a terminal device includes a reception step in which a password of the encrypted file is received, a decryption step in which normal data is generated by decrypting the encrypted file using the password, a restriction setting step in which, based on the normal data, restricted data is generated which is set so as to restrict print processing, a restriction releasing step in which, based on an operation of a user with respect to the image forming device, the restriction of the restricted data is released so that to generate the normal data; and a printing step in which the normal data is printed using the image forming device.