Secure Virtual Print Transfer Between Office and Home Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of securely printing documents created in a secure office environment on personal image forming apparatuses in insecure home environments, where direct acquisition of print information from virtual image forming apparatuses poses security risks.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that determines satisfaction of security conditions before acquiring and registering print information from an office virtual image forming apparatus onto a personal virtual image forming apparatus, using identification information and log information to ensure approval and secure transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If print information is directly acquired from the virtual image forming apparatus, then the printing operation can be performed conveniently, but the security of the print information cannot be assured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud server as an intermediary between the virtual image forming apparatus and the personal image forming apparatus. The cloud server acts as a secure mediator that receives print information from the virtual image forming apparatus, verifies security conditions (authentication, authorization, device approval), and then transfers the information to the personal image forming apparatus. This intermediary structure maintains operational convenience while ensuring security through centralized control and verification.
2Reliability
If security verification procedures are implemented before acquiring print information, then information security is improved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple security verification functions (authentication, authorization, device approval checking) into a single integrated cloud server. Instead of implementing separate security mechanisms at each device, all security checks are consolidated in the cloud server, which manages user credentials, device approval lists, and security policies centrally. This reduces overall system complexity by centralizing security management while maintaining comprehensive security verification.
3Reliability
If print information is transferred through a cloud server with security verification, then information security is enhanced, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by pre-registering and approving personal image forming apparatuses in advance with the cloud server. User authentication credentials and device approval information are stored and verified beforehand. When print information needs to be transferred, the cloud server quickly checks against pre-stored approval information rather than performing full verification procedures in real-time. This preliminary setup reduces processing time during actual print operations while maintaining security.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to: after determining that a predetermined condition applied to increasing information security is satisfied, acquire print information that is registered on an office virtual image forming apparatus that is a virtual apparatus of an image forming apparatus installed in an office; and register the acquired print information on a personal virtual image forming apparatus that is a virtual apparatus of a personal image forming apparatus.