Server Authentication for Communication Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems for managing devices like printers struggle with efficient management and authentication processes, particularly when users and administrators are different entities, leading to potential misauthorization and improper association of management information with device identifiers.

Innovation Solution

A communication system architecture that includes a server communicable with administrator, terminal, and communication devices, where the server performs requests for management and authentication information, associates management information with device identifiers, and uses one-time codes for secure registration processes, ensuring proper authentication and management across the network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional communication system uses a simple authentication process where the terminal device directly communicates with the server, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of authentication and proper association of management information with device identifiers deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of authentication processVSAvoidreliability of authentication and management information association

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an administrator's device as an intermediary between the terminal device and the server. The administrator's device receives authentication information from the terminal device, verifies it against management information obtained from the server, and then provides approval or disapproval. This intermediary role ensures that authentication is performed by a trusted third party (the administrator) rather than directly between the terminal and server, thereby improving reliability while maintaining operational simplicity for the end user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system allows users and administrators to be different entities, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but the complexity of the authentication and management process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation of user and administrator rolesVSAvoidcomplexity of authentication process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the authentication process into distinct functional components: (1) The server provides management information to the administrator's device, (2) The terminal device provides authentication information to the administrator's device, (3) The administrator's device compares and verifies the information, and (4) The administrator provides final approval. This segmentation allows different entities (users and administrators) to have separate roles and responsibilities, improving adaptability while managing complexity through clear process division.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by having the server provide management information to the administrator's device before the actual authentication occurs. The administrator's device stores this management information in advance, so when authentication is needed, the verification process can proceed efficiently by comparing against pre-loaded credentials. This preliminary setup enables flexible user-administrator separation without adding significant complexity during the actual authentication moment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the system implements a detailed verification process comparing authentication information with management information, then the reliability of authentication is improved, but the loss of time in the registration process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of authentication verificationVSAvoidtime for registration process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The server provides management information to the administrator's device in advance, before the authentication process begins. The administrator's device stores this information and uses it for rapid verification when authentication is required. This preliminary preparation ensures that when authentication occurs, the verification can be performed quickly by comparing against pre-loaded credentials rather than fetching and processing information in real-time, thus maintaining high reliability while reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11979541B2Server and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for communication system including an administrator's device, a terminal device, a communication device, and a controller having hardware

Publication Date: 2024.05.07 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A server is configured to perform obtaining a first request for information associated with an administrator of a communication device from an administrator's device, transmitting management information associated with the administrator to a management device in response to the first request, obtaining an information request for information to be used by the communication device therefrom, transmitting authentication information to use the communication device thereto, obtaining the authentication information and the management information from the terminal device, the authentication information obtained from the terminal device being information transmitted by the terminal device based on the authentication information received by the communication device, the management information obtained from the terminal device being information to be transmitted by the terminal device based on the management information received by the management device, and associating the management information obtained from the terminal device with identification information of the communication device.