Server-Mediated Facsimile Transmission for Secure Delayed Receipt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing facsimile machines face security issues when documents are left unattended due to the need for the receiver to be present for immediate receipt, and existing solutions either require coordination of schedules or do not adequately address security during extended absences.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus that inputs transmission data, inquires about receiver identification on a server, stores data until registration is confirmed, and transmits upon registration, allowing secure storage and delayed receipt, enabling transmission and receipt at desired times and locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a facsimile machine forwards a transmitted document to a desired location, then the receiver can receive the document at a desired location, but the document remains vulnerable to security issues when the receiver is absent for an extended period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the sending facsimile machine and the receiving facsimile machine. The server stores receiver identification information and manages the registration status. When the receiver is unavailable, the document is held securely on the server rather than being forwarded to an unattended receiving machine, thus maintaining security while enabling flexible receipt timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary registration of receiver identification information on the server before document transmission. The sending machine inquires about registration status in advance, and only transmits when registration is confirmed. This preliminary action ensures that documents are only sent when the receiver is available, preventing security vulnerabilities from extended absence.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a facsimile machine with secure receiving function stores a document in memory until the receiver prints it out, then the document can be received at a desired time, but the security issue remains when the receiver is absent for an extended period of time
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of storing documents locally in the facsimile machine's memory during extended absence periods, the patent uses the server as a secure intermediary storage location. The server maintains the document securely until the receiver is available and registration is confirmed, eliminating the security risk of long-term local storage in unattended machines.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the sending machine continuously inquires about the registration status of the receiver on the server. Transmission only occurs when registration is confirmed, creating a feedback loop that ensures documents are transmitted at appropriate times rather than being stored indefinitely in potentially insecure locations.
3Extent of automation
If a connection registration service requires both caller and receiver to use their telephone sets at the same time, then information exchange can occur, but the sender and receiver must coordinate their schedules
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary that decouples the timing requirements between sender and receiver. The receiver can register their identification information in advance without needing to be present for transmission. The server holds this information and enables automatic transmission when appropriate, eliminating the need for real-time coordination between parties.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver performs preliminary registration of their identification information on the server before any document transmission occurs. This preliminary action allows the system to automatically determine when transmission should occur based on registration status, rather than requiring both parties to be available simultaneously for manual coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication apparatus allows an efficient transmission/reception of a document for a sender and a receiver at their respective desired time and location. When a first user transmits a document using a facsimile machine (transmitting device) managed by a server, first, an account of the transmitting device is registered on the server. In such a state, when the first user inputs an account of a second user as a destination into the transmitting device, the transmitting device inquires the server of a registration status of the second user. The server checks the registration status of the account of the second user. When the account of the second user is registered on any facsimile machine (receiving device), the server notifies the transmitting device that the account of the second user is registered on the receiving device. Then, the transmitting device transmits a connection demand to the receiving device to transmit data of the document.