Shared Terminal Print Authentication via Management Server

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic whiteboards in shared terminal systems face challenges in securely and efficiently printing images across multiple users, as existing solutions lack robust authentication and user-friendly printing processes, leading to potential security breaches and user inconvenience.

Innovation Solution

The system integrates a terminal management server for authenticating privately-owned terminals, allowing authorized printing requests through a network, where the electronic whiteboard generates image data in formats like PRCS or PDF and transmits it to a multifunctional peripheral (MFP) for printing, with authentication ensuring only legitimate users can initiate print jobs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If authentication is implemented for printing in shared terminal systems, then security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a terminal management server as an intermediary component that handles authentication requests between privately-owned terminals and the shared electronic whiteboard system. This mediator centralizes authentication logic, allowing the printing system to maintain security without each individual device needing complex authentication capabilities built-in.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system is segmented into distinct functional components: terminal identification modules in privately-owned devices, authentication request transmission, server-side verification, and print job authorization. This segmentation distributes complexity across multiple simple components rather than concentrating it in one complex system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If authentication processes are added to the printing system, then system integrity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem integrityVSAvoidprinting process simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The privately-owned terminal automatically performs authentication by transmitting its terminal identification information to the management server without requiring user intervention. The system handles the authentication process autonomously, making it transparent to the end user who simply initiates the print request.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Authentication is performed preliminarily before the actual printing operation. The terminal identification is verified in advance, and authentication credentials are validated before the print job is processed, ensuring system integrity is established before the user needs to interact with the printing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If terminal identification authentication is implemented, then security against unauthorized printing is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidauthentication time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Terminal identification information is obtained and authentication requests are transmitted in advance before the actual printing operation begins. This preliminary authentication ensures that when the user initiates a print request, the verification process has already been completed or is quickly processed, minimizing perceived wait time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication process is designed to be rapidly executed by the terminal management server, which quickly verifies terminal identification information and returns authentication results. The system rushes through the verification process efficiently, minimizing the time penalty imposed by security checks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentUS11245814B2Shared terminal transmits print data with name of the shared terminal as a print requester to printer when the terminal device identification is not received

Publication Date: 2022.02.08 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

An apparatus, system, and method of controlling transmission of an image, each of which: displays, on a display, an image to a plurality of users, the plurality of users sharing a use of the shared terminal; obtains, from a first privately-owned terminal owned by a first user of the plurality of users, first terminal identification information for identifying the first privately-owned terminal; transmits an authentication request for authenticating the first privately-owned terminal to a terminal management server, the authentication request including the first terminal identification information of the first privately-owned terminal; receives an authentication result of authenticating the first privately-owned terminal from the terminal management server; and when the authentication result indicates that the first privately-owned terminal is a legitimate terminal, and transmits a print request for printing data relating to the image being displayed to a printer through a network.