Tab Authentication Control for Secure Menu Switching

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies fail to address the issue of users being unable to unlock tabs efficiently and securely, leading to impaired operability due to repeated authentication when switching between tabs.

Innovation Solution

Implement a control apparatus and method that allows users to lock and unlock tabs with a password or authentication, maintaining the unlocked state during tab transitions, and automatically lock tabs when the display is inactive, ensuring seamless operation and enhanced security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If authentication is performed for each tab access, then security is improved, but operability deteriorates due to repeated authentication when switching between tabs

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidoperability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the authentication mechanism by introducing a global lock state that applies across all tabs. Instead of requiring individual authentication for each tab access, the system maintains a unified authentication state that persists across tab switches, thereby improving operability while preserving security through the global lock mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by maintaining the authentication state in advance. When a user successfully authenticates to one tab, the system pre-establishes the unlocked state for subsequent tab accesses, eliminating the need for repeated authentication and improving operability while maintaining security through the persistent lock state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If tabs remain unlocked during switching, then operability is improved, but security deteriorates due to potential unauthorized access

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveoperabilityVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the lock state changeable rather than fixed. The global lock state can be dynamically transitioned between locked and unlocked based on authentication events. This allows the system to maintain operability by keeping tabs unlocked during active use while ensuring security by enabling automatic locking when the display becomes inactive, thus resolving the contradiction between operability and security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action through automatic locking based on display inactivity detection. The system periodically monitors display activity and automatically transitions to a locked state when inactivity threshold is reached, thereby maintaining security without requiring continuous user interaction while preserving operability during active use periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If automatic locking is implemented, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to unexpected lock states

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by implementing automatic unlocking when authentication events are detected. The system monitors user interactions and provides feedback by automatically transitioning from locked to unlocked state when authentication occurs, thereby eliminating unexpected lock states and improving ease of operation while maintaining security through automatic locking during inactivity periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4361729B1Communication apparatus, control method for communication apparatus, and program
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 CANON KK
  • EP4361729B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4361729B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4361729B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control apparatus includes a lock control unit configured to set a menu screen corresponding to at least one tab among a plurality of menu screens respectively corresponding to a plurality of tabs to a locked state in which the menu screen is not displayed, and a setting unit configured to set information for releasing the locked state for each of the menu screens respectively corresponding to the plurality of tabs, wherein the lock control unit sets the menu screen corresponding to a target tab in the unlocked state to the locked state based on the setting unit setting or changing the information for releasing the locked state of the target tab in the unlocked state in which the locked state is released and the menu screen is displayed.