Tamper-Resistant Information Processing System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Restarting an information processing apparatus to recover from tampering can degrade user-friendliness by restricting the execution of prior or scheduled jobs, leading to a less user-friendly experience.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system with processors that detect tampering and restart only when necessary, allowing second processing to complete or when a predetermined condition is met, while maintaining hardware power ON until recovery and enabling alternative processing if possible.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the information processing apparatus is restarted to recover from tampering, then reliability is improved by achieving recovery from the tampering, but user-friendliness deteriorates due to restrictions on executing prior or scheduled jobs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecovery from tamperingVSAvoiduser-friendliness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the restart decision adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically evaluates whether second processing is being executed or scheduled before deciding to restart, allowing the system to adjust its recovery strategy based on real-time operational context. This resolves the contradiction by enabling reliability recovery while minimizing disruption to user workflows through conditional, context-aware restart execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of restart execution from a binary state (always restart or never restart) to a conditional state based on processing status. By introducing the condition of whether second processing is being executed or scheduled, the system modifies its behavior parameter dynamically, achieving tampering recovery while preserving user-friendliness through selective restart execution rather than mandatory system-wide interruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the information processing apparatus is restarted immediately upon detecting tampering, then reliability is improved by achieving recovery from the tampering, but productivity deteriorates due to interruption of prior or scheduled processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecovery from tamperingVSAvoidexecution of processing jobs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by checking the status of second processing before executing the restart operation. The control unit performs a preliminary evaluation to determine whether second processing is being executed or scheduled, and only proceeds with restart if the condition allows. This prevents unnecessary interruptions to productivity while ensuring reliability recovery, as the system prepares and conditions the restart decision in advance rather than executing it immediately upon tampering detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by making the restart execution conditional on the current processing state. Rather than a static, immediate restart response, the system dynamically adjusts its recovery action based on whether second processing is active or scheduled. This dynamic approach maintains productivity by avoiding restarts during critical processing periods while ensuring reliability through timely recovery when conditions permit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250013547A1Information processing system, information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
Publication Date: 2025.01.09 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP
  • US20250013547A1 patent drawing
  • US20250013547A1 patent drawing
  • US20250013547A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An information processing system includes one or plural processors configured to: detect tampering of hardware that is mounted on an information processing apparatus and configured to execute first processing; in a case where second processing has not been executed or has not been scheduled to be executed by the information processing apparatus, restart the information processing apparatus to achieve recovery from the tampering; and in a case where the second processing has been executed or has been scheduled to be executed, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, restart the information processing apparatus to achieve recovery from the tampering.