Terminal Device Authentication Key Management for Print Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers may fail to perform printing due to insufficient remaining expiration time of authentication tokens, leading to incomplete or failed printing processes.
Innovation Solution
A terminal device is equipped with computer-readable instructions that manage the receipt and transmission of specific keys from a print intermediation server, which generates and associates authentication keys with the received keys, allowing the device to send requests for image data processing and print data creation, ensuring sufficient token validity for successful printing operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the print controller accesses the authentication server periodically to update the authentication token, then the authentication token expiration time is maintained, but the remaining expiration time may still be insufficient when printing is executed, leading to printing failures
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device receives a specific key from the print intermediation server and uses it to obtain an authentication key with a predetermined expiration time before printing is executed. This preliminary acquisition of authentication credentials ensures that the token remains valid throughout the printing process, preventing authentication failures even if the print operation is delayed.
2Reliability
If the authentication key is created by the print intermediation server each time a specific key is received, then fresh authentication credentials are provided, but multiple communication exchanges between terminal device and server are required
Solution Approach 1:
The print intermediation server acts as an intermediary between the terminal device and the authentication server. The terminal device sends a specific key to the print intermediation server, which then creates and provides the authentication key to the terminal device. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall authentication process by consolidating multiple authentication server interactions into a single exchange through the print intermediation server.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the terminal device sends multiple requests to the print intermediation server for authentication and image data, then complete printing functionality is achieved, but communication load between terminal device and server increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device combines multiple authentication and data retrieval operations into a streamlined sequence using the specific key mechanism. By receiving the specific key first and then using it for both authentication key acquisition and image data retrieval, the system reduces redundant communication overhead while maintaining complete printing functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal device may perform receiving a specific key from a print intermediation server. The terminal device may perform sending the received specific key to a print intermediation server in response to the terminal device accepting a print related instruction relating to printing in a printer after the specific key is received. The terminal device may perform receiving an authentication key from the print intermediation server in response to sending the specific key. The terminal device may perform sending a first request to the print intermediation server after a first item of the authentication key is received from the print intermediation server. The terminal device may perform sending a second request to the printer after a second item of the authentication key is received from the print intermediation server.