Trust Printing Control for Non-Blockchain Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image formation apparatuses without blockchain cooperation functionality cannot print documents registered on a blockchain, leading to issues with printing quality and authenticity verification, as they lack the capability to embed document identification information and register with the blockchain, resulting in unreliable document verification.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system that utilizes an image formation apparatus not directly part of a blockchain cooperation system by providing a setting screen to select usable apparatuses, ensuring only trusted printers with sufficient quality can print blockchain cooperation documents, and displays settings for trust printing only if the selected apparatus is capable, thereby controlling the printing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an image formation apparatus without blockchain cooperation functionality is used to print documents, then the apparatus can be used for printing, but the document authenticity cannot be verified and printing quality cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external system (cloud service or PC application) as an intermediary that adds blockchain cooperation functionality to traditional image formation apparatuses. This external system embeds document identification information in image data before transmission to the printer, enabling authenticity verification without modifying the printer itself. The intermediary bridges the gap between legacy printers and blockchain verification requirements.
2Ease of operation
If any image formation apparatus is allowed to print blockchain cooperation documents, then printing flexibility is improved, but printing quality and verification reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary quality assessment and control before printing by having the external system evaluate whether the selected image formation apparatus meets minimum quality standards. The system checks apparatus capabilities and document requirements in advance, preventing low-quality prints before they occur. This preliminary control ensures that only qualified apparatuses can print specific documents while maintaining user flexibility in apparatus selection.
3Ease of manufacture
If document identification information is not embedded in printed documents, then the printing process is simpler, but scan verification cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the document identification information embedding function from the image formation apparatus itself, placing it in the external system. This segmentation allows the printer to focus on its core printing function while the external system handles the verification-related embedding of identification information. The separation maintains printing simplicity for the apparatus while enabling verification through the external system's preprocessing.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing system is provided for supporting trust printing that prints a document to be printed by registering the document in a document assurance system that assures authenticity of the document. The system obtains information of usable image formation apparatuses, and provides a setting screen of an image formation apparatus selected from the usable image formation apparatuses based on the information, and causes the selected image formation apparatus to print the document to be printed in accordance with setting on the setting screen. The information contains information indicating whether the selected image formation apparatus is capable of the trust printing, and, in the providing, if the selected image formation apparatus is incapable of the trust printing, the setting screen is displayed such that a setting item for the trust printing cannot be selected.