Universal Print Driver Gateway for Secure Mobile Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing secure printing systems require infrastructure-intensive hardware at each printer or boarding gate for user authentication, leading to high costs and inefficiencies, especially with the proliferation of mobile wireless devices.
Innovation Solution
A computer-automated print services control system that authenticates users via mobile devices, generates print jobs, and converts instructions into compatible formats for various printers using a gateway, eliminating the need for multiple printer drivers and expensive hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reader hardware is placed at each printer or boarding gate for user authentication, then user authentication and service release can be performed locally, but infrastructure cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that centralizes authentication processing. Instead of placing intelligent reader hardware at each printer, the system uses mobile devices as intermediaries to communicate user credentials to a centralized server, which then manages authentication and releases services. This mediator approach maintains authentication reliability while reducing infrastructure complexity at endpoint devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses mobile devices with copied authentication capabilities (smart cards, tokens, or digital credentials) instead of requiring proprietary reader hardware at each printer. The mobile device acts as a portable copy of the authentication mechanism, allowing users to authenticate at any printer through wireless communication with the server, thereby eliminating the need for expensive dedicated reader hardware at each location.
2Ease of operation
If intelligent reader hardware is deployed at each location to authenticate users and release services, then local authentication processing is enabled, but infrastructure cost and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary that handles the complex authentication processing centrally. Printers and mobile devices only need simple communication capabilities to interact with the server, eliminating the need for intelligent processing hardware at each location. This maintains ease of operation through centralized management while reducing device complexity and infrastructure costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical intelligent reader hardware with a software-based authentication system running on mobile devices and a server. Instead of mechanical/electronic reader devices at each printer, the system uses wireless communication protocols and software applications to perform authentication, substituting physical infrastructure with digital solutions that reduce hardware costs and maintenance requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple printer drivers are required to support different printing devices, then device compatibility is achieved, but system complexity and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal printer driver that can communicate with multiple different printing devices through a standardized interface. The driver includes a capability schema that adapts to different printer models and suppliers, allowing a single driver to perform the function of multiple specialized drivers. This maintains device compatibility while eliminating the need for users to install and manage multiple drivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a gateway or server as an intermediary between the user's mobile device and the printing devices. This intermediary handles the complexity of device-specific protocols and conversions, translating universal commands into device-specific instructions. Users interact with a standardized interface while the intermediary manages the adaptability to different devices, reducing user burden while maintaining versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclosed include systems and methods for computer automated print services control comprising authenticating a user credential input via a user device. The system and method includes generating, by a printer driver comprised in the user device, a user interface comprising features supported by a plurality of printing devices. Further, it includes receiving via the user device over the network, a print instruction comprising the features supported by the plurality of printing devices connected to the computer system over the network. And based on the print instruction, generating a print job in an embodiment. Further, based on the user authentication at one of the plurality of printing devices, converting via a gateway, the received print instruction into a format compatible with that printing device and releasing the generated print job for printing at that printing device, according to an embodiment.