Location-Based Virtual Printing Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing follow-me printing systems require additional hardware like card scanners and PIN validation mechanisms, limiting their usability on printers from different vendors or those without these features.
Innovation Solution
A system where a client device wirelessly receives an identifier from a location sensor, determines the corresponding device, and makes its resources available, including printing services, allowing for secure and location-based printing without the need for specific hardware or firmware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proprietary card scanner and numeric keypad are attached to printer, then secure authentication is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication functionality is extracted from the printer hardware and relocated to the user's client device. The printer only needs to provide location identification through a location sensor, while the card scanning and PIN validation are performed by the client device's existing hardware, eliminating the need for proprietary add-ons at the printer.
Solution Approach 2:
A server acts as an intermediary between the client device and the printer. The server receives location information from the printer, validates the print job against authentication credentials stored in its database, and routes the print job to the appropriate printer, centralizing the authentication logic away from the printer hardware.
2Reliability
If proprietary firmware with PIN validation is installed, then secure printing is enabled, but adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication mechanism is designed to work with any printer that has a location sensor, regardless of vendor or model. The client device and server handle all authentication logic, making the system universally applicable to printers from different manufacturers without requiring vendor-specific firmware modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical and firmware-based authentication system (card scanners, keypads, proprietary firmware) is replaced with a software-based location identification system using standard wireless communication protocols, enabling compatibility across different printer platforms.
3Reliability
If additional hardware is required, then authentication security is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The client device uses its own existing hardware (camera, wireless communication capabilities) to perform authentication functions. The user simply needs to have the printing application installed and grant necessary permissions, without needing to physically attach or configure additional hardware components at the printer.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for virtual printing are described herein. A user may print to a virtual printer via a user device, and the user device may send print creation data to a server. The server may generate a print job based on the print creation data and store the print job in a print queue associated with the user. When the user approaches the location of one or more physical printers, a device handled by the user may detect a location sensor at the location and send a corresponding identifier to the server. The server may identify the one or more physical printers based on the identifier and send the print job stored in the print queue to one of the physical printers.