Wearable Computer Biometric Authentication for Shared Image Forming Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable computers are not designed for shared use among multiple users, making it difficult for employees to borrow and use each other's devices, especially when biometric authentication fails, such as when an employee forgets their wearable computer or a temporary employee lacks one.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system that includes a wearable computer with a first storage for the owner's physical characteristic and a second storage for the borrower's characteristic, allowing the borrower to log into an image forming apparatus by sending their biometric data for authentication, enabling secure sharing and use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biometric authentication is used to ensure device security, then device security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates when users forget their wearable computer or are temporary employees
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable computer serves as an intermediary authentication device between the user and the image forming apparatus. When the owner's wearable computer is unavailable or for temporary employees, the borrower's wearable computer acts as a mediator to enable authentication through alternative means (such as QR code display or direct biometric verification at the apparatus), thus maintaining security while improving ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If wearable computers are designed for individual use with owner-specific biometric data, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates when multiple users need to share the device
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable computer is designed with multi-functionality to serve both as an owner authentication device and as a borrower identification device. The device can store and manage multiple types of information (owner biometric data, borrower registration data, QR code generation capabilities), enabling it to adapt to different usage scenarios without increasing its fundamental complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the owner register borrower information in advance through the wearable computer. This pre-registration process stores borrower biometric data or identification information in the wearable device, so that when borrowers need to use the image forming apparatus, authentication can proceed smoothly without requiring complex real-time verification setups.
3Adaptability or versatility
If borrower authentication is implemented to enable device sharing, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional storage and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication functionality is extracted and distributed between the wearable computer and the image forming apparatus. The wearable computer handles borrower registration and stores necessary identification data, while the image forming apparatus performs the actual authentication verification. This extraction reduces the complexity burden on the wearable device while still enabling comprehensive borrower authentication capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable computer includes: a first storage that permanently stores a first characteristic therein, the first characteristic representing a physical characteristic of an owner of the wearable computer; an obtaining portion that obtains a second characteristic, the second characteristic representing a physical characteristic of a user who wears the wearable computer; a determination portion that determines whether the user is the owner based on the first characteristic and the second characteristic; a first request portion that requests, when the user is determined to be the owner, to allow the user to log into another device; a second storage that temporarily stores the second characteristic therein; and a second request portion that requests, when the user is not determined to be the owner, to allow the user to log into that another device by sending the second characteristic stored in the second storage portion to that another device.