Web Server Authentication Bypass for Internal Browser Requests
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of image forming apparatuses face inconvenience due to repeated and unnecessary user authentication when connecting to a web server, especially when the connection is requested from the same apparatus, leading to increased time and effort in authentication processing.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus equipped with a web server and browser that includes an identification unit to determine if the connection request is from the same apparatus, allowing the web server to bypass user authentication if the requestor is identified as the apparatus's browser, thereby streamlining the authentication process by using existing login context and reducing the need for duplicate authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the web server performs authentication for all connection requests, then security is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to repeated authentication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different authentication policies to different requestors: external web browsers require authentication while the internal browser of the image forming apparatus does not. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining security for external access while providing convenience for internal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal browser automatically obtains operation screens from the web server without requiring user authentication. The system serves itself by leveraging the existing login context of the image forming apparatus, eliminating the need for repeated authentication while maintaining security for external users.
2Reliability
If the web server requires authentication for every connection request, then access control is improved, but processing time increases due to repeated authentication steps
Solution Approach 1:
The image forming apparatus performs authentication in advance when a user logs in to use the apparatus. This preliminary authentication is stored as login context, allowing the internal browser to access the web server without repeating the authentication process, thus reducing processing time while maintaining access control.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal browser automatically uses the pre-established login context to access the web server without requiring additional authentication processing. This self-service approach eliminates repeated authentication steps and reduces processing time while maintaining security through the initial authentication.
3Reliability
If the web server authenticates all users, then security policy enforcement is improved, but system complexity increases due to authentication management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a simplified authentication management system by applying different rules to different requestors: the internal browser is exempt from authentication while external browsers require it. This local differentiation reduces the complexity of authentication management while maintaining security policy enforcement for external users.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus including a web server configured to generate an operation screen and a browser configured to receive the operation screen from the web server and to display the operation screen includes an identification unit configured to identify, if a connection request is given to the web server, a requestor of the connection request, a web server authentication unit configured to perform authentication of a user to use the web server, and a control unit configured to, if the requestor is identified as the browser of the image forming apparatus by the identification unit, control the web server to transmit the operation screen to the browser of the image forming apparatus without the web server authentication unit performing the authentication.