Wireless Terminal Position Control for Printer Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current information processing devices lack a method to control operations based on the user's location and the device's condition, leading to potential unauthorized access and misuse when users leave printed documents unattended.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus that communicates with wireless terminals and information processing devices to obtain position data and state information, determining when predetermined conditions are met to transmit control signals for executing specific processing tasks, such as locking or initiating print jobs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the information processing device is always accessible to users, then ease of operation is improved, but security and unauthorized access risk worsen when users leave the device unattended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of device accessibility based on real-time detection of user presence. The device transitions between locked and unlocked states automatically according to whether a user is detected nearby, making the security state adaptive rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by allowing easy access when users are present while automatically preventing unauthorized access when users leave.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors user presence through wireless terminal detection and provides feedback by automatically locking or unlocking the device. This closed-loop control ensures the device state responds to actual user presence conditions, maintaining security without requiring manual user intervention. The feedback mechanism enables the device to adapt its accessibility based on real-time environmental conditions.
2Productivity
If print jobs are executed immediately upon receipt, then productivity is improved, but security worsens as printed documents may be lost or misused when users are absent
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of user presence before executing print jobs. Instead of printing immediately upon receiving a print request, the device waits to confirm user presence through wireless terminal detection. This preliminary check ensures documents are only printed when the user is actually present to collect them, preventing loss or misuse while maintaining efficient printing when conditions are appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The print execution state is made dynamic rather than static. The device can switch between immediate execution and delayed execution modes based on real-time user presence detection. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize between productivity and security by adapting the printing behavior to actual operational conditions, printing quickly when users are present and withholding printing when they are absent.
3Reliability
If location-based control is implemented, then security is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional positioning infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control apparatus as an intermediary that centralizes the complex positioning and decision-making logic. Instead of embedding complex GPS or indoor positioning systems in each information processing device, a separate control apparatus handles all location-based control operations. This mediator approach maintains security functionality while preventing the complexity from propagating to individual devices, keeping them simple and cost-effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex positioning and control logic is extracted from the information processing devices and placed in a separate control apparatus. This extraction removes the burden of complex infrastructure requirements from the main devices, allowing them to remain simple while still benefiting from sophisticated location-based security control through the external control system.
Data Source
AI summary
A control apparatus is disclosed that may communicate with a wireless terminal and an information processing device. The control apparatus includes a first obtaining unit configured to obtain position data of the wireless terminal; a second obtaining unit configured to obtain state information about the information processing device; a determining unit configured to make a determination that the position data obtained by the first obtaining unit indicates a predetermined location and the state information obtained by the second obtaining unit indicates a predetermined state; and a transmission unit configured to transmit to the information processing device a control signal causing the information processing device to execute predetermined processing in response to the determination made by the determining unit.