Methods and systems for imaging device credential submission and consolidation

• US 20060077434A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lovat, David J., Zhang, Hanzhong
• Granted Patent: US 8,006,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00503 Customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for eliminating multiple submission of user credential data in a system with multiple distinct restricted sub-systems wherein a unique credential is required for each sub-system.

Claims

1. A method for providing single-credential access to multiple, distinct, restricted services wherein a unique credential is required for each service, said method comprising:

a) sending user sign-on credentials to a single-sign-on server application (SSOSA) from an imaging device (IDev);

b) receiving a sign-on token, at said IDev, from said SSOSA when said user credentials comply with authentication restrictions, wherein said token is related to user credential data for at least one service; and

c) storing said sign-on token at said IDev.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said SSOSA comprises correlated data that correlates said user sign-on credentials with said user'"'"'s service-related credentials for at least one service.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said SSOSA comprises correlated data that correlates said user sign-on credentials with said user'"'"'s service-related credentials for a plurality of services.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said SSOSA is an application running on a remote computing device (RCD).

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said service is an application running on a remote computing device (RCD).

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said service is a local IDev function.

7. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending user sign-on credentials is accomplished with an XML/SOAP message.

8. A method for providing single-credential access to multiple, distinct, restricted services wherein a unique credential is required for each service, said method comprising:

a) requesting access to a service by sending a sign-on token to said service, said sign-on token being related to a user service credential, wherein, upon receiving said token, said service may request said user service credential from a single-sign-on server application (SSOSA) by sending said sign-on token to said SSOSA; and

b) receiving access to said service based on said credentials stored in said SSOSA.

9. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said service is an IDev function.

10. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said service is a remote application.

11. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said requesting is accomplished with an XML/SOAP message.

12. An apparatus for eliminating multiple submission of user credential data in a system with multiple, distinct, restricted services wherein a unique credential is required for each service, said apparatus comprising:

a) a credential sender for sending user sign-on credentials to a single-sign-on server application (SSOSA);

b) a token receiver for receiving a sign-on token from said SSOSA when said user sign-on credentials comply with authentication restrictions, wherein said token is related to user service credential data for at least one service; and

c) token storage for storing said sign-on token at said imaging device (IDev).

13. An apparatus as described in claim 12 wherein said SSOSA comprises correlated data that correlates said user sign-on credentials with said user'"'"'s user service credential data for at least one service.

14. An apparatus as described in claim 12 wherein said SSOSA comprises correlated data that correlates said user sign-on credentials with said user'"'"'s user service credential data for a plurality of services.

15. An apparatus as described in claim 12 wherein said SSOSA is an application running on a remote computing device (RCD).

16. An apparatus as described in claim 12 wherein said service is an application running on a remote computing device (RCD).

17. An apparatus as described in claim 12 wherein said service is a local IDev function.