Methods and systems for imaging device credential consolidation

• US 20060119883A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (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
• Application Number:
  US11/192,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20060119883A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/502 relating to the structure of the control menu, e.g. pop-up menus, help screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5091 for user-identification or authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/41 where a single sign-on provides access to a plurality of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/452 Remote windowing, e.g. X-Window System, desktop virtualisation protocols for virtual reality H04L67/131
• 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 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32561 using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3221 of a job number or identification, e.g. communication number

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 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 method comprising:

a) sending user sign-on credentials, from an imaging device (IDev), to an accounting application (AcctApp) that is connected to a single-sign-on server application (SSOSA), wherein said AcctApp is configured to authenticate said sign-on credentials and request a single-sign-on token from said SSOSA when said sign-on credentials authenticate successfully;

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

c) storing said single-sign-on (SSO) token at said imaging device (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 user credential data 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 user credential data 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, from an imaging device (IDev), to an accounting application (AcctApp) that is connected to a single-sign-on server application (SSOSA), wherein said AcctApp is configured to authenticate said sign-on credentials and request a single-sign-on token from said SSOSA when said sign-on credentials authenticate successfully;

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

c) storage for storing said single-sign-on (SSO) 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 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 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.