Printer intrusion detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11330147-B2
Application number	US-201916719572-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2019
Priority date	Dec 18, 2019
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

System and method for printer intrusion detection. One embodiment is a system that includes memory configured to store personnel identification data for a plurality of operator classes permitted to perform different levels of maintenance actions on a printer. The system also includes an intrusion detection controller configured to detect a presence of a person in an operating space of the printer based on image data, to analyze the image data to detect one or more characteristics of the person, to determine an operator class for the person based on a match of the detected characteristics of the person with the personnel identification data stored in the memory, and to monitor adherence to maintenance permissions by the person in a plurality of physical areas of the printer based on the operator class of the person.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
memory configured to store personnel identification data that correlates individuals with operator classes permitted to perform different levels of maintenance actions on a printer, and operator class data that correlates the operator classes with the maintenance actions permissible for a respective operator class and with physical areas of the printer where the maintenance actions are permissible; and
an intrusion detection controller configured to detect a presence of a person in an operating space of the printer based on image data, to analyze the image data to detect one or more characteristics of the person, to determine an operator class for the person based on a match of the detected characteristics of the person with the personnel identification data stored in the memory, and to monitor adherence to maintenance permissions by the person by determining which maintenance actions are permitted at the physical areas of the printer based on the operator class of the person and the operator class data.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the intrusion detection controller is configured to detect a maintenance action of the person at a physical area of the printer, to determine whether the maintenance action is permitted at the physical area of the printer based on the operator class of the person, and in response to determining that the maintenance action is impermissible, to generate a notification including instructions for correcting the maintenance action.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the different levels of maintenance actions include entering the operating space, touching the printer, opening a panel of the printer, and removing a component of the printer.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein:
the intrusion detection controller is configured to direct the printer to lock the physical area if the maintenance action is not corrected.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the intrusion detection controller is configured to direct the printer to lock one or more panels of the printer to control access to at least one of the physical areas of the printer based on the operator class of the person.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the characteristics of the person comprise a badge worn by the person; and
the intrusion detection controller is configured to determine the operator class for the person based on identification of the badge.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the intrusion detection controller is configured to direct the printer to change an operating state of the printer based on the operator class of the person.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a camera having a field of view of the operating space of the printer.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
the printer that occupies the operating space.

10. A method comprising:
storing, in memory, personnel identification data that correlates individuals with operator classes permitted to perform different levels of maintenance actions on a printer, and operator class data that correlates the operator classes with the maintenance actions permissible for a respective operator class and with physical areas of the printer where the maintenance actions are permissible;
detecting a presence of a person in an operating space of the printer based on image data;
analyzing the image data to detect one or more characteristics of the person;
determining an operator class for the person based on a match of the detected characteristics of the person with the personnel identification data stored in the memory; and
monitoring adherence to maintenance permissions by the person by determining which maintenance actions are permitted at the physical areas of the printer based on the operator class of the person and the operator class data.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
detecting a maintenance action of the person at a physical area of the printer;
determining whether the maintenance action is permitted at the physical area of the printer based on the operator class of the person; and
in response to determining that the maintenance action is impermissible, generating a notification including instructions for correcting the maintenance action.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
directing the printer to lock the physical area if the maintenance action is not corrected.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein:
the different levels of maintenance actions include entering the operating space, touching the printer, opening a panel of the printer, and removing a component of the printer.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
directing the printer to lock one or more panels of the printer to control access to at least one of the physical areas of the printer based on the operator class of the person.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium including programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for performing a method, the method comprising:
storing, in memory, personnel identification data that correlates individuals with operator classes permitted to perform different levels of maintenance actions on a printer, and operator class data that correlates the operator classes with the maintenance actions permissible for a respective operator class and with physical areas of the printer where the maintenance actions are permissible;
detecting a presence of a person in an operating space of the printer based on image data;
analyzing the image data to detect one or more characteristics of the person;
determining an operator class for the person based on a match of the detected characteristics of the person with the personnel identification data stored in the memory; and
monitoring adherence to maintenance permissions by the person by determining which maintenance actions are permitted at the physical areas of the printer based on the operator class of the person and the operator class data.

16. The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:
detecting a maintenance action of the person at a physical area of the printer;
determining whether the maintenance action is permitted at the physical area of the printer based on the operator class of the person; and
in response to determining that the maintenance action is impermissible, generating a notification including instructions for correcting the maintenance action.

17. The medium of claim 16 wherein the method further comprises:
directing the printer to lock the physical area if the maintenance action is not corrected.

18. The medium claim 15 wherein:
the different levels of maintenance actions include entering the operating space, touching the printer, opening a panel of the printer, and removing a component of the printer.

19. The medium claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:
directing the printer to lock one or more panels of the printer to control access to at least one of the physical areas of the printer based on the operator class of the person.

20. The medium claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:
directing the printer to change an operating state of the printer based on the operator class of the person.

Assignees

• Ernst Larry M
• Munson Mike
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ernst Larry M
• Munson Mike

Classifications

• G06V40/103

  Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition · CPC title

• G06V20/52

  Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69) · CPC title

• H04N1/0048

  Indicating an illegal or impossible operation or selection to the user · CPC title

• H04N1/00543

  Allowing easy access, e.g. for maintenance or in case of paper jam (H04N1/00538 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G07C9/00571

  operated by interacting with a central unit · CPC title