# US 9,872,177 B2 · User authentication method, monitoring system, monitoring apparatus, and electronic equipment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,872,177 B2 - Document ID: US9872177B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/446,738 - Filed: 2017-03-01 - Published: 2017-09-14 - Granted: 2018-01-16 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-08 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Takumi Oribe; Nobuyuki Saito; Masahiko Mizuta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872177B2 ## CPC - G06F 21/608: {Secure printing} - H04L 63/0853: {using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234)} - H04M 1/0202: {Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03)} - H04N 1/00323: {with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location} - H04N 1/32122: {in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data} - H04N 1/32539: {Detecting or indicating the status of the output devices} - H04N 1/4413: {involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN} - H04W 12/06: Authentication - H04W 60/04: using triggered events - H04N 2201/0082: Image hardcopy reproducer (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - H04N 2201/3205: of identification information, e.g. name or ID code (H04N2201/3209 takes precedence) - H04W 12/08: Access security - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Provided herein is a user authentication method in a monitoring system that communicates with electronic equipment and monitors the electronic equipment. The monitoring system performs processes including: demanding a user to perform predetermined authentication operation that gives rise to a change in running status of the electronic equipment; acquiring, from the electronic equipment, running information that indicates the running status of the electronic equipment, the running status having changed due to the authentication operation; detecting, on a basis of the running information, that the authentication operation has been performed in response to the demand; and permitting, upon detection, the user to access the running information acquired from the electronic equipment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A user authentication method in a monitoring system that communicates with electronic equipment and monitors the electronic equipment, the monitoring system performing processes comprising: demanding a user to perform a predetermined authentication operation that gives rise to a change in running status of the electronic equipment; acquiring, from the electronic equipment, running information that indicates the running status of the electronic equipment, the running status having changed due to the authentication operation, wherein the running information includes information for individual identification of the electronic equipment and information that changes as the electronic equipment runs; detecting, on a basis of the running information, that the authentication operation has been performed in response to the demand to perform the authentication information; and permitting, upon detection, the user to access the running information acquired from the electronic equipment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The user authentication method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring system demands the authentication operation via a terminal apparatus operated by the user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The user authentication method according to claim 1, wherein the authentication operation includes an operation of touching the electronic equipment by the user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The user authentication method according to claim 1, wherein the authentication operation includes operation of inputting data specified by the monitoring system into the electronic equipment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The user authentication method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic equipment generates an authentication code that is determined depending on the running information; and wherein the authentication operation includes an operation of acquiring the authentication code from the electronic equipment and transmitting the authentication code to the monitoring system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The user authentication method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring system demands the authentication operation in response to an authentication request from the user. ### Claim 7 A monitoring apparatus that communicates with electronic equipment and monitors the electronic equipment, comprising: a communication section that acquires, from the electronic equipment, running information that indicates running status of the electronic equipment, and transmits, to a terminal apparatus that is different from the electronic equipment, a control instruction for notification of a need to perform predetermined authentication operation that gives rise to a change in the running status of the electronic equipment, wherein the running information includes information for individual identification of the electronic equipment and information that changes as the electronic equipment runs; and a judgment section that judges whether the authentication operation has been performed or not on a basis of a change in the running information, wherein the user of the terminal apparatus is permitted to access the running information acquired from the electronic equipment in a case where the judgment section judges that the authentication operation has been performed in response to the notification.