Konica Minolta, Dai Nippon Printing’s Joint Development Unveils the World’s First Universal Design High-security MFP with Body Area Network Smart Card

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc. and Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. announced that the “Universal Design High-security MFP with Body Area Network (BAN) Smart Card,” jointly developed by the companies, was nominated as a finalist for the best IT Security of the 2010 SESAMES Awards in the CARTES & IDentification, the world’s largest-class smart card technology expo to be held in Paris, France, in December 2010.

The “Universal Design High-security MFP with BAN Smart Card” is the world’s first application to incorporate smart card-based BAN security technologies in the versatile MFP with printing, copying, faxing and scanning capabilities in a single unit.

The SESAMES Awards have been presented to the best technological innovations and applications in the fields such as smart card, digital security and authentication. Ten awards will be given to the following categories: Hardware; Software; Identification/ID Cards; IT Security; Transportation; “Banking/Retail/Loyalty; Trusted Internet/Authentication; Mobility; “e-Transactions; and Manufacturing and Tests.

Out of 395 applications filed for the ten awards this year, the “Universal Design High-security MFP with BAN Smart Card” was selected as one of 33 finalists.

An increasing number of offices currently require scanning smart cards to validate employees’ in-house entry, exit or use of PCs and copiers for enhanced security management. Sometimes, however, these requirements bring nuisance when the employees have to pull smart cards out of the pockets or briefcases before scanning, or when a smart card is inserted in the reader connected to a PC for user identification and must be frequently taken out for printer or copier verification.

Konica Minolta and Dai Nippon Printing have collaborated in overcoming the challenges by utilizing BAN technologies to develop a system where nothing is required more than the human body’s touch on the device or its accessory to complete identity verification to operate the MFP.

Under the new joint development of the companies, the “Universal Design High-security MFP with BAN Smart Card” utilizes a transmitter with an inserted smart card for users to carry around. Identity verification is complete as soon as the user stands on the floor mat that works as receiving antenna, or the user touches on the front side of the MFP.

The feature holds the concept of Universal Design with easy accessibility for users of various capabilities, as well as improvements in the convenience of use. As the smart card used in the system is compatible with PKI*4 technologies, the entire system provides enhanced office security level and enables easier and more convenient security management, when combined with PKI-compatible techniques such as network encryption or document encryption. The BAN unit is economically beneficial because it can be easily added to existing MFP systems or ID-verification smart cards without major modifications for better convenience.

Going forward, Konica Minolta and Dai Nippon Printing intend to continue working together in further technological development for future commercialization, including joint verification experiments in the spring of 2011 to evaluate improvements in communication performance and marketability of the system. Furthermore, the companies are willing to push the envelope to expand the technology to other security equipment and promote office security business with the use of BAN.