Information Processing Apparatus Temporal Matching Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing systems struggle to maintain synchronization of data changes between information processing apparatuses when clock times are changed, especially during periods of disconnected communication with a server, leading to potential synchronization failures.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus equipped with a notification unit, management unit, and calculation unit that calculates and notifies the server with updated date-and-time information, ensuring temporal matching even after communication is resumed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the information processing apparatus operates disconnected from the server, then autonomous operation is maintained, but clock time drift occurs leading to synchronization failure
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus performs preliminary actions by storing multiple pieces of date-and-time information (notification date-and-time information from previous synchronizations and local clock time) before disconnection occurs. When disconnected, it uses these pre-stored time references to calculate time differences and generate corrected date-and-time information, enabling autonomous time correction without server connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus introduces an intermediary mechanism by calculating time differences between multiple date-and-time information sources and using this intermediate calculation to generate corrected notification date-and-time information. This intermediary time difference calculation serves as a bridge between the local clock and server time, allowing synchronization even during disconnection.
2Measurement precision
If the clock time is changed during disconnection, then local time accuracy is improved, but synchronization with server becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus implements feedback by continuously calculating the time difference between local clock time and notification date-and-time information, using this feedback to generate corrected date-and-time information. When connected to the server, it receives feedback about actual server time and adjusts its local time accordingly, ensuring future synchronizations are accurate.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus changes the parameter of date-and-time information by generating corrected notification date-and-time information that incorporates calculated time differences. This parameter transformation allows the apparatus to represent time in a way that accounts for both local clock changes and server time reference, resolving the conflict between local accuracy and server synchronization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple clock time changes occur during disconnection, then local time adaptation is enhanced, but synchronization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus performs preliminary action by storing multiple pieces of date-and-time information corresponding to different time points and clock changes. This pre-stored information includes notification date-and-time information from previous synchronizations and local clock times at various moments, enabling the apparatus to handle multiple time changes by selecting and comparing appropriate pre-stored references.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus segments the time tracking function by maintaining separate pieces of date-and-time information for different time periods and clock states. Instead of a single time reference, it divides time tracking into multiple discrete pieces of information that can be individually managed and compared, simplifying the handling of multiple clock changes.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus which, even when a clock time is changed therein during a time period over which communication with a server is disabled, is capable of ensuring temporal matching with the server after the communication is resumed. The information processing apparatus (MFP) notifies notification date-and-time information to the server when predetermined processing is performed. The MFP manages a time difference which is a difference between a time defined based on the notification date-and-time information and a time indicated by a clock of the MFP, and calculates an amount of change in the clock time in the case where the clock time is changed. When the clock time is changed, the MFP calculates a calculation time based on the time difference and the amount of change, and notifies the calculation time as the notification date-and-time information to the server.