Apparatus Application Compatibility Determination Unit

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Multifunction machines and compound devices with copy, print, scan, and fax capabilities face compatibility issues due to variations in models and versions of image forming apparatuses and applications, leading to inconsistent performance and user trust erosion.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a determining unit that checks the compatibility of the application's functions with the apparatus's supported functions and automatically updates if necessary, ensuring only compatible versions and functions are executed, thereby preventing incompatibility-related issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the image forming apparatus supports multiple models and versions to increase versatility, then adaptability improves, but compatibility issues between applications and apparatus versions arise, worsening reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport for multiple models and versionsVSAvoidcompatibility between application and apparatus

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The determining unit performs compatibility checking before the application is executed. It checks whether the apparatus version supports the application version by comparing version information, and only allows execution if compatible. This preliminary verification prevents incompatibility issues from occurring during actual operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The determining unit acts as an intermediary component between the application and the execution environment. It mediates the compatibility verification process by checking version information and controlling whether the application can be executed, thus ensuring reliability without limiting the apparatus's versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the determining unit checks version compatibility for every application startup, then reliability improves, but processing time increases, worsening productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility verificationVSAvoidapplication startup time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Version information is extracted and stored in advance during application installation or configuration. The determining unit retrieves pre-stored version information for comparison, rather than parsing and analyzing the entire application package each time startup occurs. This reduces the time required for compatibility checking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The determining unit performs only the essential version comparison checks needed for compatibility verification, rather than进行全面 analysis of the application. By focusing on critical version information elements, the checking process is completed quickly with minimal impact on startup time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10296401B2Apparatus and method that determine whether the apparatus can execute an application program

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

An image forming apparatus including an application is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a determining unit that, when the application starts in the image forming apparatus, checks first information indicating a function to be used by the application against second information indicating a function supported by the image forming apparatus so as to determine whether the function to be used by the application is executable, and changes operations of the application according to a determination result. The determining unit is automatically updated if the determining unit does not support a structure of the first information or a structure of the second information.