Automated Contract-Linked Smart Service Setup for Image Forming Apparatuses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to automatically set up smart services on both image forming apparatuses and cloud servers based on use contracts, necessitating manual intervention and user burden.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system comprising a contract management server, a contract linkage process execution server, a settings delivery server, and a smart service server, which automatically delivers setting values and firmware to both the image forming apparatus and the smart service server upon contract initiation or update, using a contract linkage process to manage and execute delivery instructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automatic setting delivery is implemented for image forming apparatuses, then productivity and ease of operation are improved, but the system complexity increases due to multiple servers and coordination mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
A contract linkage process execution server is introduced as an intermediary component that coordinates between the contract management server, settings delivery server, and smart service server. This mediator automatically triggers and manages the delivery of settings and firmware based on contract status, eliminating the need for manual user configuration while distributing system complexity across specialized server components
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional servers: a contract management server for contract storage, a settings delivery server for firmware and application delivery, and a smart service server for service provision. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific tasks, improving maintainability and reducing the complexity burden on individual components
2Productivity
If manual setting execution is required for smart services, then system complexity is reduced, but productivity and user convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Settings information, firmware, and applications are prepared and stored in advance by the settings delivery server before the contract activation event occurs. When a contract is activated, the contract linkage process execution server automatically retrieves and delivers the pre-prepared settings without requiring any manual intervention, thereby improving productivity while managing system complexity through advance preparation
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service automation where the contract linkage process execution server automatically determines contract status, triggers appropriate delivery processes, and coordinates between multiple servers without human intervention. This self-service mechanism improves productivity by eliminating manual configuration steps while distributing the complexity of automated coordination across specialized server functions
3Reliability
If setting delivery is implemented only for image forming apparatuses, then device configuration is improved, but service availability and integration completeness worsen due to lack of server-side setting reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The contract linkage process execution server delivers settings information to multiple targets: both the image forming apparatus and the smart service server. This universal delivery mechanism ensures that settings are reflected across the entire system stack, improving reliability through complete configuration propagation and enabling adaptability by supporting various service types through a unified delivery framework
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the contract linkage process execution server receives contract status information, processes it to determine required settings deliveries, and then executes coordinated delivery to both client devices and service servers. This feedback-driven coordination ensures that settings are automatically synchronized across all system components, improving reliability through complete setting propagation and enabling adaptability by responding to varying contract requirements
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing system includes a contract management server, a contract linkage process execution server, a settings delivery server, a smart service server, and an image forming apparatus. The contract management server manages a use contract of a smart service. The contract linkage process execution server determines the managed use contract. The settings delivery server manages settings information of the image forming apparatus. Upon determining that a period of the use contract has started or the use contract has been updated, automatically executes (1) transmission of a client delivery instruction to the settings delivery server and (2) transmission of a service delivery instruction to the smart service server.