Backup Server Report Prioritization for Failure Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Remote management systems for devices like multifunction printers face challenges in efficiently managing reports during system failures, requiring backup servers with similar performance to primary servers, leading to resource inefficiencies and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A device information management apparatus that receives reports from clients, determines processing based on importance levels and load levels, discarding non-urgent reports and prioritizing high-importance ones, allowing for temporary storage and later restoration during system recovery, enabling the use of smaller backup servers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a backup server with substantially the same performance as the primary server is provided, then operational continuity during failure is ensured, but system cost and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational continuityVSAvoidserver resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the backup server's processing capability variable rather than uniform. The backup server dynamically adjusts its processing power allocation based on the priority levels of individual reports, dedicating more resources to high-priority reports and less to low-priority ones. This allows a smaller, less expensive server to effectively handle critical operations while maintaining operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by introducing dynamic resource allocation on the backup server. Instead of a static configuration where the backup server must always match the primary server's full capacity, the system dynamically adjusts processing resources based on real-time needs, report priority levels, and system load conditions. This enables cost-effective backup while ensuring critical functions remain operational.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If all reports are processed with equal priority, then comprehensive data collection is achieved, but system responsiveness to critical events deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata collection completenessVSAvoidcritical event response
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different quality levels (priorities) to different reports based on their importance. Critical reports such as failure notifications receive high priority with immediate processing, while routine reports like counter information receive lower priority. This differential treatment ensures critical events are responded to quickly while still maintaining comprehensive data collection over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by processing only the most critical reports immediately on the backup server, while less critical reports are queued for later processing or discarded if resources are constrained. This selective approach ensures rapid response to critical events without requiring the backup server to process every single report with equal urgency, thus maintaining system responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8589534B2Device information management apparatus, device information management method, and storage medium which operates during a failure
Publication Date: 2013.11.19 RICOH CO LTD
  • US8589534B2 patent drawing
  • US8589534B2 patent drawing
  • US8589534B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A device information management apparatus for processing a report from a device management client during a failure of a transaction system is disclosed. The device information management apparatus includes a reception unit configured to receive the report from the device management client; a determining unit configured to determine whether to process the report based on an importance level of the report and a load (workload) level of the device information management apparatus; a processing unit configured to process the report if the determining unit determines to process the report; and a discarding unit configured to discard the report if the determining unit determines not to process the report.