Billing Amount Determination Using Dual-Table Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face memory and time inefficiencies due to large billing amount tables that list charges in one-to-one association with sheet sizes or telephone numbers, leading to increased memory usage and longer processing times.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dual-table system where one table defines billing amounts for specific values and another for value ranges, allowing the apparatus to efficiently determine billing amounts by referencing these tables, reducing memory usage and download time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a billing amount table lists billing amounts in one-to-one association with all sheet sizes, then complete billing coverage is achieved, but the table size increases and memory usage becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The billing amount table is segmented into two separate tables: a first table covering common sheet sizes with one-to-one billing amounts, and a second table covering rare sheet sizes using range-based billing. This segmentation reduces the overall table size while maintaining complete billing coverage for all sheet sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the billing parameter approach from strict one-to-one mapping to a hybrid model where most sheet sizes use one-to-one billing (first table) and rare sheet sizes use range-based billing (second table). This parameter change reduces memory requirements while preserving billing accuracy.
2Reliability
If a large billing amount table is stored in the image forming apparatus, then all sheet sizes can be billed, but the time to determine the applicable billing amount increases
Solution Approach 1:
The billing determination process is segmented into two stages: first checking the first table for exact matches (common sheet sizes), and only if not found, then checking the second table for range matches (rare sheet sizes). This segmentation reduces the average search time by handling the majority of cases in the smaller first table.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary billing determination by checking the first table (containing common sheet sizes) before checking the second table (containing rare sheet sizes). This preliminary action reduces average determination time since most sheet sizes will be found in the first table, avoiding the need to search the entire large table.
3Reliability
If a large billing amount table is downloaded to the image forming apparatus, then complete billing information is available, but the download time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The billing amount table is segmented into two separate tables that are downloaded independently: a first table for common sheet sizes and a second table for rare sheet sizes. This segmentation reduces the download time for each table while ensuring that complete billing information is eventually available in both tables combined.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus that executes a job and determines a billing amount for the job depending on a parameter value given to a parameter that relates to the execution of the job, the image forming apparatus comprising: a storage that stores therein a first table and a second table, the first table defining billing amounts for a plurality of non-overlapping value ranges in one-to-one correspondence, the second table defining billing amounts for a plurality of specific values in one-to-one correspondence; and a determiner operable to refer to the second table before referring to the first table and judge whether the parameter value is identical to any one of the plurality of specific values in the second table (step S402), and if identical (Yes in step S402), determine the billing amount for the job according to the second table (step S403).