Centralized Icon Management for Multifunction Peripherals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users must create separate icons for each multifunction peripheral in an office setting, leading to cumbersome operations when using multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system comprising a client device, a host device, and an image processing apparatus, where icons associated with operation setting information are registered on the client device and transmitted to the host device for centralized management, allowing the image processing apparatus to operate based on selected icons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If icons are created separately for each multifunction peripheral, then each device can be operated independently, but the operation complexity increases and time is wasted when using multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables users to create an icon once on a client device and automatically copy it to multiple host devices and image processing apparatuses. The icon data is transmitted and registered on each target device, eliminating the need to manually recreate the same icon on every device. This copying mechanism directly resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational independence while dramatically reducing the time and effort required for icon creation across multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the icon creation and management functions across multiple devices through a centralized approach. Instead of treating each device's icon management as a separate operation, the system combines them into a unified process where a single icon creation action on the client device propagates to multiple host devices and image processing apparatuses. This merging eliminates redundant operations and resolves the time loss issue while preserving device independence.
2Adaptability or versatility
If icons are registered on each image processing apparatus individually, then device-specific customization is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a client device as an intermediary that simplifies the icon registration process. Instead of directly registering icons on each image processing apparatus (which would require complex device-specific configurations), the user creates icons on the client device, which then acts as a mediator to transmit and register the icons on the target apparatuses. This intermediary approach maintains device-specific customization capabilities while significantly reducing system complexity by providing a unified creation interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal icon creation mechanism on the client device that can serve multiple host devices and image processing apparatuses simultaneously. The icon creation function is designed to be multi-functional, allowing the same icon to be registered across different devices with a single operation. This universality resolves the contradiction by enabling device-specific customization through a standardized, low-complexity interface that works across the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
In an image processing system, a control device (11) of a first host PC (1) controls (i) a storage device (12) of the first host PC (1) to store an icon registered on the first host PC (1), (ii) the icon to be registered on a multifunction peripheral (5), and (iii) the icon to be transmitted to a first client PC (3). In the image processing system, a control device (31) of the first client PC (3) controls a storage device (32) of the first client PC (3) to store the icon received from the first host PC (1), and controls a display device (35) of the first client PC (3) to display the icon.