Image Forming Apparatus with Chat-Based Patient Data Composition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Creating patient registration cards with face photographs requires significant time and effort due to the manual process of adding patient information and photographs to print data.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus that integrates with a chat service to receive image data and identification information, composites the data with a form image, and prints the composite on a sheet, reducing the need for manual input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual process of adding patient information and photographs to print data is used, then flexibility in handling diverse patient data is maintained, but time consumption and labor effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of creating print dataVSAvoidcomplexity of data processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a chat service as an intermediary between the patient information source and the print data generation system. The chat service receives image data and identification information from patients, processes this data, and transmits it to the image forming apparatus, thereby automating the manual process of data collection and reducing the complexity of the overall system architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables patients to self-service by directly providing their own photograph data and identification information through the chat service. This eliminates the need for hospital clerks to manually collect and process patient data, significantly reducing labor effort while maintaining data accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of time

If automated composition of image data with form information is implemented, then time and effort for creating print data are reduced, but system integration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime for creating print dataVSAvoidintegration complexity of chat service and printer
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data processing system into distinct functional modules: the chat service for data collection, the image forming apparatus for data processing and print data generation, and the printer for output. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function independently, reducing integration complexity while enabling automated composition of image data with form information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The image forming apparatus is designed with multi-functionality, capable of receiving various types of data (image data, identification information) from the chat service, processing this diverse data, and generating appropriate print data. This universal approach reduces the need for multiple specialized systems, thereby reducing overall integration complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250298547A1Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.09.25 CANON KK
  • US20250298547A1 patent drawing
  • US20250298547A1 patent drawing
  • US20250298547A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes a printer, at least one processor, and at least one memory. The at least one memory stores instructions for causing the at least one processor and the at least one memory to receive image data posted to a chat service and identification information on a user who has posted the image data, and output print data by compositing the received image data and information corresponding to the identification information with a form image. The printer is configured to print an image on a sheet based on the output print data.