Client Server Synchronization Filtering for Image Forming Apparatus

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional information sharing systems between servers and clients unnecessarily transmit and process setting information that the server does not handle as a synchronization target, leading to increased data processing and communication loads.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that includes a management unit to manage setting information, a reception unit to receive updates from an image forming apparatus, and a transmission unit to respond to each setting item, preventing the transmission of updates for items not handled as synchronization targets, thereby reducing unnecessary data processing and communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the image forming apparatus transmits all setting information updates to the server, then synchronization completeness is improved, but data processing load and communication load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization completenessVSAvoiddata processing load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments setting information into synchronization target items and non-synchronization target items. The management unit on the server side classifies setting items based on whether they should be synchronized, and the image forming apparatus transmits only the necessary updates for synchronization target items, reducing unnecessary data processing and communication loads while maintaining synchronization completeness for relevant items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of different setting items. Not all setting information is treated uniformly - only setting items marked as synchronization targets are processed and transmitted. This selective approach reduces the processing load on both the server and client while ensuring that synchronization completeness is maintained for the relevant subset of items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the image forming apparatus transmits all setting information updates to the server, then synchronization completeness is improved, but communication load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization completenessVSAvoidcommunication load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes non-synchronization target setting information from the transmission process. The management unit identifies which setting items should be synchronized and excludes others from the communication. This extraction of unnecessary data reduces communication load while maintaining synchronization completeness for the essential setting items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments setting information into synchronization target items and non-synchronization target items. The management unit on the server side classifies setting items based on whether they should be synchronized, and the image forming apparatus transmits only the necessary updates for synchronization target items, reducing unnecessary data processing and communication loads while maintaining synchronization completeness for relevant items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the server handles all setting information as synchronization targets, then synchronization coverage is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization coverageVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments setting information into synchronization target items and non-synchronization target items. The management unit on the server side classifies setting items based on whether they should be synchronized, and the image forming apparatus transmits only the necessary updates for synchronization target items, reducing unnecessary data processing and communication loads while maintaining synchronization completeness for relevant items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by synchronizing only the necessary setting items rather than all setting information. The management unit determines which setting items require synchronization and processes only those, reducing processing complexity while maintaining adequate synchronization coverage for the essential items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10264153B2Information processing apparatus, method for controlling information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, and information processing system

Publication Date: 2019.04.16 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus is configured in the following manner. When a client is connected to a server, the client transmits all of setting information that the client handles as a synchronization target to the server. The server returns an error response to prohibit synchronization in response to transmission of a setting item that the server does not handle as the synchronization target among the setting information transmitted from the client. After that, the client apparatus does not notify the server of a content of an update with respect to the setting information of the setting item to which the error response is returned when the client is connected to the server.