Cloud-Based Error Diagnosis for Image Forming Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of image forming apparatuses face inconvenience and increased consumable costs when diagnosing and resolving picture quality issues, as existing methods require manual determination of errors and lack efficient resource management.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a scanner, communicator, and processor that transmits scan images to a cloud server for error analysis, receiving and displaying error solution guides to facilitate accurate diagnosis and user-friendly problem-solving, while the cloud server analyzes errors and provides corresponding solution guides.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a user manually determines error causes or calls technicians for service, then error diagnosis can be performed, but user convenience deteriorates and service costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror diagnosis accuracyVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service error diagnosis by automatically analyzing scan images through AI algorithms. The image forming apparatus autonomously captures scan images, transmits them to the server, and receives diagnostic results without requiring user expertise or technician intervention, thus improving both convenience and accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A cloud-based server acts as an intermediary between the image forming apparatus and the user. The server receives scan images, performs AI-based error analysis, and returns diagnostic results, effectively bridging the gap between complex error analysis capabilities and simple user interaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If additional test patterns are output to determine picture quality degradation, then diagnostic accuracy improves, but consumable consumption increases and user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepicture quality diagnosis accuracyVSAvoidconsumable consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary error analysis by capturing scan images of actual output and analyzing them through AI algorithms before requiring any additional test patterns. This preliminary diagnostic step determines whether further testing is necessary, thereby reducing unnecessary consumable usage while maintaining diagnostic accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring physical test pattern output and manual inspection, the system creates a digital copy (scan image) of the actual output and analyzes it through AI. This virtual copying and analysis approach eliminates the need for additional physical test patterns while maintaining diagnostic capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Extent of automation

If diagnostic inference engine is mounted in each image forming apparatus, then local error analysis is enabled, but device complexity increases and management efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal error analysis capabilityVSAvoidapparatus complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex diagnostic inference engine and AI algorithms are extracted from the image forming apparatus and relocated to a cloud-based server. The apparatus retains only the essential scanning and communication functions, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining automated error analysis capability through the server

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A single cloud-based server provides diagnostic services to multiple image forming apparatuses simultaneously. This universal approach consolidates the computational resources and diagnostic capabilities into one centralized system, reducing complexity at the device level while enabling automated analysis across the entire fleet

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If diagnostic inference engine is updated per image forming apparatus, then new error types can be handled, but management complexity increases and update efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenew error type handling capabilityVSAvoidupdate efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cloud-based server provides a universal platform for storing and managing diagnostic algorithms. When new error types are detected or algorithms are improved, updates are performed centrally on the server, automatically making them available to all connected apparatuses. This eliminates the need for individual updates to each device, dramatically improving update efficiency while maintaining adaptability to new error types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10063719B2Image forming apparatus, guide providing method thereof, cloud server, and error analyzing method thereof

Publication Date: 2018.08.28 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

An image forming apparatus, guide providing method thereof, cloud server and error analyzing method thereof are provided. The image forming apparatus may include a scanner configured to scan a script and generate a scan image, a communicator configured to communicate with a cloud server, a display configured display a screen, and a processor configured to control the communicator to transmit the generated scan image to a cloud server, and in response to receiving an error solution guide of the scan image from the cloud server, control the display to display the received error solution guide.