Cloud-Based Terminal Management System for Image Forming Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

In management systems where a server manages image forming devices, the active operation of the server device increases costs, and there is a risk of the management device failing to acquire proper information due to communication issues between the server and image forming devices.

Innovation Solution

A management system is implemented with a first and second communication device, where the second communication device acquires terminal information and writes execution information into cloud storage, and the first communication device passively retrieves this information to determine error states, reducing operational costs and ensuring proper management of terminal devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the server device actively operates to acquire and transmit information, then the management device can acquire terminal information, but the operation cost of the server device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidoperation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional active-server model by implementing a passive cloud storage system. Instead of the server actively acquiring and transmitting information, the terminal devices actively write their information to the cloud storage, and the management device passively reads what it needs. This role reversal eliminates the need for continuous server operations while maintaining information availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal devices perform self-service by autonomously writing their own information to the cloud storage without requiring server intervention. The management device also performs self-service by independently reading information from the cloud storage without needing active server coordination. This self-service approach eliminates dependency on continuous server operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If the server device actively transmits information, then the management device receives terminal information, but communication failures may prevent proper information acquisition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation transmission efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the information flow direction: terminal devices write information to cloud storage independently, and the management device reads information when needed. This eliminates the need for continuous active transmission from server to management device, reducing communication failure risks while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

Terminal devices perform preliminary action by writing their information to the cloud storage in advance or at their own timing. The management device then performs its own action by reading the information when needed. This asynchronous approach eliminates dependency on synchronized communication and reduces failure risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If the cloud storage passively stores information, then the operation cost is reduced, but the management device must verify information accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation costVSAvoiderror determination process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management device performs preliminary verification by determining whether the terminal information corresponds to the current timing before using the information. This preliminary action prevents incorrect information from being processed, and the verification process is integrated into the reading operation itself rather than being a separate complex system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The management device uses feedback from the cloud storage reading operation to determine whether information acquisition was successful and whether the information corresponds to current timing. This feedback mechanism provides simple verification without requiring complex additional systems, balancing cost reduction with accuracy assurance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12050819B2Management system, computer readable medium, and management method

Publication Date: 2024.07.30 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A management system includes a first communication device and a second communication device. The second communication device is configured to execute a terminal information acquisition process of acquiring terminal information related to terminal devices and a writing process of writing execution information into a cloud storage in response to execution of the terminal information acquisition process. The execution information includes the terminal information and is related to the terminal information acquisition process. The first communication device is configured to execute an execution information acquisition process of acquiring, from the cloud storage, the execution information and an error determination process of determining whether an error state occurs based on the execution information. The error state indicates that one piece of the terminal information of the terminal devices included in the execution information may not correspond to an execution timing of the execution information acquisition process.