Communication Management Server for Image Data Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication systems face challenges in managing the transmission of image data between sender and receive terminals when the types of image data playable by the sender and receive terminals differ, leading to inefficiencies in data transmission and reception.

Innovation Solution

A communication management server is implemented to receive sender and receive terminal identification information, and request the sender terminal to transmit image data of types playable by the receive terminal, ensuring compatibility and efficient data transfer by managing transmittable and playable image types through centralized databases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the sender terminal transmits image data in its native format without conversion, then transmission speed is improved, but compatibility with the receive terminal deteriorates when image types differ

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission speedVSAvoidcompatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The communication management server acts as an intermediary between the sender and receive terminals. It receives transmission requests, determines the appropriate image type based on receive terminal capabilities, and instructs the sender terminal to transmit in the correct format. This mediator resolves the contradiction by centralizing the format conversion decision, allowing fast transmission without compatibility issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary determination of the required image type before actual image data transmission. The communication management server queries the receive terminal's playback capabilities in advance, stores this information, and uses it to pre-determine the appropriate image format. This preliminary action ensures compatibility is established before transmission begins, avoiding retransmission delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the sender terminal converts image data to match receive terminal format before transmission, then compatibility is improved, but processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoidprocessing load

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The communication management server serves as an intermediary that handles the format determination logic centrally rather than at the sender terminal. By storing receive terminal capability information and making format decisions centrally, the system avoids requiring heavy conversion processing at the sender terminal, thus reducing its processing load while maintaining compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses information copying rather than data conversion. The communication management server copies and stores the receive terminal's capability information (supported image types) for future reference. This copying approach allows rapid format determination without repeated analysis or conversion processing, reducing overall system processing load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system stores detailed capability information for multiple terminals, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-terminal supportVSAvoidinformation management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication management server provides universal functionality by maintaining a centralized storage that can serve multiple receive terminals. Instead of each terminal needing its own complex capability management system, the server's single storage structure universally supports format determination for all connected terminals, simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system manages complexity by copying terminal capability information to a centralized storage rather than maintaining complex real-time connections or queries. This copying mechanism allows the server to efficiently retrieve and use capability information for multiple terminals without increasing structural complexity, as the same storage infrastructure serves all terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10834162B2Communication management server, communication system, transmitting apparatus, communication method, and program

Publication Date: 2020.11.10 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A communication management server manages communication with a sender terminal that transmits image data and a receive terminal that receives the image data. The communication management server includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry receives from the receive terminal, sender terminal identification information identifying the sender terminal, and receive terminal identification information identifying the receive terminal. The processing circuitry transmits, to the sender terminal, request information indicating a request for transmitting image data of a first image type playable by the receive terminal, when a second image type of image data transmittable by the sender terminal according to the sender terminal identification information, and the first image type of image data playable by the receive terminal, according to the receive terminal identification information, are different.