Counter Managing Unit for Execution Restriction in Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image forming apparatuses lack an efficient system to manage and count the executions of specific processing tasks, such as printing, copying, and scanning, which limits their ability to implement charge and execution restrictions effectively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a management application and a common application within the image forming apparatus, which includes a counter managing unit to track the executions of specific processing tasks, allowing for the counting of executions and enabling charge and execution restrictions through a multifunctional peripheral (MFP) configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a management application and counter managing unit are implemented to track executions of specific processing, then charge and execution restriction management is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The counter managing unit is designed to universally manage counters for multiple different processing types (printing, copying, scanning, OCR, barcode reading) through a single integrated system. This allows the same management infrastructure to track and control diverse processing executions without requiring separate counting mechanisms for each function, thereby improving reliability while limiting complexity growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The management application acts as an intermediary layer between the common application and the counter managing unit. This mediator handles the complexity of counter management, execution tracking, and charge calculation, allowing the core processing functions to remain simple while still achieving reliable execution restriction and charge management.
2Quantity of substance
If counters are integrated within the MFP for tracking processing executions, then storage capacity needs are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The counters are merged into the MFP's existing memory and processing infrastructure rather than being implemented as separate external storage devices. The counter managing unit utilizes the MFP's internal storage resources to maintain execution counts, thereby reducing overall storage capacity requirements while integrating the counting function into the existing system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The MFP's existing memory and processing units are made multi-functional by having them serve both the original processing functions and the additional counter management function. This eliminates the need for dedicated separate storage for counters, reducing total storage needs while the integration complexity is managed through the universal design of the counter managing unit.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a management application and a common application. The management application manages a counter. The common application is other than the management application. The management application causes the image forming apparatus to function as: a counter managing unit that manages the counter that counts a count of executions of specific processing by the common application; and an execution count unit that counts the count of executions using the counter managed by the counter managing unit.