Dealer-Specific Application Filtering for MFPs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to properly introduce applications to devices, as they do not consider the specific applications allowed by each device dealer, leading to incorrect application installation.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system that includes a screen information request receiver, an application identification information specifying unit, and a screen information transmitter, which receives dealer information and specifies corresponding application identification information based on a correspondence relation, ensuring only properly available applications are displayed and installed on the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If applications are introduced without considering dealer-specific restrictions, then the application introduction process is simplified, but incorrect applications may be installed on devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by obtaining dealer information before introducing applications, and uses this information to pre-filter compatible applications. The server stores correspondence relations between dealer information and application identification information in advance, enabling it to quickly determine which applications are suitable for each dealer's devices without complex runtime checks.
Solution Approach 2:
Dealer information acts as an intermediary element between the application introduction request and the application selection process. The server uses this intermediary to match applications with devices, ensuring that only applications permitted by the specific dealer are introduced. This mediator approach maintains reliability while keeping the process automated.
2Reliability
If dealer information is obtained and processed to determine application compatibility, then application availability accuracy is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs multiple functions using a unified approach: it manages dealer information, stores correspondence relations, determines application compatibility, and introduces applications. This multi-functional design avoids the need for separate complex systems for each function, thereby managing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of application selection from generic device-type matching to dealer-specific matching. By introducing dealer information as an additional parameter and storing correspondence relations, the system achieves higher accuracy without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same server infrastructure handles the enhanced logic.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a screen information request receiver, an application identification information specifying unit, a screen information transmitter. The screen information request receiver receives, from a device, a screen information request used to request screen information for providing an application. The screen information includes at least dealer information representing a dealer that sells the device. The application identification information specifying unit specifies application identification information corresponding to the dealer information included in the screen information request based on application correspondence relation information representing a correspondence relation between the dealer information and the application identification information identifying an application available to the device. The screen information transmitter transmits, to the device, the screen information for providing the application identified by the application identification information specified by the application identification information specifying unit as a response to the screen information request received by the screen information request receiver.