Electronic Device Application Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to effectively uninstall application programs from HDDs without impacting essential programs, requiring finer control to manage storage capacity and user permissions.

Innovation Solution

An electronic apparatus with a control portion and storage portion that includes an installation portion, program use control portion, and automatic uninstallation portion, which distinguishes between administrator and non-administrator users, allowing only unused applications to be uninstalled from user folders while preserving essential applications in the administrator folder.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users are permitted to freely install extension applications, then user customization and functionality are improved, but storage capacity is strained due to accumulation of undesired applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser customizationVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic management of application programs by automatically monitoring usage status and transitioning applications between user folder and administrator folder based on whether they are currently being used. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt storage allocation to actual user needs, preserving storage capacity while maintaining user customization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically determining which applications are in use and managing their installation locations without requiring user intervention. The control portion autonomously monitors application usage and executes transfers between folders, eliminating the need for manual user management while preventing storage strain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Quantity of substance

If application programs are deleted from HDD, then storage capacity is optimized, but user impact is significant requiring finer control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoiduser impact
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of completely deleting application programs, the patent extracts unused applications from the user folder and relocates them to the administrator folder. This extraction approach preserves the applications in the system while removing them from user-accessible locations, optimizing storage capacity without causing significant user impact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The administrator folder serves as an intermediary storage location between complete deletion and user folder installation. Applications are moved to this intermediate location where they remain preserved but are not accessible to users, providing a buffer that balances storage optimization with user impact considerations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If unused applications are removed from user folder, then storage capacity is optimized, but essential applications may be accidentally deleted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidessential application preservation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments application storage into two distinct folders: user folder and administrator folder. Essential applications are preserved in the administrator folder while only unused applications from the user folder are transferred. This segmentation ensures that essential applications are protected from accidental deletion while still optimizing storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Before removing applications from the user folder, the system performs preliminary monitoring to determine usage status. By advance monitoring which applications are currently in use, the system ensures that essential applications are identified and protected before any transfer operations occur, preventing accidental deletion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3318973B1Electronic device
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC
  • EP3318973B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3318973B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3318973B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic apparatus includes a control portion (1) including: an installation portion (11) that associates the user who performs installation with the installed program; and a program use control portion (17) that permits all users to use a first installed program associated with a first user and permit a second user and a third user who attempts to install a second installed program associated with the second user to use the second installed program. When the third user who is a user other than an administrator attempts to install an application program that the third user is not permitted to use, if the application program is the second installed program, the installation portion (11) does not perform installation and causes the program use control portion (17) to permit the third user to use the second installed program.