DFE–MFP Operation Data Merging for Unified Device Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to efficiently manage device information from both a digital front end controller (DFE) and a multifunction printer (MFP) connected to a network without duplication, leading to separate management of the same device as two separate entities.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism is implemented to collect and manage operation information from both the DFE and MFP as a single entity, integrating their operation information without duplication, allowing for unified management and analysis of job types and consumable status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If device information from both DFE and MFP is collected separately, then complete device information is obtained, but duplication occurs and management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges device information from both the DFE and MFP by collecting operation information from both devices and integrating them under a single device identifier. The management apparatus consolidates job types and consumable status from both sources into one unified record, eliminating duplication while maintaining completeness of device information.
2Loss of information
If operation information is collected from both DFE and MFP, then comprehensive job and consumable data is obtained, but data duplication occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines operation information from both DFE and MFP by identifying they represent the same physical device and merging their job types and consumable status into a single consolidated dataset. This prevents duplicate storage of the same operational data while ensuring all job types and consumable information are captured.
3Ease of operation
If separate management of DFE and MFP is implemented, then individual device control is maintained, but unified analysis becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of DFE and MFP into a unified system by collecting operation information from both devices and consolidating it under single device identifiers. This enables centralized control and comprehensive analysis of all job types and consumable status across the entire printing system, while still maintaining the ability to track individual device contributions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of collecting operation information from an apparatus on a network includes searching for an apparatus on the network, in response to finding an image processing apparatus and a control apparatus that is connected to the image processing apparatus and transmits print data to the image processing apparatus in the searching, collecting operation information from one of the image processing apparatus and the control apparatus, and storing the collected operation information in a predetermined storage area.