Document Distribution Uniformity in Image Processing Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a network of image processing apparatuses, there is a challenge in maintaining uniformity of document distribution across devices, leading to inefficiencies in document access and storage, especially when some devices become inaccessible.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a document rearrangement unit that communicates with other image processing apparatuses to transfer documents and manage storage periods, ensuring that each device in the group has a balanced load of documents and storage periods, thereby maintaining uniformity and preventing storage period variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If documents are accumulated in image processing apparatuses without uniform distribution control, then document storage capacity is increased, but document access efficiency deteriorates due to uneven load distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives information about document accumulation status from each image processing apparatus in the group, compares the quantities, and automatically controls document transfer to achieve uniform distribution. This feedback mechanism ensures that documents are redistributed based on real-time storage status, maintaining efficient access patterns while preserving total storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automatic document redistribution without requiring manual intervention. The control unit autonomously monitors document quantities across apparatuses and executes transfer operations to achieve uniform distribution, enabling the system to self-regulate and maintain optimal performance.
2Productivity
If automatic document redistribution is implemented, then document access efficiency is improved through uniform distribution, but system complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions including receiving document quantity information from all apparatuses, comparing accumulation statuses, determining transfer targets, and controlling actual document transfers. By consolidating these functions in a single control unit, the system achieves uniform distribution without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If document transfer operations are performed frequently, then uniformity of document distribution is improved, but time consumption for document collection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit transfers documents only when and where necessary to achieve uniform distribution, rather than continuously redistributing. By performing partial transfer operations based on actual imbalance detection, the system maintains distribution uniformity while minimizing time consumption compared to continuous or excessive transfer operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes: a providing unit that provides a document data accumulated in a host apparatus according to a request from another apparatus in a same apparatus group to which the host apparatus belongs; and a control unit that acquires information of a size of document group accumulated in each of other image processing apparatuses from each of those image processing apparatuses in the apparatus group, and performs control of moving the document among the host apparatus and those image processing apparatuses in such a manner that the size of the document group accumulated in the host apparatus and each of those image processing apparatuses approaches uniform.