Document Processing Apparatus With External Server Load Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing apparatuses face challenges in handling subsequent processing requests efficiently after commanding an external server to process a document, leading to increased load and potential cost implications.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus redirects the processing load to another internal apparatus by generating and transmitting specific information to both the external server and the internal apparatus, allowing the internal apparatus to receive and process the document processed by the server, thereby reducing its own processing load and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the apparatus commands an external server to process a document and receives the processed document, then the document processing function is achieved, but the load on the apparatus increases making it difficult to handle subsequent processing requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the document processing function from the local apparatus and relocates it to an external server. The apparatus only retains the functions of receiving processing requests, transmitting documents to the server, and delivering processed documents back to users. This extraction eliminates the computational burden from the apparatus while maintaining full document processing capability through the external server.
2Ease of operation
If the apparatus handles all processing requests itself, then it maintains full control over document processing, but the load on the apparatus increases and subsequent requests cannot be handled efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external server as an intermediary between the apparatus and the document processing task. The server acts as a mediator that receives documents from the apparatus, performs the processing operations, and returns the processed documents. This intermediary approach allows the apparatus to maintain control over the processing workflow while delegating the actual processing workload to the server, thereby improving its ability to handle subsequent requests.
3Reliability
If the apparatus processes documents locally, then it ensures complete control and security, but it consumes more resources and increases operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a virtualized document processing model where the apparatus maintains control over the processing requests and document transmission, while the actual processing is performed as a copied instance on the external server. The server receives document data from the apparatus, creates a processing copy, executes the processing operations, and returns the results. This copying approach allows the apparatus to maintain security and control policies while significantly reducing its resource consumption and operational costs.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to: acquire a processing request that includes a document; request an external server to perform a process included in the acquired processing request, the external server being connectable from the information processing apparatus and being responsible for performing the process; and transmit second information to an apparatus communicable with the information processing apparatus, the second information including first information to be used for acquiring a processed document serving as the document processed by the external server.