Dynamic Auto Clear Time Adjustment for Image Formation Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of image formation apparatuses face job interruptions due to insufficient balance or system errors, leading to unnecessary auto clear times, especially when using billing server registration or prepaid cards, which require longer times to resolve.
Innovation Solution
The image formation apparatus includes a judgment part to determine the cause of interruption and adjusts the auto clear time accordingly, setting it longer for causes expected to take longer to resolve, thereby preventing job discard and allowing users to address the issue without restarting from scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the auto clear time is extended to allow users sufficient time to pay additional fees through billing server registration or prepaid cards, then users can complete payment without job discard, but the auto clear time becomes unnecessarily long for interruptions that can be resolved quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the auto clear time adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically changes the auto clear time based on the detected interruption cause - using longer time for billing server registration and prepaid card interruptions, and shorter time for cash payments or other quick-resolve interruptions. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the time parameter to actual user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of auto clear time based on the interruption cause. By detecting whether the interruption is due to billing server registration, prepaid card, or other causes, the system modifies the time parameter accordingly. This parameter change allows the system to provide sufficient time for complex payment methods while maintaining efficiency for simpler cases.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed long auto clear time is set for all interruption types, then users have sufficient time to pay fees regardless of billing method, but efficiency is reduced due to unnecessarily long waiting periods for quick-resolve interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating different interruption causes differently with specific auto clear time values. Instead of applying a uniform time setting, the system assigns appropriate time durations based on the specific interruption type detected (e.g., billing server registration gets longer time, cash payment gets shorter time). This localized approach resolves the contradiction by matching the time setting to the specific situation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the auto clear time based on real-time detection of interruption causes. By continuously monitoring the interruption type and changing the time parameter accordingly, the system achieves adaptability to different billing methods while maintaining processing efficiency. This dynamic behavior allows the system to optimize productivity for each specific case.
3Productivity
If the auto clear time is shortened to improve processing efficiency, then quick-resolve interruptions are handled faster, but users with billing server registration or prepaid cards may not have sufficient time to complete payment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the auto clear time parameter based on the detected interruption cause. For billing server registration and prepaid card interruptions, the system sets a longer auto clear time to ensure payment completion reliability. For cash payments and other quick-resolve interruptions, it uses a shorter time to maintain processing efficiency. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by adapting time to the specific payment method.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the time parameter based on real-time detection of the interruption cause and payment method. By making the auto clear time flexible rather than fixed, the system can ensure reliable payment completion for methods requiring more time while maintaining high processing efficiency for quicker methods. This dynamic adaptation allows simultaneous optimization of both reliability and productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an image formation apparatus that discards a job on elapse of an auto clear time. In the case a job is interrupted due to an insufficient balance to pay the fee for the job, the image formation apparatus judges whether the cause of the interruption can be eliminated in a short time or it takes a long time to be eliminated. If the cause takes a long time to be eliminated, the image formation apparatus extends the auto clear time to prevent the job from being discarded for the reason that the user does not have enough time to pay an additional fee.