Dynamic Automatic Clearing for Multi-Setting Peripherals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-functional peripherals face usability issues due to automatic clearing functions that are not effectively tailored to user skill levels, leading to unintended resetting of settings, especially in public use scenarios where not-skilled users may accidentally reset settings during operations, and fixed automatic clearing times fail to balance usability and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a control portion that measures operation input times for each setting item, extends automatic clearing times based on previous setting comparisons and execution history, and adjusts the automatic clearing timer dynamically to prevent repeated interruptions and improve user convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automatic clearing function is activated with fixed time threshold, then settings are reset to prevent unintended changes, but not-skilled users may accidentally reset settings during operation and usability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed automatic clearing time threshold to a dynamic threshold that varies based on user skill level detection. The control portion detects user skill levels and adjusts the automatic clearing time threshold accordingly, making the system adaptive rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by allowing longer clearance times for less skilled users to prevent accidental resets while maintaining reliable setting stability for skilled users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of automatic clearing time threshold from a fixed value to a variable parameter that depends on user skill level. By detecting user skill levels and adjusting the time threshold parameter accordingly, the system optimizes both reliability and ease of operation for different user groups without requiring separate systems for each skill level.
2Ease of operation
If automatic clearing time is extended to prevent accidental resets, then usability improves, but settings may not be cleared timely enough to prevent unintended changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the automatic clearing time threshold parameter based on detected user skill levels. For less skilled users, the threshold is extended to prevent accidental resets, while for skilled users, a shorter threshold maintains timely clearing. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between extended usability and timely setting stability.
3Device complexity
If fixed automatic clearing time is used for all users, then system complexity is reduced, but it cannot adapt to different user skill levels and effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by having the system automatically detect user skill levels and adjust automatic clearing parameters without requiring manual configuration. The control portion autonomously detects user skill levels and autonomously adjusts the automatic clearing time threshold, eliminating the need for complex manual setup while achieving adaptability to different user skill levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the system from using a fixed automatic clearing time parameter to a variable parameter that is automatically adjusted based on user skill level detection. This dynamic parameter change enables the system to adapt to different users without increasing operational complexity, as the adjustment is performed automatically by the control portion.
Data Source
AI summary
When an automatic clearing function for resetting is executed in the case of no operation for a certain period of time, without occurrence of automatic clearing complicatedly and by executing automatic clearing appropriately, it is enabled to satisfy both improvement of usability by a user and convenience by automatic clearing. A control portion, when setting for a plurality of setting items is performed in accordance with operation input to the operation portion, measures time during which operation input to performing setting is not performed for each of the plurality of setting items, and executes automatic clearing to reset setting based on the measured time. When performing resetting for a setting item for which automatic clearing is executed during setting by a user, the time until executing automatic clearing is then extended.