Image Forming Workflow for Firewall-Aware Process Image Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in storing process images due to firewall restrictions, which prevent direct data transfer between servers outside and inside the firewall, leading to suboptimal storage solutions.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus and server system that temporarily transfers process images to the apparatus for storage, allowing efficient storage within or outside the firewall based on user instructions, using communication protocols and IP addresses to manage data flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the server temporarily transmits the process image to the image forming apparatus, then the image forming apparatus can transfer the process image to storage destinations, but storage efficiency deteriorates because all process images are unnecessarily transmitted to the image forming apparatus even when storage destinations are outside the firewall

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoiddata transfer process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by enabling different storage paths for different destinations: process images are transmitted to the image forming apparatus only when storage destinations are inside the firewall, while direct storage is used for destinations outside the firewall. This selective approach optimizes storage efficiency by avoiding unnecessary data transfers while maintaining the necessary transfer capability for internal destinations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the storage process into two distinct paths based on firewall location: (1) transmission to image forming apparatus for internal destinations, and (2) direct storage for external destinations. This segmentation allows the system to optimize each path independently, improving overall storage efficiency by eliminating redundant transfers to the image forming apparatus when not needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the server transmits the process image to the image forming apparatus, then the image forming apparatus can perform further transfers, but data transfer time increases when storage destinations are outside the firewall where direct transfer is possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage processing throughputVSAvoiddata transfer time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining the storage destination's firewall location before initiating the transfer process. Based on this preliminary determination, the system selects the optimal transfer path in advance: direct storage for external destinations or transmission to image forming apparatus for internal destinations. This prevents unnecessary data transfers and reduces overall transfer time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by allowing the server to store process images directly outside the firewall without requiring transmission to the image forming apparatus first. This reversal of the traditional transfer sequence eliminates redundant steps and significantly reduces data transfer time for external destinations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Loss of energy

If the server stores process images directly outside the firewall, then storage efficiency improves, but the firewall security configuration must be properly recognized and configured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoidfirewall recognition

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using storage destination information (such as IP addresses or domain names) to determine whether the destination is inside or outside the firewall. This feedback mechanism allows the server to automatically adjust its storage behavior based on the destination's location, enabling direct storage for external destinations while maintaining security compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses storage destination information (IP addresses, domain names, or other network identifiers) as an intermediary to mediate between the server and the firewall security configuration. This intermediary enables the server to recognize and differentiate between internal and external destinations without directly interacting with the firewall's internal security mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4343531B1Image forming apparatus, non-transitory storage medium, and information processing system

Publication Date: 2026.05.06 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

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AI summary

An image forming apparatus installed on an inside of a firewall includes a processor configured to transmit, to an information processing apparatus installed on an outside of the firewall, an image generated in accordance with an instruction of a user, process information indicating a content of a process on the image, and storage destination information indicating a storage destination of a process image obtained in a manner that the information processing apparatus executes the process according to the process information on the image, and perform control of causing the information processing apparatus to directly store the process image in a storage destination on the outside of the firewall in a case where the storage destination of the process image obtained from the storage destination information is the storage destination on the outside of the firewall.