Image Bus Transfer Speed Control for Parallel Scan Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Multi-Function Peripherals (MFPs) face challenges in executing high-speed scan jobs concurrently with print jobs due to data transfer congestion on the image bus, leading to reduced scanning speed and increased user waiting time, as they often need to throttle scanning speed to manage data transfer within the bus's capacity limits.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a controller that dynamically adjusts the transfer speed of image data based on whether a scan process is executed independently or in parallel with another image process, setting the transfer speed to a higher first speed when processes are not parallel and a lower second speed when they are, to prevent data transfer congestion on the image bus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the scanning speed is reduced to control data transfer amount through the image bus, then the data transfer congestion is alleviated, but the scanning speed and user waiting time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the image bus transfer speed adjustable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically changes the transfer speed between a first speed (when no parallel processing occurs) and a second speed (when parallel processing occurs), allowing the system to adapt to different operational conditions and avoid data transfer congestion while maintaining high scanning speed when possible
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of image bus transfer speed based on the operational context. By detecting whether another image process is being executed in parallel and whether the first image process uses a predetermined setting, the system adjusts the transfer speed parameter to appropriate levels, ensuring reliable data transfer without unnecessarily reducing scanning speed
2Productivity
If the transfer speed is increased to improve scanning efficiency, then the scanning speed improves, but data transfer congestion occurs on the image bus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by having the controller continuously monitor the operational state of the image processing apparatus. The controller detects whether another image process is being executed in parallel and whether the first image process uses a predetermined setting, then uses this feedback information to adjust the image bus transfer speed accordingly, preventing data transfer congestion while maintaining high scanning efficiency when conditions allow
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus that is capable of executing a scan image process and another image process in parallel without reducing a scanning speed. A scanner scans an image of a document and generates image data. An image processor applies an image process to image data. A scanner controller transfers image data to the image processor from the scanner through a data bus. A controller determines whether a first image process applied to the scanned image data is executed in parallel with a second image process and determines whether a setting about the first image process is a predetermined setting. The controller sets a transfer speed to a first speed when the image processes are not executed in parallel and sets the transfer speed to a lower second speed when the image processes are executed in parallel and when the setting about the first image process is the predetermined setting.