Image Forming System Application Ownership Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming systems, installing and managing applications across multiple devices is cumbersome, leading to memory capacity issues due to redundant installations, as each device may need to install the same applications, causing inefficiency and performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
An image forming system where one device takes over ownership of an application from another based on usage patterns, transferring the application and associated data when the original device no longer requires it, optimizing memory usage by determining the most suitable device for application ownership based on usage frequency or memory availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the same application is installed in each of multiple image forming apparatuses, then each device can independently execute the application, but the memory capacity of each device becomes insufficient and installation work becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the application storage function across multiple image forming apparatuses by introducing a file management system that centralizes application files. Instead of each device maintaining separate copies, the system allows one device to own the application file while others can access and execute it, combining storage resources to reduce overall memory requirements while maintaining execution capability across the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by creating a shared file management system where application files serve multiple purposes: they can be stored on one device, accessed by multiple devices, executed on any authorized device, and managed centrally. This multi-functional approach allows the same application file to fulfill the needs of multiple image forming apparatuses without requiring redundant installations.
2Quantity of substance
If applications are temporarily installed and then uninstalled after execution, then memory capacity is maintained, but the frequency of installation and uninstallation operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a file management system and application ownership structure before applications need to be executed. The system pre-configures which device owns which application file and sets up the network file access permissions in advance, so that when an application needs to be executed, it can be quickly accessed from the owner device without requiring temporary installation and subsequent uninstallation operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If application files are transferred between devices, then application ownership is optimized based on usage patterns, but network transmission overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the application file transfer operation from the application execution process. Instead of transferring entire application files whenever ownership needs to change or when devices need to access applications, the system extracts and transfers only the necessary file access permissions and metadata. The actual application execution can occur through network access to the owner device's file system without requiring physical file transfers, significantly reducing network transmission overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
In an image forming system provided with a plurality of image forming apparatuses, at least one of the image forming apparatuses takes over an application owned by other the image forming apparatus, and acquires, from a transfer source, the number of times of application use indicating the number of times of using the application in the image forming apparatus being the transfer source of the application. When execution of the application is finished, the image forming apparatus determines between the image forming apparatus itself, and the transfer source of the application, in which the number of times of application use of the application is larger, based on the number of times of application use acquired from the transfer source, and transfers the application to the transfer source, when the transfer source has a larger number of times of application use than the transfer destination.