Image Forming Apparition Application Installation Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing setup for using advanced functions of image forming apparatuses in cooperation with cloud services requires complex preparation operations on both the image forming apparatus and the cloud service, increasing the burden on installation.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus capable of installing applications using an application file and a license file, which automatically generates a tenant on a print server and associates it with the apparatus, enabling application functions and setting their usage start dates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual tenant generation and function enabling processes are performed, then control precision over application functions is maintained, but device complexity and operational burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation process simplicityVSAvoidpreparation operations required

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The image forming apparatus automatically generates a tenant on the print server and associates it with the apparatus without requiring manual intervention. The system self-performs the tenant generation, association, and function enabling processes that would otherwise require complex manual setup operations on both the apparatus and cloud service sides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs the tenant generation and function enabling actions automatically in the background during the application installation process. The system prepares and executes these operations beforehand as part of the installation routine, eliminating the need for users to perform separate manual setup steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If automated tenant generation is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but reliability concerns may arise from automation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreparation operations reductionVSAvoidautomation process trust

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent includes a notification mechanism that provides feedback to the user about the outcome of the automated tenant generation and function enabling processes. This feedback loop ensures users are informed of the results, maintaining transparency and trust in the automated operations while preserving reliability through user awareness of the process status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250111015A1Image forming apparatus and method for controlling the same

Publication Date: 2025.04.03 CANON KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus onto which an application is installable includes one or more memories storing instructions, and one or more processors that are capable of executing the instructions and that, when executing the instructions, cause the image forming apparatus to install the application on the image forming apparatus by using an application file and a license file of the application, and start the application, cause a print server of a region identified based on information about the license file to generate a tenant via a tenant management server, and transmit a first request that the print server associate the generated tenant with the image forming apparatus, to the tenant management server, and transmit a second request that the print server enable a function of the application based on the information about the license file and set a start date of use for each function, to the print server.