Image Forming Apparatus Standard Application Control Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently developing and managing applications that utilize the fundamental functions of the operating system, leading to increased development costs and complexity due to the need for platform intervention between applications and hardware resources.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a control circuit with a standard application execution service, control service, apparatus control execution service, and apparatus control platform that manages hardware resources and provides an interface for managing the state of standard applications, allowing for the execution of standard applications without altering the extended application platform or apparatus control platform.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a platform performs management of hardware resources and execution control for applications, then applications can be executed on the image forming apparatus, but the platform intervenes between the application and hardware resources increasing device complexity and development burden

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication execution capabilityVSAvoidplatform intervention structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the platform into distinct functional modules: an application execution module that runs standard applications and an apparatus control module that manages hardware resources. This segmentation eliminates the need for a complex intervening platform by allowing standard applications to directly access hardware resources through predefined interfaces, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining application execution capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal platform structure where the apparatus control module provides standardized hardware access interfaces that can be used by any standard application. This multi-functional design allows the same control module to serve multiple applications without requiring application-specific platform modifications, reducing overall system complexity while enhancing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If the application administrative module is changed to reduce application making burden, then development burden is reduced, but the platform structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication development burdenVSAvoidplatform structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service mechanism where standard applications are pre-configured with the necessary hardware access interfaces and execution environments. Applications can be deployed without requiring complex administrative module changes or manual platform configuration, as the system automatically provides the required interfaces and management functions, thereby reducing development burden without increasing platform structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If standard applications are executed with hardware resource management, then application functionality is enhanced, but dependency between applications and hardware increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication functionalityVSAvoidapplication-hardware dependency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a standardized interface layer as an intermediary between standard applications and hardware resources. This interface layer provides uniform access methods to hardware functions, allowing applications to enhance functionality without developing direct hardware dependencies. The standardized interface acts as a mediator that decouples application logic from hardware-specific implementations, reducing dependency complexity while maintaining enhanced functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9924061B2Image forming apparatus, method and recording medium that execute standard application to control hardware resources

Publication Date: 2018.03.20 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

Provided is an image forming apparatus having a control circuit. The control circuit includes a standard application execution circuit, an apparatus control platform, and a standard application control circuit. The standard application execution circuit has the standard application execution service that executes a standard application. The apparatus control platform includes control service, apparatus control execution service, and an apparatus control management service. The control service controls hardware on an operating system. The apparatus control execution service executes the control service with an interface that is an executing procedure of the control service. The apparatus control management service instructs a call of the control service to the apparatus control execution service. The standard application control circuit manages a state of the standard application and provides an interface for using the hardware resources of the standard application execution service.