Image Forming Apparatus Cloud Job Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies and user inconvenience when performing cloud-based services like scanning translation, as users must wait for lengthy processing times, leading to occupied machines and decreased efficiency, causing lines and inefficient resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus is equipped with a processor that allows it to set identification information for ongoing processing requests, enabling it to execute new requests from other users while waiting for external processing to complete, using methods like two-dimensional codes or tickets for result retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image forming apparatus waits for cloud processing to complete before accepting new requests, then the processing result can be accurately delivered to the correct user, but the machine occupancy time increases and processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the job processing into two independent parts: (1) the cloud processing request submission which can be immediately completed, and (2) the result retrieval which occurs later when the user returns. This allows the apparatus to accept new jobs immediately while the cloud processing is pending, eliminating machine occupancy while ensuring accurate result delivery through job ID association.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus performs preliminary actions by immediately submitting the cloud processing request and generating a job ID before the user needs to collect the result. The system prepares the result retrieval mechanism in advance by storing the job ID and processing parameters, so that when the user returns and inputs the job ID, the result can be quickly retrieved and delivered without delaying subsequent job acceptance.
2Loss of time
If the user must stay at the image forming apparatus during cloud processing, then the processing result can be received immediately, but user convenience decreases and queues form
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by providing the user with a job ID immediately after job submission. The user can then leave and return at their convenience to input this job ID and retrieve the result. This eliminates the need for users to wait at the apparatus during cloud processing, significantly improving user convenience while maintaining quick result retrieval through the pre-prepared job ID system.
3Device complexity
If the image forming apparatus processes only one job at a time sequentially, then job processing simplicity is maintained, but resource utilization decreases and wait times increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments job management into simple local operations (accepting jobs, generating job IDs, receiving results) and remote cloud operations (performing actual processing). This segmentation allows the apparatus to maintain simple job management logic while simultaneously handling multiple jobs by submitting them to the cloud and retrieving results independently, thereby improving resource utilization without increasing management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The job ID serves as an intermediary that connects the user's job submission with the cloud processing and eventual result retrieval. This intermediary mechanism enables the apparatus to manage multiple jobs concurrently by using unique job IDs to track and retrieve results, maintaining simple local operations while achieving parallel processing through the cloud intermediary.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a processor configured to: set, if a state of waiting for a result of processing from an external apparatus is established in a case where the processor executes a processing request for which the processor needs to request an external apparatus to perform the processing and receive the result of the processing from the external apparatus, identification information for identifying the processing request and establish a state where the processor can execute another processing request from another user; and output, in a case where the set identification information is input, the result of the processing for the processing request identified with the input identification information.