Remote Image Forming Apparatus Command Cancellation Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatus technologies lack the ability to effectively cancel specific commands and revert to previous states, limiting operational flexibility and user convenience.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with an identifying unit to recognize cancellation commands, a creation unit to generate written instructions for these commands, and a control unit to execute them upon user operation, allowing for the cancellation of executed processes and restoration of previous states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If configuration control instructions are remotely executed to update firmware or install bundles, then service cost is reduced and remote management is improved, but the ability to selectively cancel individual commands is lost, forcing full rollback or no rollback

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote configuration controlVSAvoidcommand cancellation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the configuration control process into individual executable commands, each with a unique command ID. This allows the system to identify and cancel specific commands independently rather than treating the entire configuration update as a single atomic operation. The segmentation enables selective cancellation of individual firmware updates, bundle installations, or setting changes while preserving other executed commands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by recording each executed command's information (command ID, execution time, parameters) in advance in a command history database. This preliminary recording enables the system to later identify and selectively cancel specific commands without needing to re-execute or re-analyze the entire configuration process, making cancellation operations efficient and precise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If all commands are cancelled together to revert to previous state, then system stability is maintained, but operational flexibility and user convenience are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem state consistencyVSAvoidcommand cancellation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the cancellation operation into segmentable units by associating each command with a unique command ID. Users can cancel individual commands or multiple commands selectively rather than being forced to cancel all commands simultaneously. This segmentation maintains system reliability by allowing controlled, incremental reversals while improving operational convenience through granular control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by providing users with visible command history information including command IDs, execution times, and command descriptions. This feedback mechanism allows users to make informed decisions about which commands to cancel, improving ease of operation while maintaining system reliability through user-confirmed selective cancellation rather than forced full rollback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If command cancellation functionality is added to allow selective reversal, then operational flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommand cancellation capabilityVSAvoidcontrol system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal command management framework where the same command ID structure and history recording mechanism serve both execution tracking and cancellation identification purposes. This multi-functionality reduces system complexity by using a single unified system for both command execution and command cancellation, rather than requiring separate parallel systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by creating a data structure copy of each executed command's information (command ID, parameters, execution time) and storing it in the command history database. This copying approach enables the cancellation function to work with simplified data representations rather than requiring complex state reconstruction, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full cancellation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11909935B2Image forming apparatus, and control method for controlling image forming apparatus for remotely performing a setting process on or configuration control of a image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2024.02.20 CANON KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus provided to perform a setting process according to a written instruction includes an identifying unit configured to, with respect to a first command included in the written instruction, identify a second command to cancel a process executed with the first command, a creation unit configured to, in a case where an instruction to execute a process with the first command is given according to the written instruction, create a written instruction to execute the second command identified by the identifying unit, and a control unit configured to, according to a user operation, execute the written instruction created by the creation unit.