Image Forming Apparatus Containerized UI Execution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in effectively utilizing hardware resources due to the need for real-time responsiveness and efficient resource management, particularly when applying virtualization techniques to embedded devices with limited resources, which results in significant waiting times for screen displays and inefficient resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a container technique that dynamically allocates hardware resources, using Docker containers to manage and control applications independently, allowing only necessary components to be activated, thereby ensuring real-time responsiveness and efficient resource use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a virtualization technique is used to effectively use hardware resources, then resource utilization is improved, but the response time to user operations deteriorates due to the need to transition virtual machines from standby to operating state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the application into two independent parts: the UI application (providing user interface functions) and the execution unit (providing business logic functions). The UI application operates outside the container and remains in memory for quick response, while the execution unit runs inside the container for resource efficiency. This segmentation allows the UI to respond immediately to user operations without waiting for container activation, while still achieving effective resource utilization through containerized execution of the execution unit.
2Reliability
If a virtual machine is used to run applications, then resource isolation and management are improved, but the waiting time for screen display increases due to VM activation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the application into UI application and execution unit, placing the UI application outside the container and the execution unit inside. This allows the UI application to provide immediate screen display responses while the execution unit maintains resource isolation within the container. The UI application can display screens without waiting for container activation, eliminating the waiting time issue while preserving resource isolation benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the UI application communicates with the containerized execution unit through standardized interfaces. The UI application acts as a mediator that can operate independently and immediately respond to user operations, while still coordinating with the containerized execution unit for resource-efficient processing. This intermediary approach resolves the conflict between immediate screen display and resource isolation.
3Loss of energy
If hardware resources are allocated to multiple applications, then resource efficiency is improved, but the complexity of resource management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs Docker container technology as a universal resource management mechanism that handles multiple applications through standardized processes. The container runtime environment provides a unified interface for allocating CPU, memory, storage, and network resources across multiple applications. This universal approach simplifies resource management complexity by providing consistent resource allocation and isolation mechanisms for all containerized execution units, while maintaining high resource efficiency through dynamic allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising: at least one first module configured to accept, via a user interface, a request of respectively corresponding function; at least one second module configured to execute functions corresponding respectively to the at least one first module; a first control means for notifying, to a corresponding second module, a request accepted by the at least one first module; and a second control means for controlling in accordance with the notification from the first control means, the corresponding second module, wherein the at least one first module is activated at all times from when the image forming apparatus is activated, and the at least one second module is generated as a container of an execution environment that is independent of an operating system and whose activation state is controlled by an instruction from the second control means.