Image Forming Device Extended Application Platform

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming devices require significant reconfiguration and increased development costs to add new functions, especially when integrating additional hardware, as existing platforms must be fully reformulated, affecting maintenance quality and increasing man-hours.

Innovation Solution

The image forming device incorporates a control circuit with a device control platform, standard and extended application platforms, and an install service that allows for the addition of new functions without altering the standard firmware configuration, enabling the utilization of extended hardware resources through an interface that standard services do not provide.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the existing platform is fully reconfigured to add new functions, then the device can utilize additional hardware resources, but the development time and costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction addition capabilityVSAvoiddevelopment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into distinct layers: the standard application execution part handles conventional functions, while the extended application platform handles new functions. This segmentation allows independent development and deployment of new functions without affecting the existing platform, thereby reducing development time and costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The extended application platform acts as an intermediary layer between the hardware resources and the standard application execution part. It provides a bridge that allows new functions to access hardware resources without requiring reconfiguration of the existing platform, thus enabling rapid function addition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the existing platform is fully reconfigured to add new functions, then the device can utilize additional hardware resources, but the development costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction addition capabilityVSAvoiddevelopment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The extended application platform is designed to be universal, capable of supporting multiple different extended functions through a common architecture. This multi-functionality reduces the need for custom development for each new function, thereby lowering development costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the existing platform is fully reconfigured to add new functions, then the device can utilize additional hardware resources, but the maintenance quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction addition capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If the standard firmware configuration is altered to add new functions, then the device can provide additional functionality, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction addition capabilityVSAvoidfirmware configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a new dimensional layer (extended application platform) rather than modifying the existing firmware configuration. This dimensional change allows new functions to be added without increasing the complexity of the standard firmware, as the extension operates in a separate layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9479665B2Image forming device, image forming method and recording medium that allow application to run

Publication Date: 2016.10.25 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

Provided is an image forming device includes a control circuit having (1) a device control platform managing a hardware resource on an operating system, (2) a standard application execution part executing a standard application utilizing the hardware resource under the control of the device control platform, (3) an extended application platform with a standard function service that allows for a utilization of a function of the standard application executed by the standard application execution part, and (4) an install service adding, without having to change a configuration of a standard firmware, an interface in order to cope with a function that is not available and allowing for utilization thereof.