Image Forming Apparatus Automatic Driver Installation via Remote Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of drivers for image forming apparatuses on external terminals is labor-intensive and burdensome, requiring users to manually confirm and set host names and IP addresses across multiple locations, increasing the workload significantly.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus equipped with a user authenticating part, a terminal selecting part, and an installation instructing part that authenticates users, selects registered external terminals, and facilitates remote access for automatic driver installation, either through remote access or email instructions, reducing the need for manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual driver installation is performed at each external terminal, then the driver can be installed correctly, but the user's labor and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The external terminal automatically installs the driver itself without requiring user intervention. The terminal receives installation information from the image forming apparatus and executes the installation autonomously, transforming the manual installation process into an automatic self-service operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The image forming apparatus preliminarily prepares and transmits the driver installation information to the external terminal before the actual installation is needed. This preliminary action allows the terminal to have all necessary installation data ready, eliminating the need for users to manually gather and configure installation parameters at each terminal.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the user travels between the image forming apparatus and each external terminal to perform installation work, then the driver can be installed on multiple terminals, but the user's workload and burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The image forming apparatus serves as an intermediary that centrally manages driver distribution to multiple external terminals. Instead of the user acting as the intermediary by physically moving between terminals, the apparatus automatically transmits installation information to each terminal, eliminating the need for user travel and manual intervention at each location.
Solution Approach 2:
The driver installation process is segmented into independent transmission and execution phases. The image forming apparatus segments the installation information and transmits it separately to each external terminal, where each terminal independently executes the installation. This segmentation allows parallel installation across multiple terminals without requiring user presence at each one.
3Extent of automation
If automatic driver installation is implemented, then user labor is reduced, but remote access and automation infrastructure are required
Solution Approach 1:
The image forming apparatus performs multiple functions: it acts as both the image forming device and the driver distribution server. The apparatus universally handles both image processing and software installation tasks, eliminating the need for separate automation infrastructure and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high automation levels.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image forming apparatus (1) including an image forming part (11) forming an image includes a user authenticating part (25), a terminal selecting part (26) and an installation instructing part (27). The user authenticating part (25) authenticates a user on the basis of authentication information peculiar to the user in installing operation making an external terminal (23) communicably connected to the image forming apparatus (1) install a driver of the image forming apparatus (1). The terminal selecting part (26) selects the external terminal (23) registered in association with the user authenticated by the user authenticating part (25) as an object terminal (23) in the installing operation. The installation instructing part (27) establishes remote access to the object terminal (23) on the basis of log-in information previously registered with regard to the object terminal (23) selected by the terminal selecting part (26) and transmits installation instruction making the object terminal (23) execute automatic installation of the driver to the object terminal (23).