Image Forming Apparatus Dual Table Usage Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current image forming apparatuses lack an efficient method to track and manage user usage amounts and authentication across multiple departments, leading to inadequate usage tracking and restricted access management.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a storage unit for tabulating usage amounts and a separate database for user authentication, where user identifiers are registered and verified, allowing for departmental access management and usage tracking through a network-connected system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If user authentication and usage tabulation are integrated in a single database, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of usage tracking deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedatabase structureVSAvoidusage tracking accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the database into two separate tables: a first table for user authentication information and a second table for usage amount tabulation. This segmentation allows each table to serve its specific function with optimized data structures, improving usage tracking precision while maintaining manageable complexity through clear separation of concerns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If separate databases are used for authentication and usage tabulation, then measurement precision of usage tracking improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusage tracking accuracyVSAvoiddatabase structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit serves multiple functions: it manages authentication via the first table, performs usage tabulation via the second table, and automatically registers new users by cross-referencing between tables. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be separate systems into a unified database structure, preventing complexity increase despite the use of separate tables.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If automatic user registration is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but reliability of access management deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser registrationVSAvoidaccess management security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automatic feedback mechanisms where usage data from the second table is continuously monitored and fed back to update user profiles and access permissions. This closed-loop feedback ensures that automatic registration maintains security by dynamically adjusting access controls based on actual usage patterns and authentication status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9900469B2Image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2018.02.20 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

There is provided an image forming apparatus. A storage unit stores a second table tabulating a usage amount when a user uses an apparatus for each identifier for tabulation separately from a first table in which user information is registered for each identifier for authentication of the user. A reception unit receives a user identifier. A registration unit registers the user identifier in the second table as an identifier for tabulation, when the received user identifier establishes an authentication by a verification in the identifier for authentication registered in the first table, and is not registered in the second table.