Image Forming Apparatus History Record Display Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in efficiently comparing and confirming changes in setting values for multiple setting items in image forming apparatuses, as existing technologies require cumbersome operations to display and verify differences between current and historical settings.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a controller that extracts and displays history record information when a setting value changes, allowing users to easily compare current and historical settings by displaying relevant history records in a selectable format, thereby reducing user effort and simplifying the identification of discrepancies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the user manually checks and compares each setting item against operation history records, then the user can identify setting discrepancies, but the operation becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs the comparison between current settings and operation history records without requiring user intervention. The control unit autonomously identifies discrepancies and presents them to the user, eliminating the need for manual checking while maintaining high comparison accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of comparing settings is replaced by an automated information processing system. The control unit electronically retrieves, compares, and displays setting discrepancies, substituting the manual mechanical comparison process with an automated computational system that operates faster and more accurately.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the user browses through all operation history records to find relevant settings, then the user can locate past configurations, but the operation becomes cumbersome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the relevant operation history records that match the current setting conditions and presents them to the user. Instead of requiring the user to browse through all historical records, the control unit automatically filters and retrieves only those records that are relevant to the current settings, significantly reducing the complexity of history browsing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary filtering and organization of operation history records before the user needs to access them. By pre-processing the history data and preparing relevant records in advance, the system eliminates the need for users to manually search through irrelevant records, making the operation much more efficient.
3Loss of information
If the system displays all setting items including unchanged ones, then the user can see complete settings, but the display becomes cluttered and difficult to interpret
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and displays only the setting items that have changed from the operation history records. By filtering out unchanged settings, the display presents only the relevant information that requires user attention, maintaining information completeness for changed items while eliminating the clutter of unchanged items.
Solution Approach 2:
The display applies different presentation qualities to different types of setting information. Changed settings are highlighted or emphasized in the display, while unchanged settings are either omitted or presented in a subdued manner. This local differentiation in display quality allows the system to maintain information completeness while reducing overall display complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
It is assumed that a user changed a set value of paper selection, which is one of setting items of various setting items, from “auto” to “A3”. According to one embodiment, a controller extracts history records in which the set value of the paper selection is “A3” from setting information history in a storage, and arranges them to the side of the various setting items in chronological order. Specifically, the controller displays three pieces of setting information, starting with the latest setting information, followed by older setting information, on the right side of the various setting items. In displaying the pieces of setting information, in order to clarify and highlight parts having discrepancies relative to the set values of the various setting items, the color may be changed, a box may be used to surround such a part, or characters may be displayed in bold.