Image Forming Apparatus User History Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently managing and protecting user operation histories, as shared operation histories often include irrelevant data, making it difficult for users to find and reuse their desired settings, and there is a lack of privacy protection for individual users.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a first storage unit for user-specific operation histories and a second storage unit for apparatus-associated histories, with a setting unit that allows users to register histories differently based on authentication status, ensuring that only authenticated users can access their individual settings and preventing unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If operation histories are shared with a plurality of users, then the quantity of stored operation histories increases, but it becomes difficult to find the user's own operation history and privacy protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments operation histories into two distinct categories: user-specific operation histories stored in a first storage unit and apparatus-specific operation histories stored in a second storage unit. This segmentation allows users to easily identify and access their own histories while maintaining a comprehensive shared repository, resolving the contradiction between quantity and ease of finding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by displaying different types of operation histories in different locations or contexts within the interface. User-specific histories are presented with user identification information, while apparatus-specific histories are presented differently, allowing users to quickly distinguish and find their own histories among many stored options.
2Adaptability or versatility
If operation histories are shared with a plurality of users, then the versatility of the system increases, but privacy protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments operation histories into user-specific and apparatus-specific categories with different storage locations and access controls. This segmentation enables versatile sharing of apparatus-level histories while protecting user-level privacy through isolated storage and selective display, allowing the system to accommodate both sharing needs and privacy requirements simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts user identification information from the operation history display for user-specific histories, presenting them in a manner that confirms ownership without exposing sensitive user data. This extraction and selective presentation mechanism enables versatile access while maintaining privacy protection by removing or obscuring harmful personal information.
3Adaptability or versatility
If setting takes a long time due to various functions, then the complexity of the apparatus increases, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by automatically registering and storing operation histories as users perform operations, without requiring manual input or configuration. The system proactively captures, categorizes, and stores operation data in the appropriate storage units, enabling users to quickly access and reuse settings later, thereby reducing setting time while maintaining functional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables copying of operation histories by allowing users to select and reuse previously registered operations. Users can copy settings from stored histories and apply them to new operations, significantly reducing the time required to configure complex functions while maintaining the full versatility of the apparatus's capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
When a user logs into an image forming apparatus, a setting by the user is registered as an operation history in an individual setting of the user if a setting mode is an “individual setting” and an operation history is registered in a device setting if the setting mode is a “device setting”. If a user does not log into the image forming apparatus, an operation history is registered in the device setting. If the setting mode is the “device setting”, an operation history is deleted from the device setting when the user logs out from the image forming apparatus.