Image Forming Apparatus Job Execution Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of managing resource conflicts in image forming apparatuses, such as MFPs, is exacerbated by the need for extensive combination management information to coordinate the execution of MFP function jobs and application jobs, often leading to unavoidable resource conflicts when both types of jobs are executed simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a checking unit and a control unit implemented by one or more processors, which determines the type of application program and restricts or allows job execution based on specific types, thereby avoiding resource conflicts by prioritizing and managing job execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If combination management information is prepared to control execution of application jobs and MFP function jobs, then resource conflicts can be avoided, but the complexity of managing combination information becomes enormous and unmanageable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the job execution control into two independent parts: MFP function job management (using traditional combination management information) and application job management (using application execution control information). This segmentation avoids the need to manage all possible combinations of application jobs and MFP function jobs together, thereby reducing the enormous complexity while maintaining reliable resource conflict avoidance.
2Reliability
If all combinations of application jobs and MFP function jobs are managed, then resource conflicts are avoided, but the amount of combination management information becomes enormous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the combination management information into two separate information sets: application execution control information (managing application job restrictions) and MFP function job combination management information (managing MFP function job compatibility). This segmentation dramatically reduces the volume of information that needs to be stored and managed, as each set only needs to cover its specific domain rather than all possible cross-combinations.
3Device complexity
If combination management information is not provided due to high complexity, then management becomes feasible, but resource conflicts become unavoidable when application jobs and MFP function jobs are executed simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation of job execution control into independent application job management and MFP function job management, allowing combination management information to be provided for both domains without creating unmanageable complexity. This enables reliable resource conflict avoidance while keeping the system complexity at acceptable levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces application execution control information as an intermediary layer between application jobs and MFP function jobs. This intermediary structure enables proper coordination and resource conflict avoidance without requiring direct management of all possible job combinations, thus maintaining feasibility while improving reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus which appropriately avoids a resource conflict in the image forming apparatus. A checking unit checks whether a type of an application program execution of which has been ordered is a specific type. A control unit allows execution of a job issued by the application program the type of which has been determined as being the specific type, and restricts execution of a job issued by the application program the type of which has been determined as not being the specific type.