Image Forming Apparatus Job List Color Coding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses fail to provide users with timely recognition of waiting or proofing modes, leading to inefficiencies and reduced productivity when handling large numbers of print jobs, as they do not effectively display when the user needs to be present for jobs that include these modes.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus includes a controlling section that identifies jobs with implementation impeding factors like waiting or proofing modes and displays them distinctly on a job schedule or list screen, using separate colors and time information to indicate when these jobs will commence, allowing users to plan their presence accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the display device shows all print jobs in a uniform list format, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the user cannot quickly recognize jobs requiring intervention (waiting/proofing modes)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes to display indicators in the job list to represent different job statuses. Jobs in waiting mode or proofing mode are displayed with distinct colors or color patterns, allowing users to quickly identify which jobs require intervention without complicating the overall display structure or operation procedure.
2Productivity
If the system processes a large number of print jobs continuously, then productivity is improved, but the user cannot recognize when they need to be present for jobs with waiting or proofing modes
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides visual feedback through the display device that immediately indicates which jobs are in waiting mode or proofing mode. This feedback mechanism allows users to understand the current state of print jobs and plan their intervention timing accordingly, preventing delays while maintaining continuous processing of other jobs.
Solution Approach 2:
Distinct color indicators in the job list provide immediate visual feedback about job status, enabling users to recognize at a glance which jobs require their presence. This allows continuous processing of unaffected jobs while users can plan timely intervention for jobs needing attention.
3Measurement precision
If separate display modes are used for implementable and non-implementable jobs, then measurement precision of job status is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color changes as a simple visual encoding method to distinguish different job statuses. This approach provides precise job status identification through intuitive color indicators while avoiding the need for complex display mechanisms or multiple display modes, thus maintaining low device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, which makes it possible to visually recognize a suitable time when an operator should stay at the machine side, even if a reserved job includes a job continuous implementation impeding factor. The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section to implement the reserved job; an operating section to accept operations for inputting a plurality of reserved jobs; a controlling section to extract a specific reserved job, which includes the job continuous implementation impeding factor, from the plurality of reserved jobs inputted through the operating section, so as to set discrimination information representing the job continuous implementation impeding factor into the specific reserved job; and a displaying section to display the specific reserved job to which the discrimination information is set and other reserved jobs to which the discrimination information is not set, on the same screen in a synopsis manner.