Image Forming Apparatus Job Reuse via Authentication and Condition Modification

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Solution Overview

Problem

In scenarios where the number of participants increases unexpectedly during meetings or similar events, existing technologies require retransmitting and reprinting materials, and in cases like facsimile transmission and scan to email, retransmitting document images is necessary, leading to inefficiencies and unnecessary operations.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with an authenticating section, permitting section, and input section that allows users to authenticate and modify conditions for executing previously completed jobs, enabling the reuse of past job data without reprocessing, thereby allowing direct execution of new jobs with updated parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If materials are prepared beforehand by printing or copying for the number of participants, then the materials are ready for distribution, but if the number of participants increases, it is necessary to retransmit and print additional materials, leading to wasted time and repeated operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime for retransmitting and reprinting materialsVSAvoidability to handle sudden increase in participants

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing transmission data and image data from completed jobs. When a reuse request is received, the system retrieves and reuses this previously processed data without requiring retransmission or reprocessing, thereby eliminating the need for repeated operations when participant numbers change.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates and stores copies of transmission data and image data from completed jobs. These stored copies can be retrieved and reused for additional participants without requiring the original document to be scanned or data to be retransmitted, saving time and resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If the same data needs to be transmitted to another destination after completion of a job, then the transmission is successful, but it is necessary to read and transmit document images again, leading to unnecessary repeated operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of data transmissionVSAvoidtime for reading and transmitting document images again

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary data processing and storage during the initial job execution. Transmission data and image data are stored in the storage unit during the first transmission, enabling rapid retrieval and reuse for subsequent transmissions to different destinations without requiring re-reading of original documents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system serves itself by automatically retrieving and reusing previously processed transmission data and image data from its own storage unit. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual re-scanning and re-transmission processes, improving productivity and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9019534B2Image forming apparatus and image forming method involving reuse function

Publication Date: 2015.04.28 KK TOSHIBA

AI summary

According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an authenticating section, a permitting section, and an input section. The authenticating section authenticates a user. The permitting section permits the user authenticated by the authenticating section to execute a new job using data associated with the user and stored concerning already-completed jobs. The input section enables the user to change at least one of conditions for execution of the new job with respect to the already-completed jobs permitted by the permitting section and input the condition.