Image Forming Apparatus Log Storage for Communication Error Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming systems face challenges in effectively storing and analyzing logs from both the image forming apparatus and external controllers during communication errors, as current systems often rely on incomplete logs and lack efficient methods to identify error causes, particularly in cases of communication timeouts and other errors.
Innovation Solution
The system includes a memory device and processor in both the image forming apparatus and external controller that store and transmit log information, with logs classified into temporary and archive logs, allowing for reliable storage and analysis of errors by storing log information from both devices at the time of occurrence, enabling comprehensive error investigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If log information is stored separately in each device, then storage simplicity is maintained, but error analysis completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges log information from multiple sources (image forming apparatus and external controller) into a single centralized storage location. The management server collects and stores logs from both devices, enabling comprehensive error analysis while maintaining storage simplicity through automated centralized management rather than distributed storage complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a management server as an intermediary between the image forming apparatus and external controller. This mediator automatically collects, stores, and manages log information from both devices, eliminating the need for complex distributed storage while ensuring complete error information is preserved and accessible for analysis.
2Measurement precision
If logs are collected from multiple sources, then error analysis accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management server automatically performs log collection, storage, and management without requiring manual intervention. The system self-services by autonomously gathering logs from multiple sources and organizing them centrally, improving error analysis accuracy while avoiding the complexity of manual log management procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The management server serves multiple functions: collecting logs from the image forming apparatus, collecting logs from the external controller, storing all logs centrally, and providing access for error analysis. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise be separate complex systems into a single universal platform.
3Loss of information
If log transmission is implemented between devices, then error information completeness is improved, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary log generation and local storage at the source devices (image forming apparatus and external controller) before transmission. This preliminary action ensures logs are ready for immediate transmission when needed, improving error information completeness while minimizing communication overhead by avoiding repeated transmissions and real-time generation during error analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a communication unit configured to communicate with an external controller, a reception unit configured to receive, in a case where a predetermined error related to the communication occurs, log information on the predetermined error from the external controller, and a storage control unit configured to store, in a storage unit of the image forming apparatus, the log information received from the external controller and log information indicating an operation of the image forming apparatus corresponding to a timing at which the predetermined error has occurred.