Image Forming Apparatus Function Program Registration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current image forming apparatuses lack an efficient mechanism to dynamically manage and execute function programs based on the attributes of the recording medium, leading to limitations in functionality and user experience due to incompatible media types.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a function program registration section that correlates function programs with recording medium attribute information, and a control section that determines executable programs based on set attributes, ensuring only compatible programs are executed, enhancing user flexibility and functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If function programs are registered without checking recording medium attributes, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to execution of incompatible programs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogram compatibilityVSAvoidprogram registration mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary registration of function programs with their associated recording medium attribute information in advance. The function program registration section stores the correspondence between function programs and required recording medium attributes before actual execution, enabling compatibility verification to occur automatically during program selection rather than requiring complex real-time checks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Recording medium attribute information serves as an intermediary element that mediates between function programs and recording media. This attribute information acts as a bridge, allowing the control section to verify compatibility by comparing program requirements with actual media attributes without direct complex interaction between programs and media.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the system verifies recording medium attributes before program execution, then program compatibility is improved, but operation time increases due to additional verification steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogram compatibilityVSAvoidprogram execution preparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Compatibility verification is performed in advance during the program registration phase rather than at execution time. The function program registration section pre-establishes the relationship between programs and required recording medium attributes, so that during actual operation, the control section only needs to retrieve stored attribute information and compare it with current media, significantly reducing verification time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple recording medium supply sections are supported, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional management requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti supply section supportVSAvoidsupply section management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control section implements a universal management mechanism that handles multiple recording medium supply sections through a common interface and unified attribute management system. The function program registration section and control logic are designed to work with any supply section regardless of quantity, allowing the system to scale from one to multiple supply sections without requiring fundamentally different management approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8995014B2Image forming apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium storing program, and image forming method

Publication Date: 2015.03.31 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium, plural recording medium supply sections that supply a recording medium to the image forming section, a recording medium setting section that sets attributes of the recording medium supplied by the recording medium supply section, a function program registration section that makes function programs for executing processes that use processing functions relating to image formation correspond to recording medium attribute information relating to the recording medium usable for the function program and performs registration for each of the function programs, and a control section that controls whether or not the registered function program is executable based on the attributes of the recording medium set by the recording medium setting section and the recording medium attribute information registered by the function program registration section.