Image Forming Apparatus Personalized Operation Screen Caching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of shared image forming apparatuses face inconvenience due to the need to repeatedly select preferred settings each time they use the device, as settings are not personalized or remembered across sessions, leading to inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that obtains personal setting information from a server and uses a display control unit to customize the operation screen based on this information, allowing users to log in and have their preferred settings displayed promptly, even if synchronization with the server is not complete within a predetermined time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the personal environment is created in real time by communicating with a server, then the personal environment can be kept up-to-date with the latest settings, but it takes a long time to complete the creation process
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal apparatus creates a personal environment in advance using cached settings before the user actually needs to access the environment. This preliminary creation allows the environment to be ready immediately upon user login, eliminating the time delay that would otherwise occur while waiting for server communication to complete the environment creation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cached personal environment as an intermediary between the server and the terminal display. Instead of directly querying the server for all settings in real-time, the terminal uses a locally cached copy of the personal environment that was previously updated, serving as a mediator that provides immediate response while still reflecting recent changes.
2Reliability
If the personal environment is updated at the completion time of the process, then the environment reflects the latest settings, but the user feels as if the personal environment is suddenly switched
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal apparatus performs preliminary actions by creating and caching the personal environment in advance. When the user accesses the environment, the cached version is already prepared and displayed immediately, rather than waiting for the update process to complete and potentially causing a sudden switch. This preliminary preparation smooths the transition and improves user experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by maintaining a cached copy of the personal environment that serves as a buffer between server updates and user display. This cushioning mechanism allows the system to present a stable, continuous user interface that gradually reflects changes rather than abruptly switching, cushioning the user against sudden environmental changes.
3Reliability
If the display control unit waits for server synchronization to complete before displaying customized settings, then the settings are fully updated, but the user cannot access customized settings immediately
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal apparatus performs preliminary action by caching the personal environment settings before the user needs to access them. When a user logs in or accesses the customized settings, the cached environment is immediately displayed without waiting for the server synchronization process to complete, thereby providing immediate access while still maintaining setting completeness through periodic updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by displaying the cached personal environment settings immediately, even though the full server synchronization may not be complete. This partial display provides sufficient functionality for immediate use, with the option to update further if needed, balancing setting completeness with access speed.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an obtaining unit that obtains personal setting information about a user who logs into the image forming apparatus from a server apparatus and a display control unit that controls a display unit to display a customized operation screen customized for the user based on the obtained personal setting information. If the personal setting information has been obtained from the server apparatus within a predetermined time, the customized operation screen is displayed. If the personal setting information has been obtained from the server apparatus after the predetermined time elapses, the customized operation screen is not displayed.