Image Forming Apparatus Storage Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses with multiple functions, such as page description language (PDL) processing and scanning, face inefficiencies due to shared storage areas that lead to increased management processing loads and performance bottlenecks, particularly in handling large data sizes and frequent access patterns.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus is configured with a storage unit having a shared area and exclusive areas for each function, allowing the first control unit to selectively use these areas based on processing needs, optimizing data storage and retrieval by allocating small, frequently accessed data to exclusive areas and large, infrequently accessed data to shared areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a shared storage area is used for multiple functions, then storage space utilization is improved, but management processing load increases and performance bottlenecks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The storage area is segmented into multiple independent storage units, each dedicated to a specific function (PDL processing, scan processing, etc.). This segmentation allows each function to have its own dedicated storage space, eliminating the management overhead of shared storage while maintaining efficient space utilization through independent allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device is designed with multiple storage units that can serve different functions simultaneously. Each storage unit is optimized for its specific function but the overall storage device provides universal support for multiple processing tasks, achieving both specialization and multi-functionality.
2Quantity of substance
If a shared storage area is used for multiple functions, then storage space utilization is improved, but performance bottlenecks occur due to frequent access patterns
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the storage device into separate storage units for different functions, data access operations for each function can proceed independently without waiting for other functions to complete their access operations. This eliminates the performance bottlenecks caused by shared resource contention while maintaining high storage space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary that manages data transfer between the host device and the appropriate storage units. It routes data requests to the correct storage unit and handles data movement, thereby eliminating the need for multiple functions to compete for access to the same storage area and improving overall access speed.
3Productivity
If exclusive storage areas are used for each function, then processing performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple storage units are merged into a single integrated storage device with a unified interface and control mechanism. This combining approach provides the performance benefits of exclusive storage areas while maintaining a simple, unified device structure that does not increase overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device is designed with multi-functionality, where a single device provides dedicated storage capabilities for multiple functions through its multiple storage units. This universal design achieves the performance of exclusive storage without the complexity of multiple separate storage devices or complex management structures.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions includes a storage unit including a storage area divided into a shared area to be used by a plurality of functions and exclusive areas each to be used by one function. In a case where writing into or reading from the storage unit is necessary in a course of PDL processing, a determination is made whether the shared area or a page description language (PDL) exclusive area is to be used.