Image Processing Device Real-Time Path Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image processing devices do not allow users to monitor the series of operations performed during a job in real-time, leading to inefficient operations as users often discover unintended settings after the job is complete, resulting in wasted resources and the need to restart processes.

Innovation Solution

An image processing device and display system that enables users to view the processing path and details of image data operations in real-time, allowing for mid-execution changes to settings and processes through an interactive interface on an operational panel, which communicates with the image processing device to suspend, modify, or restart jobs as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If conventional image processing devices execute jobs without real-time monitoring, then the device complexity is reduced and operation is simpler, but the user cannot detect unintended settings until the job is complete, resulting in wasted time and resources

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveLoss of information about processing statusVSAvoidTime to detect and correct settings
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism by displaying the processing path and current processing status on the operational panel during job execution. This allows users to monitor the processing status in real-time and detect unintended settings before the job completes, preventing waste of time and resources while maintaining simple operation through an intuitive display interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system provides real-time monitoring of processing operations, then the user can detect and correct settings during execution, but the device complexity increases due to additional monitoring and display functions

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccuracy of processing settingsVSAvoidComplexity of monitoring system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The operational panel serves multiple functions: it displays the processing path, shows current processing status, and allows user interaction to modify settings during execution. By making the display device multi-functional, the patent achieves real-time monitoring and setting correction without adding separate complex monitoring hardware, thus improving reliability while minimizing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If users can modify processing settings during job execution, then operational efficiency is improved by avoiding complete re-processing, but the control system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveOperational efficiencyVSAvoidComplexity of control system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control by allowing users to modify processing settings during job execution rather than requiring fixed pre-job configuration. The system dynamically adjusts the processing path based on user input during execution, enabling operational efficiency improvement without requiring a completely new control architecture, as it builds upon the existing control system with flexible modification capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2677466B1Image processing device, display device and non-transitory computer readable recording medium
Publication Date: 2018.02.28 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • EP2677466B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2677466B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2677466B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An image processing device (1), comprises: a display part (24); a manipulation detecting part (33) for detecting an operation; an image inputting part (10) for inputting image data; an image processing part (12) for performing image processing in accordance with a processing process set; an image outputting part (13) for outputting an image in a predetermined way to output based on the processed image data; a display controlling part (32) for displaying a processing path to process the image data on the display part (24), and for moving an icon image corresponding to the image data along the processing path; and a job controlling part (15) for temporarily suspending the processing performed by the image processing part (12) or the image outputting part (13) when the manipulation detecting part (33) detects the operation on the display part (24), and making change in the image processing or the way to output.