Image Processing Apparatus Selective Job Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing apparatuses face a decline in productivity when a user initiates a job suspension request, affecting jobs input by other users.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus allows users to suspend only their own jobs while continuing the processing of jobs input by others, using user authentication to differentiate and manage job statuses independently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If all jobs are suspended in response to a print stop request from a user, then the user can urgently stop a job, but the productivity of the entire image processing apparatus deteriorates because jobs input by other users are also suspended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the job queue into user-specific portions by introducing user identification information. When a suspension request is received, the system identifies the requesting user and suspends only that user's jobs rather than all jobs in the system. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling easy job suspension for the requesting user while preserving the productivity impact on other users' jobs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If user authentication is implemented to differentiate job suspension, then selective job suspension is enabled, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal user identification mechanism that serves multiple functions: authentication, job attribution, and suspension control. By using a single user ID system across all these functions, the patent achieves selective job suspension capability without proportionally increasing system complexity. The user ID acts as a multi-functional key that enables adaptable job management while maintaining relatively simple system architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image processing apparatus acquires user identification information about a user who is currently logged in to the image processing apparatus and performs control such that a job stored in association with the user indicated by the user identification information acquired is suspended and a job stored in association with a user different from the user indicated by the user identification information acquired is not suspended.