Cooperative Image Processing Apparatus Setting Screen Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing systems fail to adequately consider the capabilities of both local and remote apparatuses when displaying setting screens, leading to potential contradictions and increased processing burdens, particularly when the local apparatus has color scanning capabilities but the remote apparatus only handles monochrome images.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system that acquires function information from the remote apparatus and determines necessary function restrictions, controlling the display of setting screens on the local apparatus to align with the capabilities of both devices, ensuring settings are appropriate for the cooperative job execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the operation screen displays all available settings from the local apparatus, then the user has access to full functionality, but settings may contradict the remote apparatus capabilities and cause processing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary acquisition of remote apparatus capability information before displaying the operation screen. The determination unit pre-analyzes which settings are compatible by comparing local apparatus functions with remote apparatus capabilities, and restricts the display accordingly. This prevents contradictory settings from being presented to the user in the first place, ensuring reliability while maintaining adaptability within compatible options.
2Reliability
If the remote apparatus performs image conversion processing to resolve capability mismatches, then setting compatibility is improved, but processing burden increases and job processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs capability matching and setting restriction before the actual image processing job begins. By determining compatible settings in advance and restricting the operation screen accordingly, the system avoids the need for time-consuming image conversion processing during job execution. This ensures both compatibility and maintains processing speed by preventing unnecessary conversion operations.
3Reliability
If the user is prompted to reset settings or reconfigure options to match remote apparatus capabilities, then setting compatibility is achieved, but user burden increases and operability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs the function of capability matching and setting restriction without requiring user intervention. The determination unit autonomously compares local and remote apparatus capabilities and restricts the operation screen to display only compatible settings. This self-service approach eliminates the need for users to manually reset settings or understand capability mismatches, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring compatibility.
4Ease of operation
If the operation screen is customized to reflect both local and remote apparatus capabilities, then setting compatibility and operability are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The determination unit serves multiple functions: it acquires remote apparatus capability information, compares it with local apparatus functions, determines compatible settings, and controls the display restriction. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex modules into a single unit, achieving customized operation screens improved operability while managing system complexity through functional integration.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention can provide an image processing system in which a job setting screen is displayed on a local apparatus in consideration of the capabilities of the local apparatus and a remote apparatus when a plurality of image processing apparatuses cooperatively execute a job. To accomplish this, in the present image processing system, the local apparatus acquires function information on the remote apparatus when the plurality of image processing apparatuses executes one job in cooperation. Furthermore, the local apparatus controls the display contents of a setting screen used when an operator sets a job setting in order to restrict a job function based on the acquired function information and function information on the local apparatus itself.