Networked Image Processing Apparatus Setting Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing apparatus network systems require complex mechanisms and cumbersome manipulations to set operating conditions across multiple devices, making it difficult to efficiently reflect settings across all connected image processing apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus with a storage for a setting Web page that can be accessed through a network, allowing terminals to input and transmit setting changes to other connected image processing apparatuses, thereby simplifying the process of synchronizing settings across the network without the need for complex mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complicated mechanism is constructed to transmit and receive information between image forming apparatuses to change operating conditions, then the setting can be reflected on all image forming apparatuses, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a management apparatus as an intermediary that centralizes the control of operating condition changes. Instead of requiring direct communication mechanisms between all pairs of image forming apparatuses, the management apparatus receives setting information from one apparatus and distributes it to others, significantly reducing the overall system complexity while maintaining full adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple image forming apparatuses under a unified management framework. By combining the setting management capabilities into a centralized system, the patent eliminates the need for each apparatus to independently implement complex transmission and reception mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving the ability to reflect settings across all apparatuses.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a complicated manipulation is performed to select items in a menu screen to copy setting information, then the setting information can be copied between image forming apparatuses, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables setting information to be automatically copied and distributed by the management apparatus without requiring users to manually select items in menu screens. The system performs the copying operation autonomously based on the setting information received, eliminating cumbersome manual operations while maintaining the capability to copy settings across all image forming apparatuses.
Solution Approach 2:
The management apparatus is pre-configured with the capability to receive and distribute setting information to multiple image forming apparatuses. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for users to perform complex selection operations during the copying process, as the system is already prepared to handle the distribution automatically when setting information is provided.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus can conduct communication with a terminal through a network, and includes a storage, a communication unit, and a changing unit. The storage stores a setting Web page which is of a Web page used to change a setting of the image processing apparatus. The communication unit transmits the setting Web page to the terminal on a request from the terminal. The changing unit changes the setting of the image processing apparatus when a request is made to the setting Web page from the terminal. The setting Web page includes a description that notifies another image processing apparatus, which can conduct communication with the terminal, of a setting content of the image processing apparatus, the setting content being input to the setting Web page from the terminal.