Image Processing Apparatus User Job Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image processing apparatuses struggle to effectively manage and enforce usage restrictions on users when multiple jobs are activated during frequent login and logout cycles, leading to inconsistencies in tracking and limiting user access.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that utilizes a controller to manage multiple jobs on a single user basis by employing restriction information and use information, including a system with an authentication agent server, accounting server, and multifunction peripherals to enforce usage limits and track consumable resources, even during repeated login and logout operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If usage restrictions are set for each user based on login/logout cycles, then user-specific usage control is achieved, but tracking accuracy deteriorates when users perform multiple login/logout operations generating multiple jobs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple jobs generated by the same user across different login/logout cycles into a single aggregated usage record. The usage restriction management unit combines usage data from all jobs associated with a user, treating them as one unified usage instance for restriction enforcement purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification of user identity at the time of job generation, storing user identification information with each job. This preliminary action enables later aggregation of multiple jobs by user without requiring complex real-time tracking during each login/logout cycle.
2Reliability
If multiple jobs are tracked separately for each login/logout cycle, then job-level control is maintained, but total usage restriction enforcement becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The usage restriction management unit continuously monitors and aggregates usage from multiple jobs, providing feedback on total user consumption. When the accumulated usage across all user jobs reaches the predetermined restriction limit, the system automatically notifies the user and prevents further usage, ensuring consistent enforcement regardless of how many login/logout cycles occur.
3Adaptability or versatility
If usage limits are enforced per job, then immediate control is achieved, but cumulative usage across multiple user sessions cannot be restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The usage restriction management unit serves multiple functions: it tracks individual job usage, aggregates usage across multiple jobs and user sessions, enforces cumulative restrictions, and provides notification. This universal approach allows the same mechanism to handle both single-job and multi-session usage scenarios without requiring separate tracking systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus that controls usage of the image processing apparatus by a user based on restriction information which indicates a function that the user is allowed to use and use information which indicates a number of recording medium that the user use, the image processing apparatus includes a controller that controls the usage of the image processing apparatus by managing a plurality of jobs on a single user basis if a plurality of jobs are generated when the single user performs login and logout a plurality of times.