Image Quality Abnormality Data Aggregation for Faster Resolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face difficulties in quickly and efficiently resolving image quality abnormalities due to varying reasons and knowledge gaps among users and maintenance personnel, leading to prolonged determination and handling times.

Innovation Solution

An abnormality handling data aggregating system that includes a hardware processor and storage to collect and store abnormality solution data, allowing for centralized management and retrieval of maintenance information, enabling swift and efficient resolution of image quality issues through a network of image forming systems, servers, and terminals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If abnormality handling relies on individual experience and knowledge, then the quality of abnormality determination can be maintained, but the time required and operational burden increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabnormality determination timeVSAvoidoperational burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a digital copy of abnormality handling knowledge by generating structured data records that capture abnormality patterns, determination results, and handling methods from expert operations. These copied knowledge patterns are stored and can be retrieved to assist future abnormality handling, reducing reliance on individual memory and experience while maintaining handling quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary system (the abnormality determination support system) that mediates between the user and the complex task of abnormality handling. This intermediary automatically generates structured abnormality data, stores it in a database, and retrieves relevant patterns to assist users, thereby reducing the operational burden while maintaining expert-level determination quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If comprehensive abnormality knowledge is stored individually, then handling accuracy improves, but knowledge accessibility and sharing deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabnormality handling accuracyVSAvoidknowledge accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges individual abnormality handling knowledge into a centralized database by automatically generating structured data records that combine abnormality patterns, determination results, and handling methods from multiple sources. This consolidation ensures comprehensive knowledge is preserved while making it universally accessible to all users through automated retrieval, improving both reliability and accessibility simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates universal abnormality knowledge structures that serve multiple functions: they store expert determination patterns, enable automated data generation, support knowledge retrieval, and facilitate sharing across different users and systems. This multi-functional knowledge base improves handling accuracy while ensuring broad accessibility.

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

3Measurement precision

If manual abnormality data collection is performed, then data accuracy can be ensured, but productivity and efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabnormality data accuracyVSAvoiddata collection efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the system to serve itself by automatically generating structured abnormality data records from image data and determination results without requiring manual data collection. The system self-detects abnormalities, self-determines patterns, and self-generates structured data for storage, ensuring data accuracy while dramatically improving collection efficiency and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical process of manual data collection with an automated computational system that processes image data, detects abnormalities, and generates structured data records automatically. This substitution maintains data accuracy through systematic processing while eliminating the time-consuming manual effort, thereby improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12354301B2Abnormality handling data aggregating system, abnormality handling data aggregating method, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.07.08 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • US12354301B2 patent drawing
  • US12354301B2 patent drawing
  • US12354301B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An abnormality handling data aggregating system includes the following. A hardware processor obtains handling information to solve an abnormality of image quality occurring in an image forming apparatus corresponded with abnormality image data regarding an output image including the abnormality of the image quality in the image forming apparatus as abnormality solution data. A storage stores the abnormality solution data which is obtained.