Intermediary Terminal for Flexible Image Data Service Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image capturing devices have limited expandability in services due to pre-fixed uploading of image data when storage capacity is scarce, and users face difficulties in installing specific applications, restricting the use of additional services.

Innovation Solution

A communication system that includes an intermediary terminal to facilitate communication between image capturing devices and a service management server, allowing for flexible service management and application installation, enabling users to choose when to upload image data and utilize various services such as slide shows or live distributions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If image capturing devices perform pre-fixed uploading when storage capacity is scarce, then storage management is automated, but service expandability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated storage managementVSAvoidservice expandability
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the image capturing device and the user. The server receives upload requests from the device, manages the upload process, and provides various services (slide shows, live distributions, etc.). This intermediary architecture allows the device to maintain simple automated storage management while the server handles service expandability and user interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users install specific applications themselves, then service functionality is enhanced, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice functionalityVSAvoidease of application installation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service by allowing the server to automatically provide and manage applications based on user requests. When a user wants to use a specific service, the server automatically provides the necessary application without requiring the user to manually search, download, and install it. The server handles application distribution and management transparently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If specific applications are pre-installed on image capturing devices, then service availability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice availabilityVSAvoiddevice software complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the application storage and management functionality from the image capturing device and relocates it to the server. The device maintains only the essential functionality for capturing images and communicating upload requests. All service-specific applications are stored and executed on the server, which reduces the device's software complexity while maintaining service availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3703352B1Intermediary terminal, communication system, input system, intermediation control method, and carrier means
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP3703352B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3703352B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3703352B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An intermediary terminal (3) for mediating a communication between a data generation device (1) that generates target data, and a server (5) that controls service content usable with the data generation device (1) includes an acquisition unit (38) configured to acquire, from the data generation device (1), device identification information identifying the data generation device (1); a transmission unit (31) configured to transmit the acquired device identification information to the server (5) via a communication network; a reception unit (31) configured to receive, from the server (5), service content information indicating a service content associated with the device identification information; and a process execution unit (42, 43) configured to execute processing on the target data input from the data generation device (1) in accordance with the service content indicated by the service content information.