Job-Aware Program Update Scheduling for Networked Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing program update systems for image forming apparatuses often disrupt normal operation during user input, requiring users to wait for updates to complete, and may fail to update as scheduled due to low usage times.
Innovation Solution
A program update system that synchronizes update timing with job data acquisition, allowing scheduled distribution and execution of updates outside peak usage times to avoid user disruption and ensure timely updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the control program is updated automatically without timing control, then the update can be performed seamlessly, but the update may interrupt user input operations and cause waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of job data acquisition status before initiating the control program update. The judgment unit checks whether job data has been acquired within a predetermined time period before the scheduled update time. This preliminary action allows the system to prevent updates that would interrupt active user operations, thereby maintaining ease of operation while still enabling timely updates when appropriate.
2Ease of operation
If the update is scheduled during low usage times, then user disruption is minimized, but the update may not complete as expected due to apparatus shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the judgment unit continuously monitors the operational state of the image forming apparatus and the acquisition status of job data. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically determines whether to proceed with the update. The update unit only executes the control program update when the judgment unit confirms that job data has not been acquired recently, ensuring both minimal user disruption and reliable update completion.
3Productivity
If the control program is updated immediately when update data is received, then the update speed is maximized, but the update may interfere with ongoing job processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of job data acquisition status before executing the update. The judgment unit evaluates whether job data has been acquired within a predetermined time period prior to the scheduled update time. This preliminary action enables the system to maintain fast update speeds when job data indicates low operational activity, while preventing updates that would interfere with ongoing job processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Plural information processing apparatuses include at least one primary machine and at least one secondary machine. The primary machine includes: a job data management storage that manages and stores acquired job data; an update data acquirer that acquires update data used to update a control program controlling operation of the information processing apparatus; an update data storage that stores the acquired update data; and an update data distributor that distributes the update data retrieved from the update data storage to the secondary machine. The secondary machine includes a program update executor that stores a control program controlling own operation and updates the control program by using received update data. At least one of timing at which the primary machine distributes the update data and timing at which the secondary machine updates the control program is determined according to the job data.