Job Macro Display Order Control for Multifunction Printers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image forming devices, such as MFPs, face complexity and inconvenience when users need to manually rearrange the order of printing jobs due to a large number of job definition data parameters, making it difficult to select jobs efficiently through the operation screen.

Innovation Solution

A data processing device and method that include a storing unit for job definition data, a rule information unit for determining the display order of job macros, an updating unit to update these rules, and a control unit to reorder and display job macros based on user instructions, enhancing user convenience by prioritizing and organizing job macros on the operation screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of job definition data parameters is increased, then the functionality and versatility of the system is improved, but the complexity of manually rearranging and selecting jobs increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejob definition data parametersVSAvoidmanual rearrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-establishes multiple display rule sets that define different ordering criteria for job macros. These rules are prepared in advance and can be selected by the user, eliminating the need for manual rearrangement of individual jobs. The control unit automatically applies the selected rule set to organize the job list according to predefined criteria such as job type, frequency of use, or custom user preferences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of display organization from manual positioning to rule-based automatic ordering. By introducing rule information with different ordering criteria (parameters), the system transforms how job macros are displayed without requiring users to manually adjust their positions. The updating unit allows dynamic modification of these rule parameters to suit different user needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the number of job definition data parameters is increased, then the functionality and versatility of the system is improved, but the ease of operation for selecting jobs deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejob definition data parametersVSAvoidjob selection convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple display rule sets are pre-configured with different ordering criteria (e.g., by job type, by frequency, by custom attributes). When a user wants to select a job, they can simply choose from these pre-established rules, and the system automatically reorganizes the job list according to the selected rule, making job selection convenient even with many job definitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The display rule sets serve multiple functions: they can sort jobs by various criteria, filter jobs based on attributes, and adapt to different user preferences. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain ease of operation while supporting a large number of job definition parameters through a single unified rule-based framework.

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

3Ease of operation

If manual rearrangement of job display order is required, then the ease of operation is improved for specific cases, but the time required for organization increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay order customizationVSAvoidrearrangement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-establishes multiple display rule sets that define different ordering criteria for job macros. These rules are prepared in advance and can be selected by the user, eliminating the need for manual rearrangement of individual jobs. The control unit automatically applies the selected rule set to organize the job list according to predefined criteria such as job type, frequency of use, or custom user preferences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs automatic self-service by applying the selected display rule to reorganize the job list without requiring manual user intervention. The control unit automatically sorts and displays job macros according to the chosen rule, saving the user time and effort that would otherwise be spent on manual rearrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2854384B1Data processing device, image forming device, and data processing method
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 OKI DATA CORP
  • EP2854384B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2854384B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2854384B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A data processing device includes a first storing unit for storing a plurality of job definition data indicating content of processing corresponding to instructions in accordance with a series of operations by a user, a second storing unit for storing rule information indicating a rule for determining order of displaying a plurality of items of identification information respectively identifying the plurality of the job definition data, a updating unit for updating the rule information stored in the second storing unit, a control unit for determining the order of displaying the plurality of the items of the identification information in accordance with the rule information stored in the second storing unit, and a displaying unit for displaying the plurality of the items of the identification information in the order determined by the control unit.