Job State Control for Concurrent Protocol Execution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Information processing apparatuses are limited in their ability to execute multiple jobs using the same transfer protocol concurrently, as they typically wait for the completion of a first job before starting a second job, leading to increased wait times and inefficient resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus introduces a control unit that sets a first job to a stoppage state upon completion of data transfer, allowing a second job using the same transfer protocol to enter an execution available state, thereby enabling concurrent execution of jobs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the information processing apparatus waits for the completion of a first job before starting a second job using the same transfer protocol, then the processing result is guaranteed, but the wait time increases and resource utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing result guaranteeVSAvoidwait time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the execution state of jobs based on protocol availability. When a transfer protocol becomes available after the first job completes data transfer, the system allows the second job to transition to execution state, creating a dynamic rather than static execution control mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary data transfer for the first job before allowing the second job to execute. By completing the data transfer phase first and then managing protocol availability, the system prepares the execution environment in advance to enable concurrent job processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If the information processing apparatus waits for the completion of a first job before starting a second job using the same transfer protocol, then processing order is maintained, but resource utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing orderVSAvoidresource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The job execution process is segmented into distinct phases: data transfer phase and execution phase. The first job completes its data transfer phase while the second job can proceed to its execution phase, allowing parallel processing while maintaining logical order through state management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary that manages protocol availability and job execution states. It mediates between the first job's data transfer completion and the second job's execution start, ensuring proper coordination without strict sequential dependency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11032436B2Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing program for workflow generation

Publication Date: 2021.06.08 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes an execution unit that executes a first job and a second job in response to reception of the first job and the second job, and a control unit that controls state of the first job and the second job, in which in a case where the first job includes transferring first data as a processing target to an external apparatus and receiving second data as a processing result from the external apparatus, the control unit sets the first job to a stoppage state in response to completion of the transfer of the first data and sets the second job which uses a transfer protocol used in the first job to an execution available state.