Maintenance Information Notification Control for Image Forming Apparatus

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image forming systems face challenges in efficiently notifying maintenance information to a management server after server recovery, leading to unnecessary processing due to simultaneous message arrival and high costs associated with using high-performance servers.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that prioritizes and manages the notification of maintenance information, including first and second maintenance information, using a communication device, storage device, and control device to selectively notify necessary data to the management server upon recovery, employing SOAP protocol for efficient data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all maintenance information is notified to the management server upon recovery, then complete information transmission is achieved, but the server cannot handle concentrated messages and processing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation transmission completenessVSAvoidserver processing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments maintenance information into two categories: first maintenance information (status information) and second maintenance information (counter information). The control device selectively transmits only the first maintenance information collected in a plurality of timings and part of the second maintenance information, dividing the notification task to avoid overwhelming the server while ensuring necessary information is transmitted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and transmits only the essential first maintenance information (status information) upon server recovery, while excluding less critical second maintenance information (counter information) from the initial transmission batch. This extraction approach reduces the message volume to manageable levels for the server while preserving critical status data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If high-performance server is used to handle concentrated messages, then message processing capability is improved, but system cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveserver message handling capacityVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of upgrading the server hardware, the patent extracts and transmits only the essential first maintenance information (status information) upon recovery, while excluding less critical second maintenance information (counter information) from the initial transmission batch. This extraction approach reduces the message volume to manageable levels for the server while preserving critical status data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by transmitting only a portion of the available maintenance information (first maintenance information from multiple timings and part of second maintenance information) rather than all information at once. This partial transmission approach allows the existing server to handle the load without requiring expensive high-performance server hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of information

If maintenance information is transmitted at every timing, then information completeness is improved, but transmission volume increases and server load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidtransmission data volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments maintenance information into two categories: first maintenance information (status information) and second maintenance information (counter information). The control device selectively transmits only the first maintenance information collected in a plurality of timings and part of the second maintenance information, dividing the notification task to avoid overwhelming the server while ensuring necessary information is transmitted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by transmitting only a portion of the available maintenance information (first maintenance information from multiple timings and part of second maintenance information) rather than all information at once. This partial transmission approach allows the existing server to handle the load without requiring expensive high-performance server hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS7603590B2Information processing apparatus and notification method therefor, program for implementing the method, and storage medium storing the program

Publication Date: 2009.10.13 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus which is capable of notifying a management server of only necessary information for the management server to perform its proper maintenance function, as information on the maintenance of an image forming apparatus after recovery of the management server, to thereby avoid the management server from performing processing more than necessary. A device information transmission and retransmission schedule controller transmits maintenance information including status information and cumulative counter information on an image forming apparatus to an information collecting server. A retransmission data storage section stores the status information and the cumulative counter information. Upon recovery from failure in communication with the server, the schedule controller transmits the status information collected in a plurality of timings and part of the cumulative counter information collected in a plurality of timings to the server.