Management Server Mediating External Image Processing Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inconvenience and burden in signing contracts and paying usage fees for external image processing services, as existing technologies do not consolidate management of these services, leading to separate charges for internal and external services.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system comprising an image processing device and a management server that receives and transmits service identifiers and object image data, allowing users to select and manage external services through a centralized server, eliminating the need for direct contracts and separate fee payments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users directly contract with each service supplier for external image processing services, then service availability is improved, but user burden and complexity increase due to multiple contracts and separate fee payments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a management server as an intermediary between users and external service suppliers. The management server consolidates service management, handling contracts and fee collections centrally, thereby reducing user burden while maintaining access to multiple external services. Users interact with the management server rather than directly with each supplier, simplifying the service acquisition process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple service contracts and fee payment processes into a single unified management system. The management server consolidates service identifiers, supplier information, and fee structures into one interface, allowing users to manage all external services through a single point of contact rather than dealing with multiple separate contracts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users pay usage fees separately to each service supplier, then service specialization is improved, but convenience deteriorates due to multiple separate payments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate fee payment processes into a single unified payment system managed by the management server. The server consolidates usage fee information from different service suppliers and handles payments centrally, allowing users to settle all service fees through one process rather than making separate payments to each supplier.
Solution Approach 2:
The management server provides universal functionality for managing diverse external services and their associated fee structures. It handles multiple service types (searchable PDF, mass rapid printing, high-definition printing) and their corresponding payment processes through a single multi-functional platform, improving payment convenience while maintaining service specialization.
3Ease of operation
If a management server consolidates external services, then user convenience is improved, but system complexity increases due to integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The management server acts as an intermediary layer that abstracts the complexity of external service integration from users. It handles service identifier management, supplier coordination, and fee consolidation in the background, presenting a simplified interface to users while managing the underlying system complexity through standardized communication protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing system that can remove users' burden in implementing services by external devices. The image processing device includes the information receiver that receives a list of internal and external service identifiers each of which identifies a corresponding internal and external service, the reception unit that displays the list, receives a selection of an internal or external service identifier, and receives a designation of object image data, and the data transmitter that transmits the selected external service identifier and the designated object image data. The management server includes the information storage unit that stores the list, the information transmitter that transmits the list, the data receiver that receives the external service identifier and the object image data, and the requester that transmits the external service identifier and the object image data to the external device and requests to implement the external service identified by the external service identifier.