Management Server Temporary Connection for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing service systems for image forming apparatuses are cumbersome for users, requiring burdensome procedures from setup to registration, which reduces convenience for both service recipients and providers.
Innovation Solution
A management server system that establishes a temporary connection with image forming apparatuses to transmit URL information for a main connection, allowing terminal devices to read and authenticate, thereby simplifying the connection process between service providing servers and image forming apparatuses without requiring advanced user knowledge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a service system uses a server connected to a network with diversified configurations, then the service system can support multiple service providers and image forming apparatuses, but the procedures from setting up an image forming apparatus to registering it in a service system become burdensome for users
Solution Approach 1:
The management server acts as an intermediary between the service providing server and the image forming apparatus. It receives connection requests from service providing servers, establishes temporary connections with image forming apparatuses, transmits URL information, and facilitates the main connection establishment. This intermediary role simplifies the user experience by automating the complex registration procedures while maintaining support for diversified service system configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The management server performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing temporary connections with image forming apparatuses before the main connection is required. It prepares URL information in advance and transmits it to the image forming apparatus through the temporary connection, so that when the service providing server needs to connect, the authentication and connection establishment process is already prepared and simplified.
2Ease of operation
If the management server establishes communication through a temporary connection to transmit URL information, then the connection process is simplified and user burden is reduced, but additional communication protocols and connection management mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The connection process is segmented into two distinct phases: a temporary connection phase for authentication and URL information transmission, and a main connection phase for actual service communication. The temporary connection handles only essential authentication tasks, while the main connection handles service-specific communication. This segmentation allows each phase to use optimized, simpler protocols appropriate to its specific function, reducing overall system complexity despite the additional connection management.
Data Source
AI summary
A server processing portion 120 establishes communication through a temporary connection with an image forming apparatus 10 (step S100). Further, the server processing portion 120 transmits, when a request of a main connection for connecting a service providing server 200 and the image forming apparatus 10 via a management server 100 is received from the service providing server 200, URL information for establishing communication through the main connection to the image forming apparatus 10 by using communication through the temporary connection (step S130). Further, the server processing portion 120 establishes communication through the main connection (step S140) when there is an access (step S320) from a terminal device 300 that reads code information formed by the image forming apparatus 10 based on the URL information.