Management Server Workflow Automation via Plug-in Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Administrators face a heavy workload in generating and managing diverse workflows for image forming apparatuses, as existing systems require complex condition scripts and expertise to manage branching workflows, making it difficult to adapt to changes or additions in workflows.
Innovation Solution
A management server that allows administrators and users to easily manage workflows through a plug-in-based system, where execution start conditions are set without complex scripts, using a user interface to input plug-ins and generate workforms, which are then transmitted to image forming apparatuses for execution, with a controller comparing execution information to perform jobs based on set conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an administrator defines workflows for various situations in a single workform with condition scripts to enable automatic branching, then the workform can be performed in various patterns, but the condition script becomes more complicated and the administrator should have expertise in writing the condition script
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the condition definition from complex scripts and separates it into visual workflow configuration. The condition script is taken out from the administrator's direct control and replaced with a visual interface where conditions are defined through drag-and-drop operations, eliminating the need for administrators to write complex condition scripts while maintaining workflow branching capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a workform management server as an intermediary between the administrator and the workflow execution. This server handles the complex condition script generation automatically based on visual workflow definitions, acting as a mediator that translates simple visual configurations into complex conditional logic without requiring administrator expertise in scripting
2Adaptability or versatility
If the administrator distributes the workform uniformly, then the workform can be applied in various work environments, but the user has difficulty in selecting a suitable workform for each job
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the workform distribution system into two parts: a universal workform template that can be applied across various environments, and job-specific condition parameters that users can easily configure. This segmentation allows the same workform to be distributed uniformly while enabling users to select and configure appropriate conditions for each specific job through a simplified interface
3Ease of operation
If the administrator generates a plurality of workforms for various workflows to reduce user selection difficulty, then users can easily find suitable workforms, but the administrator has a heavy load in generating and managing multiple workforms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal workform template that can serve multiple workflows through configurable conditions rather than creating separate workforms for each workflow. This multi-functional approach allows a single workform to handle various job types by changing execution conditions, significantly reducing the administrator's workload in generating and managing multiple workforms while maintaining ease of user selection
Data Source
AI summary
A management server is provided. The management server includes a user interface to receive an input of a plug-in corresponding to a job of an image forming apparatus to generate a workform, which defines a job performing order of the image forming apparatus, and to receive an input of an execution start condition of the plug-in, a workform generator to generate a workform based on the input plug-in and the execution start condition, and a communication interface to transmit the generated workform to the image forming apparatus.