Mediation Server for Image Data Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies require specialized scanners to separate image data from multiple manuscripts into distinct data sets for targeted destinations, which is not feasible without additional equipment or user-prepared separation manuscripts.

Innovation Solution

A mediation server that analyzes image data from a scanner to identify and separate specific manuscripts, allowing it to send targeted data sets to different destinations without the need for a special scanner or user-prepared separation manuscripts, by utilizing a code or blank manuscript within the scanned documents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a special scanner is used to separate image data into multiple data sets, then the image data can be sent to different destinations, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to separate image data to different destinationsVSAvoidscanner complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mediation server as an intermediary between the scanner and the destinations. The scanner captures all manuscripts as single image data and transmits it to the mediation server, which then analyzes the image data to identify separation manuscripts and distributes the appropriate portions to different destinations. This mediator approach allows the simple scanner to achieve the functionality of a complex separation scanner.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical separation mechanism (specialized scanner hardware that physically separates manuscripts) with an information processing approach (mediation server that digitally analyzes and separates image data). Instead of using complex scanner hardware to physically distinguish and separate manuscripts, the system uses software-based image analysis to identify separation manuscripts and digitally divide the image data accordingly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a special scanner is used to separate image data, then targeted transmission is achieved, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage data separation capabilityVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mediation server performs automatic analysis of the image data to identify separation manuscripts without requiring user intervention. The server autonomously processes the transmitted image data, detects the presence of separation manuscripts, and automatically divides and routes the appropriate portions to different destinations, eliminating the need for users to manually prepare or mark separation manuscripts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of the image data to identify separation manuscripts before the actual distribution process. The mediation server examines the transmitted image data, detects separation manuscripts in advance, and prepares the division plan before sending data to destinations, streamlining the overall process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If image data is separated by a special scanner, then multiple destinations can be served, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-destination transmissionVSAvoidimage data separation precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mediation server acts as an intermediary that performs precise analysis of the transmitted image data to identify separation manuscripts. Rather than relying on the scanner to achieve precise separation at the hardware level, the mediator server uses software-based image recognition and analysis to accurately identify where manuscripts are separated, reducing the precision requirements for the scanner itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10375267B2Mediation server

Publication Date: 2019.08.06 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A mediation server may receive image data from a scanner via a network, the image data being generated by the scanner scanning each of M pieces of manuscripts sequentially, analyze the image data so as to specify separation image data which is a part of the image data, the separation image data representing a predetermined separation manuscript, and send first target data to a first destination and second target data to a second destination via the network, the first target data being obtained by using first partial image data representing at least one piece of manuscript among one or more pieces of manuscripts to be scanned after the separation manuscript, the second target data being obtained by using second partial image data representing at least one piece of manuscript among one or more pieces of manuscripts to be scanned before the separation manuscript.