Mediation Server Reducing Load via Local Validation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing service cooperation systems do not consider the processing conditions for image processing tasks, such as print and scan operations, when setting up a mediation server, leading to a high load in establishing the server due to the need for multiple determination programs for various device models.
Innovation Solution
A mediation server that supplies condition setting screens to an image processing apparatus, allowing users to select processing conditions, and determines the validity of these settings before enabling the image processing, thereby reducing the need for multiple determination programs and lowering the server load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the mediation server includes multiple determination programs for various device models to validate processing conditions, then the service coverage and adaptability are improved, but the device complexity and server load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an image processing apparatus as an intermediary component between the mediation server and the service provision server. This apparatus includes a determination unit that validates processing conditions locally, acting as a mediator that handles the complex validation logic. The mediation server only needs to communicate validation requests and results, not implement multiple determination programs itself, thus reducing server load while maintaining service coverage across different device models.
Solution Approach 2:
The determination function is localized to the image processing apparatus rather than being centralized in the mediation server. Each image processing apparatus has its own determination unit that is tailored to its specific model and capabilities, allowing validation logic to be customized locally without requiring the server to maintain multiple versions of determination programs for different device types.
2Reliability
If the mediation server validates all processing conditions before service execution, then the reliability of image processing is improved, but the processing time and user efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs validation of processing conditions in advance, during the service setup phase rather than during actual image processing execution. The determination unit validates whether the image processing can be executed according to the specified conditions before the service starts, ensuring reliability without adding time to the actual processing operation. This preliminary validation separates the verification step from the execution step, maintaining user efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If the system provides detailed condition setting screens for users to select processing conditions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple determination programs needed
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing apparatus serves as an intermediary that handles the complexity of multiple determination programs locally. The mediation server can provide comprehensive condition setting screens with various options without needing to implement corresponding determination logic for each option. The local determination unit processes these settings and validates them according to the specific device model, allowing rich user interfaces without proportional increases in server complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A mediation server for mediating target service provision from a service provision server to an image processing apparatus, including a processor causing the mediation server to supply specific information for displaying a condition setting screen to an external apparatus, receive a plurality of selected setting values from the external apparatus, supply, to the image processing apparatus, a determination execution instruction including the plurality of selected setting values and for executing a determination about validity of a combination of the plurality of selected setting values, receive a result of the determination from the image processing apparatus, and when the result indicates that the combination is valid, supply, to the image processing apparatus, a processing execution instruction including the plurality of selected setting values and being for executing the target image processing in accordance with the determined processing condition.