MFP Data Storage Mode Switching for Network Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image-processing systems face challenges in efficiently storing and transmitting data among multiple image-processing apparatuses connected to a network, leading to capacity issues and decreased storage availability due to limited data storage capacity.
Innovation Solution
An information-processing system that includes a designation unit to specify a destination user, a specifying unit to select an image-processing apparatus, and a control unit to switch between data storage and transmission modes based on predetermined conditions, allowing for efficient data storage or transmission among connected apparatuses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If data is stored in the transmission source apparatus, then data can be retained for future transmission, but the storage capacity of the transmission source is depleted and cannot be used for other purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data storage function from the transmission source apparatus by introducing an external storage device connected to the network. The transmission source can store data in the external storage device instead of its own limited storage, thereby preserving its storage capacity for other uses while still enabling data retention and future transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external storage device as an intermediary between the transmission source and transmission destination. This intermediary storage device acts as a buffer that holds data until transmission is needed, allowing the transmission source to maintain its storage availability while the data remains accessible for future transmission.
2Ease of operation
If data is automatically stored without judgment, then storage operations are simplified, but storage capacity is wasted on data that may never be transmitted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by setting transmission attributes (including maximum transmission amount) in advance when data is received. The system pre-judges whether data should be stored by evaluating these attributes before actual storage occurs, preventing wasted storage capacity while maintaining operational simplicity through automated pre-assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors storage status, transmission history, and attribute conditions. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically determines whether to store data, adjusting storage decisions according to current capacity availability and transmission requirements, thereby optimizing effective storage capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to efficiently store data that is to be transmitted or received, an image-processing system is provided with a plurality of MFPs and has: a designation unit to designate an arbitrary destination user as a receiver of data; a specifying unit to specify an MFP among the plurality of MFPs, the destination user designated by the designation unit belonging to the specified MFP; and a control unit to control switching between a first mode and a second mode in accordance with a predetermined condition, the first mode being for storing the data in a predetermined storing device on the network so as to enable reading of the data by an operation by the destination user designated by the designation unit, the second mode being for, instead of storing the data in the predetermined storing device, transmitting the data to the MFP specified by the specifying unit, the destination user belonging to the specified image-processing apparatus.