Median Deviation Analysis for MFP Failure Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming systems fail to accurately predict failures in multifunction peripherals (MFPs) based solely on history information like the number of sheets printed or power-on time, lacking a comprehensive method to detect abnormalities in real-time usage environments.

Innovation Solution

An image forming system comprising a server connected to multiple MFPs that receives and analyzes data on common items, calculates the median, and identifies abnormal MFPs by determining which device's numeric values deviate most from the median, enabling automatic or user-driven solutions to address potential failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If failure prediction is based solely on history information like number of sheets printed or power-on time, then the prediction method is simple, but the accuracy of failure detection is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprediction method complexityVSAvoidfailure detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter basis for failure prediction from static history information alone to a combination of history information and real-time usage parameters. The server collects both historical data (number of sheets printed, power-on time) and real-time usage parameters (current operational state, environmental conditions), then compares real-time values against historical baselines to detect abnormalities, thereby improving detection accuracy without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring real-time usage parameters and comparing them against historical information. The server receives real-time data from image forming apparatuses, calculates deviations from historical baselines, and uses this feedback loop to identify abnormal states that indicate potential failures, transforming a static prediction method into a dynamic, accuracy-improved system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If real-time usage data is collected and analyzed from multiple MFPs, then failure detection accuracy improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabnormality detection accuracyVSAvoiddata collection and analysis system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that centralizes the complex tasks of data collection, storage, and analysis. Individual image forming apparatuses only need to transmit real-time usage parameters to the server, which then performs median calculations and deviation analysis. This intermediary approach distributes complexity away from the MFPs themselves while maintaining high detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The server performs multiple functions: collecting historical information, storing real-time usage parameters, calculating medians across multiple apparatuses, detecting abnormalities, and generating notifications. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional platform, the system achieves high detection accuracy without proportionally increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If median calculation and deviation analysis are performed across multiple image forming apparatuses, then abnormal device identification accuracy improves, but computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabnormal device specification accuracyVSAvoidcomputational power required

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the computationally intensive median calculation and deviation analysis operations from the individual image forming apparatuses and relocates them to the server. Each MFP only performs minimal local processing to generate real-time usage parameters, while the server handles the heavy computational load of comparing data across multiple apparatuses, thereby reducing the computational power required at the device level

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11803339B2Image forming system for executing failure prediction of multifunction peripheral and specifying abnormal image forming apparatus among image forming apparatuses that sends numeric value that deviates most from median

Publication Date: 2023.10.31 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An image forming system includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a server. The server is connected to the image forming apparatuses in a communicable manner. The server receives data indicating a numerical value of a common item from each of the image forming apparatuses, calculates a median of the data, and specifies an abnormal image forming apparatus from among the image forming apparatuses that has sent a numeric value of the common item that deviates the most from the median.