Parent-Child MFP Remote Setting via Mobile Terminal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for setting multiple image forming apparatuses using mobile terminals are burdensome due to the need for repeated connection and disconnection, as a single mobile terminal can only establish a connection with one MFP at a time, requiring operators to manually switch between devices for setting processing.
Innovation Solution
A system where a mobile terminal connects to a parent image forming apparatus, which then communicates with other child apparatuses to perform setting operations, allowing the mobile terminal to manage settings for multiple devices through a single connection, using a remote operation mode that enables the transmission of setting information and operation screens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mobile terminal establishes connection with multiple image forming apparatuses using remote operation mode, then setting processing can be performed interactively on each apparatus, but the mobile terminal can only connect to one apparatus at a time, requiring repeated connection and disconnection operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that maintains persistent connections with multiple image forming apparatuses simultaneously. The mobile terminal communicates setting information to the server, which then distributes it to the target apparatus. This mediator approach allows the mobile terminal to perform setting operations on multiple apparatuses without repeatedly establishing and disconnecting connections, thus resolving the contradiction between interactive operation capability and connection time loss.
2Ease of operation
If a mobile terminal connects to each image forming apparatus individually for setting processing, then direct control and operation screen display are achieved, but the operator must manually switch between multiple connections, increasing operational burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the connection management function into a single server that handles multiple apparatus connections simultaneously. The mobile terminal only needs to maintain one connection to the server, which consolidates the management of multiple apparatus connections. This combining approach reduces the complexity of managing multiple individual connections while preserving the ability to directly control each apparatus through the server-mediated interface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If remote operation mode is used to transfer operation screens to mobile terminal, then setting can be performed remotely, but the mobile terminal cannot establish simultaneous connection with multiple apparatuses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the server universal by giving it the capability to simultaneously maintain remote operation connections with multiple image forming apparatuses and to route setting information from a single mobile terminal to multiple target apparatuses. This multi-functional server design enables the system to preserve remote operation versatility while adding the capability to manage multiple apparatuses through a single connection point, thus resolving the contradiction between remote operation capability and multi-apparatus management ease.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming system includes multiple image forming apparatuses and a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal establishes communication connection in a remote operation mode with a parent apparatus (one of the image forming apparatuses), the remote operation mode being a mode in which the mobile terminal operates as a remote operation apparatus of the parent apparatus. The mobile terminal displays an operation screen received from the parent apparatus, accepts a user operation provided through the operation screen, and transmits first setting information based on the user operation to the parent apparatus. The parent apparatus receives the first setting information from the mobile terminal and determines a setting target child apparatus. The parent apparatus transmits second setting information based on the first setting information to the setting target child apparatus, and the setting target child apparatus sets setting content based on the second setting information received from the parent apparatus.