MFP Program Update System Using Performance Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-function peripherals (MFPs) experience extended downtime during program updates, making frequent updates undesirable due to the need for downloading and rebooting, which can be time-consuming and inconvenient for shared devices.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus and program updating system that communicates with a server to determine and download only necessary updates based on performance and update information, reducing downtime by allowing updates during less busy periods and sharing performance data with other MFPs to optimize update timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If program updating is performed frequently to ensure software reliability, then the software reliability is improved, but the unusable time of the MFP increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by downloading update programs in advance during periods when the MFP is not being used. The update program download portion acquires update programs before they are needed, storing them for later installation. This allows the actual updating to occur without interrupting user workflow, thus improving reliability while minimizing unusable time.
Solution Approach 2:
The updating process is segmented into separate phases: downloading update programs during idle periods, and installing them during scheduled maintenance windows. This segmentation allows the system to prepare updates without interrupting operation, and only incurs unusable time during the actual installation phase, rather than requiring continuous interruption for verification and testing.
2Reliability
If the MFP is made unusable for program updating, then the software reliability is improved, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Update programs are downloaded in advance during periods when the MFP is operational and not being updated. This preliminary download action ensures that when updating is necessary, the system can quickly install pre-fetched updates without prolonged interruption to productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic updating at predetermined intervals rather than continuous or on-demand updating. The update execution portion installs update programs at scheduled times, allowing productivity to maintain high levels between periodic maintenance windows, while still ensuring software reliability through regular updates.
3Reliability
If all MFPs are updated simultaneously to ensure software reliability, then the software reliability is improved, but the loss of time increases due to simultaneous downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by allowing each MFP to independently determine its update timing based on local usage patterns and performance information. Rather than enforcing simultaneous updates across all devices, each MFP can schedule updates at different times, distributing the downtime burden and preventing organization-wide disruption while maintaining reliability through coordinated update management.
Solution Approach 2:
Each MFP downloads update programs in advance during its own idle periods, so when updates are installed, the downtime is minimized and staggered across different devices. This preliminary download action ensures that updates can be installed quickly without requiring all MFPs to be simultaneously unavailable.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to shorten the unusable time, the multi-function peripheral (MFP) can communicate with a server storing a plurality of kinds of update programs together with update information for each of a plurality of kinds of functions, and includes a flash memory to store an execution program, a function execution portion to execute the stored execution program and execute at least one of the functions, a performance storage portion, when any of the functions is executed, to store performance information indicating execution of the function for each executed function in the flash memory, a determination portion to determine a target program from among the update programs stored in the server based on the performance information and the update information stored in the server, and an updating portion to acquire the determined target program and update the execution program stored in the flash memory with the acquired target program.