MFP Prohibited Setting Management via Local Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming systems require significant man-hours to create server application software compatible with multiple Multi-Functional Peripherals (MFPs, as they need to consider prohibited setting combinations, which vary by model, limiting the ease of system construction.
Innovation Solution
An image forming system that includes a storage unit for prohibited combination information, a display control unit for updating the user interface based on this information, and a determination unit to identify and store prohibited setting combinations, allowing the system to dynamically update the user interface and notify users of prohibited settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If server application software is created to be compatible with multiple MFPs by incorporating prohibited combination information for each model, then compatibility across different MFP models is improved, but the development time and man-hours required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the prohibited combination information management function from the server application software and relocates it to the MFP's own storage unit and control units. This extraction eliminates the need for the server software to incorporate model-specific prohibited combination data for each MFP type, thereby reducing development time while maintaining compatibility across multiple models.
Solution Approach 2:
The MFP performs self-service by storing its own prohibited combination information locally and autonomously determining whether current settings include prohibited combinations. This self-management approach eliminates the need for external server software to provide this functionality, reducing the complexity and development time of server application software while ensuring model-specific accuracy.
2Device complexity
If prohibited combination information is stored and managed in the server application software, then centralized control is improved, but the complexity of server software increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the prohibited combination information management into two independent parts: (1) storage in the MFP's storage unit, and (2) determination by the MFP's control unit. This segmentation removes the complexity from the server software while maintaining the functionality, making system construction easier without sacrificing centralized control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The MFP's storage unit and control unit act as intermediaries between the settings input and the scanning operation. Instead of the server software directly managing prohibited combinations, the MFP autonomously handles this determination and provides appropriate feedback to the user, simplifying the server software architecture.
3Ease of operation
If the web browser communicates with the web server using standard protocols, then ease of interface construction is improved, but the ability to implement model-specific prohibited combination logic decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the MFP's control unit determine prohibited combinations and update the user interface screen before the user submits the scanning request. This allows the web browser to continue using standard communication protocols while the MFP proactively prevents prohibited settings from being submitted, maintaining both interface simplicity and model-specific accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by updating the user interface screen to notify users when prohibited combination settings are detected. The control unit communicates back to the web browser about the prohibited settings, allowing users to correct their input before submission. This feedback mechanism maintains standard web communication while ensuring model-specific compliance.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that stores prohibited combination information, a display control unit that displays a user interface screen on a display unit, based on web page data that is received from a web server in the server apparatus, using a web browser that communicates with the web server, a first determination unit that determines, based on the prohibited combination information, whether or not the two or more settings that are prohibited from being combined are included in a plurality of current settings that include a content of change of settings received using the user interface screen, and a storage information control unit that stores a fact that the two or more settings prohibited from being combined are included in the current settings, in predetermined data. The display control unit, via the predetermined data, acquires the fact, and updates the user interface screen.