MFP Data Sharing via RAM Management in Power-Saving Mode
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multifunction peripherals (MFPs) face challenges in reducing power consumption while maintaining the ability to communicate and share data with other MFPs, as they need to activate hard disk drives to transmit print jobs, which contradicts the power-saving mode.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an information processing apparatus with a volatile first storage and a nonvolatile second storage, along with a storage controller and data manager, allows data to be shared and managed between MFPs, enabling data transfer without activating the HDD in power-saving mode by using RAM for temporary storage and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the MFP shifts to a power supply mode with lower power consumption by cutting off electric power supply to the HDD, then power consumption is reduced, but the ability to transmit print data to other MFPs is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The MFP performs preliminary actions by storing management information about print data in RAM before transitioning to power-saving mode. This allows the system to quickly retrieve and transmit print data without activating the HDD during power-saving operation, thus resolving the contradiction between low power consumption and data transmission capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces management information as an intermediary layer between the HDD and the data transmission function. This management information, stored in RAM, enables the system to identify and transmit print data without directly accessing the HDD, allowing data transmission capability to be maintained while the HDD remains powered off
2Adaptability or versatility
If the MFP activates the HDD to read out print jobs for transmission to other MFPs, then data transmission capability is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function needed for data transmission (management information about print data) from the HDD and stores it in RAM. This allows the MFP to maintain data transmission capability while keeping the power-intensive HDD inactive, thus resolving the contradiction between data transmission and power consumption
3Speed
If print information is stored in RAM to enable quick access, then data access speed is improved, but the HDD must be activated to transmit print data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of management information (not the actual print data) and stores it in RAM. This copy contains sufficient information to identify and retrieve print data, enabling quick data access while avoiding the need to activate the HDD for transmission, thus resolving the contradiction between data access speed and power consumption
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus, which can communicate with other information processing apparatuses, includes: a volatile storage; a nonvolatile storage; a storage controller that associates data with a user and stores the data; a data manager that shares management information with the other information processing apparatuses; an operation user detector that detects a user operating any of the apparatuses as an operation user; an operation state switcher that switches between a first operation and a second operation state; a data specifier that specifies data related to the operation user and an apparatus stored with the data; a data obtainer that obtains data from a storage device; a transferer that stores data stored in the nonvolatile storage among the specified data in the volatile storage; and a data supplier that returns data specified by a request among the data stored in the second or the volatile storage.