MFP Shortcut Synchronization with Cloud Account Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-function peripherals (MFPs) face issues with synchronization of cloud account information and shortcut settings, leading to incorrect transmissions and decreased usability when cloud account information is edited or deleted.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with a first management unit for cloud account information and a second management unit for shortcut settings, including a control unit that updates shortcut settings when cloud account information changes, ensuring synchronization and preventing errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cloud account information is allowed to be edited and deleted by any user, then adaptability and ease of operation are improved, but synchronization between account information and shortcut application becomes unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of account information editingVSAvoidsynchronization between account information and shortcut application

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by detecting changes to cloud account information and automatically notifying the shortcut application to update its stored account references. This feedback mechanism ensures that shortcuts remain synchronized with the current account information state without requiring manual intervention, thus maintaining reliability while allowing flexible editing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The shortcut application performs preliminary actions by proactively detecting account information changes and initiating updates before any transmission or operation occurs. This preliminary detection and update mechanism prevents desynchronization from occurring in the first place, ensuring that shortcuts always reference valid account information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If cloud account information is edited or deleted, then adaptability is improved, but wrong transmission and decrease in usability occur due to lack of synchronization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to change cloud service usageVSAvoidaccuracy of transmission operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback to detect when cloud account information is edited or deleted, then automatically triggers the shortcut application to update its stored account references. This ensures that transmission operations always use current, valid account information, preventing wrong transmissions while maintaining the ability to adapt to different cloud services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The shortcut application performs self-service by automatically detecting account information changes and updating its own stored account references without requiring external intervention. This self-updating mechanism ensures accuracy of transmission operations while allowing flexible changes to cloud service usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If manual management of cloud account information and shortcut settings is used, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information occurs due to lack of synchronization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of management systemVSAvoidsynchronization status between account information and shortcuts

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service by enabling the shortcut application to automatically detect changes in cloud account information and update its own stored references. This automatic self-updating mechanism maintains synchronization information without adding complex manual management procedures, thus preventing information loss while keeping the system simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms where the shortcut application continuously monitors for changes in cloud account information and automatically responds by updating its stored account references. This feedback loop maintains synchronization status automatically without requiring complex manual tracking, preventing information loss while maintaining simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11683425B2Information processing apparatus, image processing apparatus, and method of controlling information processing apparatus for changing account information of a service

Publication Date: 2023.06.20 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus including a first management unit configured to manage account information of a cloud service, and a second management unit configured to manage setting information on a function of a shortcut, includes a control unit configured to change, in a case where the account information is changed and a shortcut using the account information is present, the setting information of the shortcut.