MFP User Presence Detection for Print Job Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a serverless ubiquitous print system with multiple image formation apparatuses, the increased number of devices leads to higher communication loads, reducing system throughput due to the need for each logged-in user's device to inquire about job availability from all other devices, resulting in increased communication and decreased efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an image formation apparatus that detects user presence and assigns a group of high-priority devices for job list requests, allowing preferential communication within these groups to reduce unnecessary inquiries and optimize job processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of image formation apparatuses is increased to expand the system, then the system coverage and functionality are improved, but the communication load increases and system throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication targets by introducing a priority group concept. Instead of querying all image formation apparatuses equally, the system divides them into priority groups based on user presence detection results, allowing selective communication with only relevant devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary user presence detection and group determination before job list requests are made. By pre-identifying which apparatuses are likely to have user jobs based on proximity detection, the system avoids unnecessary communication with distant or irrelevant devices.
2Loss of information
If the image formation apparatus inquires about job lists from all other apparatuses, then complete job information is obtained, but communication traffic increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the inquiry scope dependent on the specific user's location and activity patterns. Each user gets a customized priority group of apparatuses to query, rather than a universal approach of querying all devices. This localized approach maintains information completeness for each user while reducing overall system communication load.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an image formation apparatus that can prevent a system from having a reduced throughput even when the system includes an increased number of image formation apparatuses. When each MFP included in the system detects a presence of a user within a predefined range, the MFP notifies another MFP of the detection result. Each MFP determines, based on the detection result, a group of one or more MFPs from which the MFP of interest requests a list of one or more jobs issued by the user, more preferentially than another MFP, and the MFP of interest notifies another MFP accordingly.