Network Device Configuration Synchronization via Import Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatus management systems face inconsistencies in configuration data when importing settings across multiple devices, leading to unintended states due to asynchronous data updates and timing issues.
Innovation Solution
A management system that includes network devices and a server for synchronizing configuration data, with request, setting, execution, notification, control, and transmission units to ensure consistent setting values across devices, and a response unit to apply updated settings, preventing inconsistencies during import processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If configuration data is imported continuously to multiple image forming apparatuses, then the import processing can be completed across all devices, but inconsistencies occur in the configuration data between apparatuses due to different application timings
Solution Approach 1:
The notification unit sends a notification to the management server before the import processing starts. This preliminary action allows the management server to respond with an error to subsequent requests from other apparatuses, preventing them from applying configuration data at different timings and thus avoiding inconsistencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The management server uses feedback from the notification unit to control whether other apparatuses can request configuration data. When import processing is detected, the server responds with an error to requests from other apparatuses, ensuring that only the apparatus performing the import applies the configuration data, thereby maintaining consistency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If setting changes are made in other image forming apparatuses during or before import processing, then local customization is possible, but the setting of the image forming apparatus becomes an unintended state
Solution Approach 1:
The management server performs a preliminary anti-action by responding with an error to requests from apparatuses other than the one performing import processing. This prevents other apparatuses from making setting changes that would conflict with the import data, thereby protecting the integrity of the configuration data while still allowing the importing apparatus to make necessary local adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
A management system includes a plurality of network devices, and a management server that manages a plurality of setting values to be set in the plurality of network devices. The network device includes a request unit configured to perform a request of a setting value to be set; a setting unit configured to set the acquired setting value; an execution unit configured to execute an import processing; a notification unit configured to perform a notification of a start of the import processing; a control unit configured to control the request between the start and a completion of the import processing; and a transmission unit configured to transmit a setting value after the import processing. The management server includes a response unit configured to respond an error to the request from the network device; and an application unit configured to apply the setting value after the import processing.