Networked Service Processing Device for Automated Document Workflow Linkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses cannot link and automate multiple processing operations across different equipment connected to a network, limiting the integration of various services such as scanning, printing, and faxing.
Innovation Solution
A service processing device and method that includes an interpretation unit to understand script data describing document processing operations and a linkage processing unit to connect and execute these operations across multiple service processing units on a network, enabling the automation of complex document processing workflows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If only output form settings are stored and used in the image forming apparatus, then the apparatus structure remains simple, but multiple processings across different equipment cannot be linked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that stores multiple job templates and manages linkage between different service processing units. The server acts as a mediator that coordinates scanning, printing, and faxing operations across networked equipment, enabling versatile processing linkage without requiring each individual device to have complex internal integration capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal job template system that can be applied across multiple different service processing units (scanner, printer, facsimile machine). The job templates stored in the server can describe various processing combinations, making the system adaptable to different equipment configurations and processing requirements without requiring device-specific hardcoding.
2Productivity
If manual document processing is used, then equipment complexity is low, but processing efficiency and automation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-storing job templates that define complete processing sequences before execution is needed. These templates specify the order and parameters of multiple processing operations (scanning, printing, faxing), allowing the system to automatically execute complex workflows without manual intervention when a template is selected and executed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service automation where the service processing device can independently select and execute job templates without requiring continuous user input. The device automatically manages the coordination between multiple service processing units, handles document flow, and completes the entire processing sequence based on the selected template, reducing the need for manual operational intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of equipment connected to a network are linked with each other to perform plural processing operations to document data. When, for example, a user defines a desired service linkage job flow by using, for example, a GUI screen displayed on a client terminal, job flow information is transmitted to a script creation server, and a script is created in which processing contents and a storage location of a document as a processing object are defined. The created script can be stored in a storage unit such as, for example, a script management server. When the user selects a desired script among plural scripts stored in the script management server, the selected script is transmitted to a linkage processing server. The linkage processing server interprets the script, makes a processing request to respective devices such as, for example, an image processing device so that the document is processed in accordance with the processing contents described in the script, and links the devices with each other to perform plural processing operations.