Noise Managed Document Processing Operations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ambient noise from document processing operations in workplaces, particularly from multifunction peripherals (MFPs), exceeds safe limits, leading to reduced cognitive performance and potential ear damage, and poses compliance risks due to additive noise levels from concurrent device operations.

Innovation Solution

A document processing device noise management system that determines relative noise levels of print jobs and modifies printing operations by routing jobs to appropriate MFPs based on priority quiet areas, time of day, and printer characteristics, utilizing a processor to analyze print job characteristics and reroute jobs to minimize noise exposure during business hours.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If document processing operations are performed concurrently, then productivity is improved, but noise levels increase beyond safe limits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument processing throughputVSAvoidnoise exposure to employees

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments document processing operations by routing different print jobs to different MFPs based on noise level predictions and employee proximity. High-noise operations are separated from employee areas by assigning them to specific devices located in quieter zones, thereby maintaining productivity while reducing noise exposure to employees.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The noise management system acts as an intermediary between document processing operations and employees. It predicts noise levels, identifies at-risk employees based on their locations, and routes jobs to appropriate MFPs to prevent harmful noise exposure without blocking necessary processing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If high-noise print jobs are processed during business hours, then productivity is maintained, but compliance with noise regulations is violated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint job completion during business hoursVSAvoidcompliance with noise regulations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary noise level predictions and employee proximity assessments before processing print jobs. By evaluating job characteristics and predicting noise levels in advance, the system can route high-noise jobs to appropriate MFPs or schedule them appropriately, ensuring compliance with noise regulations while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If multiple MFPs operate simultaneously, then processing capacity is increased, but additive noise levels exceed safe limits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing capacityVSAvoidadditive noise levels

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by assigning different operational characteristics to different MFPs based on their locations and the jobs they are processing. MFPs in areas proximate to employees are configured to handle lower-noise operations, while MFPs in quieter areas handle high-noise jobs, maintaining processing capacity while controlling additive noise levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20200396352A1System and method for noise managed document processing operations

Publication Date: 2020.12.17 TOSHIBA TEC KK

AI summary

A system and method for noise management for printers includes a processor that retrieves temporal data indicative of a current day or time. A print job is received via a network interface. The processor determines a relative noise level associated with printing of the print job and modifies a printing operation of an electronic document associated with a received print job in accordance with a determined, relative noise level and retrieved temporal data.