Offline Quota Management for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional Managed Printing Service systems, when the connection between the server and image forming apparatus is cut off, users may perform output operations without limits or are prohibited, causing inconvenience due to the lack of offline quota management.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a communication interface, storage unit, and controller that uses offline output quota information when the connection to the server is cut off, allowing job determination and execution based on stored quota information, and updates quotas when the connection is restored.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the connection to the server is cut off, then the image forming apparatus can operate independently, but output quota control is lost and users can perform output operations without limits
Solution Approach 1:
The image forming apparatus stores output quota information from the server in advance before connection is lost. This preliminary storage of quota data enables the apparatus to continue enforcing output limits even when the server connection is unavailable, resolving the contradiction between offline operation capability and quota control reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The stored output quota information acts as an intermediary between the server and the job execution unit. When the server is unreachable, this intermediary data allows the apparatus to independently determine whether to permit output operations, maintaining quota control without continuous server connection
2Loss of energy
If the connection to the server is cut off, then network communication is reduced, but job determination cannot be performed accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus preliminarily obtains and stores output quota information from the server before connection loss occurs. This advance preparation ensures that job determination can continue with accurate data even when network communication is reduced or interrupted
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus creates a local copy of the server's output quota information and uses this copy for job determination when the original server connection is unavailable. This copying mechanism maintains determination accuracy without requiring continuous real-time connection to the server
3Reliability
If output operations are prohibited in offline state, then quota control is maintained, but user convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus preliminarily stores sufficient output quota information locally before offline state occurs. This allows the system to maintain reliable quota control while still permitting users to perform output operations within their allocated quotas, thereby preserving user convenience during offline operation
Solution Approach 2:
The image forming apparatus uses its own stored quota information to automatically determine whether to permit output operations in offline state, without requiring server intervention. This self-service capability maintains quota control reliability while enabling convenient offline operation within limits
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus and a controlling method thereof are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a communication interface unit which is connected to a server where on-line output quota information set for each user is stored, a storage unit which stores off-line output quota information received from the server, a controller which, when a job command is input in an on-line state where communication with the server is available, determines whether to perform a job based on on-line output quota information stored in the server, and when the job command is input in an off-line state where communication with the server is cut off, determines whether to perform a job based on the off-line output quota information stored in the storage unit, and an image forming unit which, when job performance is determined by the controller, performs an image forming job corresponding to the job command.