Offline Setting Identification in Image Forming Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming systems, settings received during offline periods when communication with the image forming apparatus is impossible are not accurately identified, leading to potential errors in image formation due to lack of status information, resulting in high process loads and unnecessary processes.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit for image formation settings, an addition unit that adds identification information to settings during offline periods, a transmitter to send the settings to the image forming apparatus, and a notifying unit to alert users of offline settings, allowing for corrections when status information is unavailable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If settings are received during offline periods without identification, then the system can accept user input continuously, but errors occur in image formation due to lack of status information
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by adding identification information to settings at the moment they are received during offline periods. This proactive labeling ensures that when the settings are later executed, the image forming apparatus can immediately identify which settings were created during communication outages and adjust or ignore them appropriately, preventing errors while maintaining continuous setting reception capability
2Device complexity
If all settings are processed without identification, then the processing is simple, but unnecessary processes increase the process load
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and separates offline settings from online settings by adding unique identification information to offline settings. This extraction allows the image forming apparatus to selectively process only the necessary settings while skipping or adjusting offline settings that lack current status information, thereby reducing unnecessary processes and optimizing process load efficiency without significantly increasing processing complexity
3Device complexity
If offline settings are not identified, then the system structure remains simple, but status information is lost leading to potential errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary element - identification information - that bridges the gap between offline settings and status information requirements. This minimal addition serves as a mediator that flags settings created during communication outages, allowing the system to maintain a simple overall structure while effectively tracking and managing settings that lack current status information
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus including a receiving unit that receives a setting for image formation of an image forming apparatus, an addition unit that adds identification information to the setting when the setting has been received in a time period during which it is impossible to communicate with the image forming apparatus, a transmitter that transmits an instruction of the image formation and the setting to the image forming apparatus, and a notifying unit that notifies that the setting has been received in the time period, when the identification information has been added to the setting that the transmitter is to transmit.