Operation Part Power Control for Faster Startup

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing information processing systems, the operation part cannot receive user requests until it is fully started up, leading to a perceived increase in startup time, as it is separated from the body part and operates independently with its own OS.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system where the operation part receives a power control instruction to reboot and enter a sleep state during shutdown, and upon receiving a start-up notification from the body part, it returns from this sleep state quickly, allowing it to become usable sooner.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the operation part is separated from the body part and operates independently with its own OS, then the system can perform rapid copy operations by heating only the fixing part, but the operation part cannot receive user requests until it is fully started up, leading to a perceived increase in startup time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecopy operation speedVSAvoidperceived startup time
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The operation part is caused to reboot and enter a standby state in advance before the body part is fully shut down. This preliminary action allows the operation part to be ready to receive user requests immediately when the body part restarts, eliminating the perceived startup delay while maintaining the independent operation structure that enables rapid copy operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The operation part transitions dynamically between different power states (standby state during shutdown, active state during operation). By controlling the operation part to maintain a standby state rather than fully shutting down, the system achieves rapid response to user requests while preserving the structural independence that enables efficient fixing part heating for copy operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If the operation part enters a complete shutdown state, then power consumption is reduced, but the startup time increases as the operation part must fully boot up before receiving user requests

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumption during shutdownVSAvoidstartup time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of allowing the operation part to completely shut down, the system applies partial action by maintaining the operation part in a standby state with minimal operations stopped. This partial shutdown reduces power consumption compared to full operation while avoiding the full startup time penalty, as the operation part can quickly transition from standby to active state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The power state parameter of the operation part is changed from complete shutdown to standby state. This parameter change allows the operation part to consume less power than full operation while maintaining readiness to quickly resume full functionality, thereby reducing both power loss during shutdown and startup time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2799952B1Information processing system, information processing apparatus and start up control method
Publication Date: 2019.01.30 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP2799952B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2799952B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2799952B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An information processing system includes an operation part that receives an operation performed by a user; and a body part that operates based on a request from the operation part. The operation part includes a power control part that, when receiving a power turning off instruction from the body part, reboots the operation part and causes the operation part to stand by in a power saving state in which some of operations are stopped, and, when receiving a start up notification from the body part, causes the operation part to return from the power saving state.