Parallel Maintenance and Image Processing Job Execution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image processing apparatuses cannot execute image processing jobs such as print, copy, or scan jobs simultaneously with maintenance processing, leading to unnecessary waiting times for image processing jobs.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that allows for the simultaneous execution of maintenance and image processing jobs by registering both types of jobs and using a controller to manage their execution, enabling parallel processing when feasible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If maintenance processing is executed separately from image processing jobs, then maintenance can be performed thoroughly, but image processing jobs experience unnecessary waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges maintenance job management with image processing job management into a single integrated system. The job register stores both types of jobs together, and the control unit manages their execution in a unified manner, allowing maintenance jobs and image processing jobs to be coordinated rather than executed separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts job execution based on compatibility analysis. The control unit determines whether maintenance jobs and image processing jobs can be executed in parallel by analyzing their compatibility, and dynamically schedules execution accordingly - executing compatible jobs simultaneously and sequentially executing incompatible jobs, thereby optimizing overall system utilization.
2Reliability
If image processing jobs wait for maintenance processing to complete, then maintenance can be executed properly, but overall system productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically schedules job execution based on real-time compatibility analysis. When a maintenance job is registered, the control unit analyzes whether it can be executed in parallel with existing image processing jobs. If compatible, both execute simultaneously; if incompatible, the system dynamically adjusts the execution order to minimize idle time while ensuring proper maintenance execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous productive operation by executing compatible maintenance jobs and image processing jobs in parallel. This ensures that the system remains fully utilized rather than idle during maintenance operations, as long as the jobs being executed together do not conflict with each other.
3Loss of time
If maintenance jobs and image processing jobs are executed simultaneously, then waiting time is reduced, but job management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit segments the job management process into distinct analytical steps: first determining whether a registered job is a maintenance job, then analyzing compatibility between maintenance jobs and image processing jobs, and finally controlling execution based on compatibility results. This structured segmentation simplifies the overall control logic despite handling multiple job types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic conditional logic to manage job execution complexity. The control unit uses if-then decision structures to determine execution paths: if a job is identified as maintenance and is compatible with image processing jobs, execute in parallel; otherwise, execute sequentially. This dynamic approach adapts to different job combinations without requiring complex predefined schedules.
Data Source
AI summary
To reduce downtime due to maintenance of an image processing apparatus as much as possible.Image processing jobs and maintenance jobs of the image processing apparatus are treated in the same way and registered together in the same table. With reference to a table having recorded therein prohibited functions that need to be prohibited during execution of the maintenance job, control is performed such that an image processing job that does not use the prohibited functions (Step S15: NO) is executed in parallel with the maintenance job even during execution (Step S16).