Plug-in Management for Data Collection and Transmission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing and image processing systems face high costs when adding new functions, as they typically require a single plug-in for both data collection and transmission, limiting flexibility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates separate plug-ins for data collection and transmission, managed by a plug-in control unit, allowing for flexible activation and deactivation, and reducing costs by enabling the addition of new data collection functions without the need for a comprehensive data transmission plug-in.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single plug-in is used to provide both data collection and transmission functions, then the system structure is simple, but the cost increases when adding new functions and the flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the plug-in system into two distinct components: first plug-ins dedicated to data collection from specific data output apparatus, and second plug-ins dedicated to data transmission to external apparatus. This segmentation allows independent selection and activation of only the required plug-in types, reducing unnecessary costs while maintaining system flexibility. The plug-in management unit controls activation based on actual needs, enabling cost-effective function addition without requiring comprehensive plug-in bundles.
2Ease of operation
If a comprehensive plug-in providing all functions is used, then the system is easy to manage, but the cost increases when adding new data collection functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the plug-in functionality into specialized first plug-ins for data collection and second plug-ins for data transmission. This allows the system to activate only the specific plug-ins needed for particular tasks, avoiding the cost of licensing or deploying comprehensive plug-ins that include all possible functions. The plug-in management unit enables selective activation, so organizations pay only for the functions they actually use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal plug-in architecture where first plug-ins can collect data from various types of data output apparatus and second plug-ins can transmit to different external apparatus. This universal design allows a single plug-in type to serve multiple purposes across different scenarios, reducing the need for multiple specialized plug-ins and thereby reducing costs when adding new data collection functions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate plug-ins for data collection and transmission are used, then the cost reduces and flexibility improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a plug-in management unit as an intermediary component that automatically handles the complexity of managing separate first and second plug-ins. This management unit controls the activation and coordination of plug-ins, shielding users from the underlying complexity while enabling the flexibility benefits of the segmented architecture. The intermediary manages plug-in interactions, ensuring that data collection and transmission operations are coordinated properly without requiring users to directly handle the complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes one or plural first plug-ins that are prepared according to a type of a data output apparatus for outputting data and collect data output from the data output apparatus, one or plural second plug-ins that receive data from the first plug-in and transmit the received data to an external apparatus, and a plug-in management unit that controls activation and stop of the first plug-in and the second plug-in.