Power Control for Legacy Image Forming Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy applications running on image forming apparatuses do not support independent energization control for functional devices, leading to delayed initialization and reduced performance during job execution.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with a display unit, acquisition unit, determination unit, and control unit that identifies specific applications and controls power supply to devices based on attribute information, ensuring timely energization and initialization, even for legacy applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If devices are energized only when used (power saving mode), then power consumption is reduced, but initialization time increases and user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary energization and initialization of functional devices based on predicted user needs. When the control unit determines that a user is likely to use a function (based on time, usage patterns, or other criteria), it activates the relevant devices in advance before the actual job is submitted, thus reducing initialization time while maintaining power savings during idle periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the power supply state of functional devices based on real-time conditions and predicted usage. Instead of a static power saving mode, the control unit continuously monitors and adapts device energization states, transitioning devices between powered-off, standby, and active states optimally balancing power consumption and response time
2Adaptability or versatility
If legacy applications are run without independent energization control, then application compatibility is maintained, but device performance during job execution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between legacy applications and functional devices. It intercepts job execution requests from legacy applications that lack independent energization control capabilities, autonomously determines which devices need to be activated, and manages their power supply states. This mediator approach allows legacy applications to run without modification while the system optimizes device energization to maintain high job execution performance
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus on which a plurality of applications is installed and which includes a device includes a display unit configured to display a screen for selecting an application to execute from among the plurality of applications, an acquisition unit configured to obtain attribute information about the application selected on the screen displayed on the display unit, a determination unit configured to determine whether the selected application is a specific application based on application information obtained by the acquisition unit, and a control unit configured to, if the determination unit determines that the selected application is the specific application, control power supply to the device based on device information obtained by the acquisition unit, and if the determination unit determines that the selected application is not the specific application, perform control so that the power is supplied to the device.