Information Processing Apparatus Power Saving Lock Cancellation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information processing apparatuses face inefficiencies in power saving due to unintended lock modes caused by program terminations, leading to inconvenient operation transitions and reduced power saving efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with a check unit that periodically assesses program activity and a cancel unit that unlocks operations when a program is inactive for a given period, preventing unnecessary prohibition of power-saving mode transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If periodical check is performed to cancel locks from terminated programs, then power saving efficiency is improved, but operation stability deteriorates when resuming process occurs simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower saving efficiencyVSAvoidoperation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by checking program activity status before allowing power-saving mode transition. The determination unit assesses whether a program that applied lock is active or inactive before the lock is canceled, and only cancels the lock when the program is confirmed inactive, preventing premature cancellation during resuming processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanism where the determination unit continuously monitors program activity status and uses this information to control the lock cancellation timing. The feedback from program status checking allows the cancel unit to make informed decisions about when to safely cancel locks, balancing power saving with operational stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If lock is canceled when program becomes inactive, then power saving mode transition is enabled, but program operation continuity is disrupted during resuming process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower saving mode transition efficiencyVSAvoidprogram operation continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The determination unit performs preliminary assessment of program activity status before lock cancellation. By checking whether the program is truly inactive (not in resuming process) before canceling the lock, the system prevents disruption of program operation continuity while still enabling power saving mode transition when appropriate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts lock cancellation timing based on real-time program status detection. The cancel unit delays lock cancellation until the determination unit confirms the program is inactive, creating a dynamic control mechanism that adapts to program lifecycle states and prevents operational disruption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3418859B1Information processing apparatus, method of canceling prohibition, and carrier means
Publication Date: 2022.08.03 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP3418859B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3418859B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3418859B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing apparatus (10) includes a check unit (201, 111, 134) and a cancel unit (201, 111, 135). The check unit (201, 111, 134) checks whether a program is active at plural timings. The program is previously terminated while keeping prohibition of at least one operation of the information processing apparatus. The cancel unit (201, 111, 135) cancels the prohibition of the at least one operation of the information processing apparatus when the program remains inactive for a given period of time.