Power Saving Transition Time Simulation for Image Forming Apparatuses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image forming apparatuses, such as printers and MFPs, switch to power saving modes based on preset transition times without considering job execution frequency, leading to impaired convenience due to increased warm-up times when jobs are not executed promptly.
Innovation Solution
A setting support apparatus that calculates a job execution degree based on the frequency of job execution after a previous job's completion, allowing users to simulate and set optimal power saving and sleep transition times to balance power reduction with convenience, using a processor-driven module to analyze log data and display simulation results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the transition time to power saving mode is shortened to reduce power consumption, then power savings increase, but warm-up time increases and convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transition time adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically determines optimal transition times based on simulated job execution frequencies, allowing the transition time to adapt to actual usage patterns. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to switch between shorter transition times (for power savings) and longer transition times (for convenience) based on calculated optimal values.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of transition time based on simulated job execution data. By analyzing historical job frequencies and calculating optimal transition times, the system adjusts the transition time parameter to balance power consumption and convenience. This allows the system to optimize power savings while maintaining acceptable convenience levels based on actual usage patterns.
2Ease of operation
If the transition time to power saving mode is extended to maintain readiness for jobs, then convenience is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts transition times based on simulated job execution frequencies rather than using a fixed extended transition time. This allows the system to maintain convenience when jobs are frequently executed while reducing power consumption when jobs are less frequent, resolving the contradiction through adaptive parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary simulation and calculation of optimal transition times based on historical job execution data before actually setting the transition time. This preliminary action allows the system to predict the optimal balance between convenience and power consumption based on anticipated usage patterns, rather than relying on fixed extended transition times.
3Device complexity
If fixed preset transition times are used for power saving mode, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different job execution frequencies deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to automatically simulate and calculate optimal transition times based on its own historical job execution data. The system serves itself by analyzing its usage patterns and determining appropriate transition times without requiring complex external configuration or user input, thus maintaining low device complexity while improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from historical job execution frequencies to continuously optimize transition times. By monitoring actual usage patterns and adjusting transition times based on this feedback, the system achieves high adaptability to different job execution frequencies without increasing device complexity, as the optimization is performed automatically based on observed behavior.
Data Source
AI summary
A setting support apparatus calculates a degree of a job executed until a standby time from a value obtained by totalizing number of times of jobs executed by a job execution apparatus at each standby time after a previous job is terminated. The setting support apparatus receives input of a transition time to a power saving mode set in the job execution apparatus. The setting support apparatus outputs information relating to the degree of the job executed by the job execution apparatus until the transition time of which input is received based on a calculation result.