Printer Firmware Update Scheduling for Server Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face challenges in efficiently updating firmware with minimal user burden and server load concentration during updates.
Innovation Solution
The printing apparatus is configured to access a firmware server via a network interface, allowing users to designate a time slot for updates, and the apparatus determines access times to distribute load on the server, ensuring updates occur at convenient times for the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If firmware updates are performed automatically without user designation, then update convenience is improved, but server load concentration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the firmware update process into two independent components: (1) user designates a preferred time slot for updates, and (2) the system determines the actual access time within that slot. This segmentation allows user convenience to be maintained while distributing server load across different time periods, preventing concentration of requests.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by having users designate their preferred update time slots in advance. This preliminary designation allows the system to pre-determine access times that distribute load across the server, while still maintaining user convenience through the advance selection capability.
2Quantity of substance
If firmware updates are performed at fixed predetermined times, then server load distribution is improved, but user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the update access time flexible rather than fixed. The system determines the actual access time dynamically within the user-designated time slot, allowing both server load distribution (through time slot segmentation) and user convenience (through flexible timing within the slot) to be satisfied simultaneously.
3Productivity
If multiple printing apparatuses access the firmware server simultaneously, then update speed is improved, but server performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by distributing firmware update access across different time periods (time slots). Multiple printing apparatuses access the server in different periodic intervals rather than simultaneously, maintaining update productivity while preserving server performance through temporal distribution of requests.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a controller. The controller is configured to: access a firmware server, download firmware for update from the firmware server, and update firmware stored in a memory with the downloaded firmware for update; receive an input for designating a time slot via a user interface; determine an access time to the firmware server from a time slot, the time slot being a first time slot or a second time slot, the first time slot being from a start time of the designated time slot to a time before an end time of the designated time slot by a predetermined time, the second time slot being from the start time of the designated time slot to the end time of the designated time slot; and access the firmware server at the determined access time every time a date for accessing the firmware server arrives.