Management Server Streamlines Image Printer Service Registration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing image processing apparatuses in WEB services do not simplify the process of instructing service provider servers to start executing services based on user operations, requiring users to perform multiple and complex operations for service registration and status information transmission.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising an image processing apparatus, a service provider server, and a management server that allows users to agree to transmit status information through a simple operation, enabling the management server to manage the image processing apparatus as a status management target and instruct the service provider server to start the WEB service, thereby streamlining the service registration and status information transmission process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the service provider server transmits a registration request to the management server and the management server performs service start requests, then the service registration process is completed, but the user operation process becomes complex and requires multiple steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice registration completionVSAvoiduser operation process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the service registration process and device registration process into a single integrated flow. When a user agrees to transmit status information, the management server simultaneously processes both the service registration request from the service provider server and the device registration, eliminating the need for separate manual registration steps and reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The management server performs preliminary registration of the image processing apparatus as a status management target before the service start request is executed. This preliminary action ensures that when the user agrees to transmit status information, the apparatus is already registered and ready, allowing the service to start immediately without additional registration steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple operations are required for service registration and status information transmission, then the service can be properly registered, but the time required for service activation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice registrationVSAvoidservice activation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The management server performs preliminary registration of the image processing apparatus as a status management target before the service start request is executed. This ensures that all registration prerequisites are met in advance, so when the user agrees to transmit status information, the service can activate immediately without waiting for additional registration processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the service registration timeline with the device registration timeline. Both processes occur simultaneously rather than sequentially, reducing the total time required for service activation while ensuring both registrations are properly completed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the management server manages multiple image processing apparatuses and services, then the system provides comprehensive service coverage, but the complexity of managing registration and service start processes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice coverageVSAvoidregistration management process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management server automatically manages the registration and service start processes without requiring manual intervention for each apparatus. When status information transmission is agreed upon, the server autonomously processes the service start request, eliminating the need for operators to manually manage complex registration procedures for multiple apparatuses and services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The management server implements a universal registration management mechanism that handles multiple image processing apparatuses and multiple services through a single integrated process. The same registration agreement flow works for any apparatus-service combination, providing comprehensive coverage while maintaining consistent, simple operational procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10834276B2System, management server system and control method

Publication Date: 2020.11.10 CANON KK

AI summary

An object is to improve convenience in a system. The present invention is a system having an image processing apparatus, a service provider server that provides a WEB service using status information on the image processing apparatus, and a management server capable of communicating with the image processing apparatus and the service provider server, and the service provider server has a transmission unit configured to transmit a registration request of information indicating that the image processing apparatus receives the WEB service to the management server and the management server has a control unit configured to manage the image processing apparatus as a status management target and to instruct the service provider server to start a WEB service for the image processing apparatus based on a user operation for the image processing apparatus to agree to transmit status information on the image processing apparatus to the management server.