Printing Device Maintenance Fee Calculation From Usage Risk

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing maintenance contracts for printing devices often result in unnecessary costs for users who require less maintenance and increased losses for manufacturers due to frequent dispatches and expensive component replacements, necessitating an appropriate maintenance contract fee calculation.

Innovation Solution

A printing device management system that derives maintenance information from operation records, execution histories, ink usage, media types, and installation environments to evaluate user behavior and calculate a maintenance contract fee based on consumable usage and purchase amounts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed amount periodic maintenance contract is used, then the manufacturer can ensure regular maintenance coverage, but the manufacturer inc increased losses due to frequent dispatches and expensive component replacements while users pay more than necessary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance coverageVSAvoidmanufacturing loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of maintenance contract fee from a fixed amount to a variable amount that is determined based on multiple factors including device information, use information, and contract information. This allows the fee to reflect the actual maintenance needs and risks, thereby reducing unnecessary losses for both manufacturers and users while maintaining adequate maintenance coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the maintenance contract fee is calculated based on actual device performance data, usage patterns, and maintenance history. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of fees to match actual maintenance requirements, preventing both overpayment by users and excessive losses for manufacturers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If a fixed amount periodic maintenance contract is used, then the manufacturer can ensure regular maintenance coverage, but users pay more than necessary when using the maintenance service less during the contract period

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance coverageVSAvoidmaintenance contract fee

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the maintenance contract fee from a fixed parameter to a variable parameter that adjusts based on actual usage and device conditions. This allows users who require less maintenance to pay lower fees while ensuring adequate coverage for those with higher maintenance needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different fee levels to different users based on their specific device information, usage patterns, and maintenance histories. This localized approach ensures that each user pays an appropriate amount reflecting their actual maintenance requirements rather than a uniform fixed fee.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If maintenance contract fee is calculated based on multiple factors including device information, use information, and contract information, then appropriate fees can be determined, but the calculation system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefee accuracyVSAvoidcalculation system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal maintenance contract fee calculation system that can handle multiple types of input information (device information, use information, contract information) through a single integrated calculation process. This multi-functional system determines priority information and calculates fees based on various factors without requiring separate calculation mechanisms for each factor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the fee calculation process into distinct components: determining priority information based on multiple factors, and then calculating the maintenance contract fee based on that priority information. This segmentation simplifies the overall complexity by breaking down the calculation into manageable steps that can be processed systematically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20260065332A1Printing device management device, printing device management method, printing device management program, printing device management system, and printing device

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO LTD

AI summary

An appropriate maintenance contract fee for maintenance work of a printing device is calculated. A printing device management device includes a maintenance information deriving unit that derives maintenance information related to an occurrence risk of a maintenance work of a printing device based on at least one of operation record information related to an operation record of the printing device, execution history information related to an execution history of a maintenance work of the printing device, ink information related to ink used in the printing device, media information related to a medium to be printed by the printing device, and installation environment information related to an installation environment of the printing device, an evaluation unit that derives an evaluation for a user of the printing device based on the maintenance information and at least one of a usage amount and a purchase amount of a consumable used in the printing device, and a fee calculation unit that calculates a maintenance contract fee for maintenance work of the printing device based on the derived evaluation of the user.