Processing Instruction Device for Multi-Device Menu Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Setting user menu screens on multi-functional processing apparatuses, such as printers and scanners, is time-consuming and lacks interoperability across different devices, making it inefficient to share user-defined settings across various apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

A processing instruction device with a memory, display instruction data acquisition unit, changing unit, display controller, operation data acquisition unit, and processing instruction unit that manages and synchronizes display instruction data across multiple processing apparatuses, allowing user menu screens to be set on one device and shared with others, using unique identification data and display position management to ensure compatibility and availability of functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If user menu screens are set individually on each processing apparatus, then each device can display available functions, but the setting process becomes time-consuming and cannot be shared across devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteroperability of menu settings across devicesVSAvoidtime for setting menu screens

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements copying by allowing menu screen settings created on one processing apparatus to be transferred to other devices. The system stores menu screen data in a shared storage location accessible by multiple apparatuses, enabling users to copy settings between devices without recreating them manually. This directly resolves the contradiction by making settings shareable (improving adaptability) while eliminating repetitive setup time (reducing time loss).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal menu screen system where a single set of settings can serve multiple processing apparatuses. By implementing a common data structure and shared storage mechanism, the system enables one menu screen configuration to function across different devices with varying capabilities. This universality allows settings to be adaptable to multiple devices while requiring only one-time configuration effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If menu settings are customized for each specific device, then device-specific functions are optimized, but the settings cannot be shared and must be reconfigured on each apparatus

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of setting menu screensVSAvoidcomplexity of managing settings across devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of shared storage and data structure that mediates between individual device settings and cross-device compatibility. This intermediary layer allows settings to be created and managed centrally while automatically adapting to different devices, simplifying the user experience without requiring complex manual configuration management across multiple apparatuses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If display instruction data is shared across multiple processing apparatuses, then setting time is reduced, but compatibility and function availability must be ensured across different devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime for setting menu screensVSAvoidcompatibility of displayed functions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by tailoring the universal menu screen settings to each device's specific capabilities. The system retrieves settings from shared storage but adapts them based on the individual apparatus's available functions and characteristics. This ensures that while the base settings are shared (saving time), each device displays only the functions it can actually perform, maintaining reliability and compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9052857B2Processing instruction device, processing apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2015.06.09 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A processing instruction device includes a memory, a display instruction data acquisition unit, a changing unit, a display controller, an operation data acquisition unit, and a processing instruction unit. The memory stores management data and first display instruction data. The display instruction data acquisition unit acquires second display instruction data from an external device. The changing unit specifies second processing identification data corresponding to display position identification data, specifies first processing identification data corresponding to the specified second processing identification data, and changes the first processing identification data corresponding to the display position identification data to the specified first processing identification data. The display controller causes a display device to display an image in accordance with the first or second display instruction data. The operation data acquisition unit acquires operation data. The processing instruction unit gives an instruction to perform processing in accordance with processing instruction data.