Relay Apparatus for Service Communication Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems between image reading apparatuses/printers and electronic-file storing services require frequent updates of internal programs to maintain coordination, especially when APIs are updated or services change, leading to increased operational costs and equipment investment.
Innovation Solution
A relay apparatus connected to multiple service providers, which stores additional information associated with user identification and services, generates output commands to acquire and transmit necessary information between the communication apparatus and service providers, allowing communication without requiring the communication apparatus to have specific programs for each service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the communication apparatus stores and updates internal programs for each service provider, then it can directly communicate with service providers, but the operational cost and equipment investment increase due to frequent updates
Solution Approach 1:
The relay apparatus serves as an intermediary between the communication apparatus and service providers. The relay apparatus stores communication programs for multiple service providers and handles all service-specific communication protocols. The communication apparatus only needs simple notification functionality to request services, while the relay apparatus manages the complexity of communicating with different service providers, eliminating the need for the communication apparatus to store and update multiple service-specific programs.
2Ease of operation
If the communication apparatus has built-in programs for service communication, then it can perform service operations, but the equipment investment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay apparatus is designed as a universal platform that can communicate with multiple different service providers using a single communication apparatus. The relay apparatus maintains a library of communication programs for various service providers and dynamically selects and uses the appropriate program based on the service request. This allows one communication apparatus to access multiple services without requiring separate programs for each service provider.
3Adaptability or versatility
If APIs are updated by service providers, then services are improved, but the communication apparatus requires program rewrites to maintain coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The relay apparatus pre-stores communication programs for multiple service providers and maintains updated versions of these programs centrally. When service providers update their APIs, the relay apparatus can update its stored programs without affecting the communication apparatus. The communication apparatus continues to operate with its simple notification program, while the relay apparatus handles the updated service protocols, eliminating the need for simultaneous updates across the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
A relay apparatus connected to service providing apparatuses respectively providing services and a communication apparatus that includes an additional-information storage unit configured to store additional information associated with the service and identification information, comprises: a receiving unit configured to receive notification including the service and the user identification information from the communication apparatus; a generating unit generating an output command for outputting, to the relay apparatus, the additional information stored in the additional-information storage unit corresponding to the service and the identification information included in the notification; an output commanding unit transmitting the output command to the communication apparatus; an acquiring unit acquiring the additional information output in response to the output command; a first communication unit configured to perform communication with the service providing apparatus using the acquired additional information; and a second communication unit that transmits, to the communication apparatus, information acquired from the service providing apparatus.