Communication Relay Device Path Reuse Reduces Server Load
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional system that enables image processing devices and application servers to work in concert requires the generation of new communication paths for each job, leading to an increased load on the application server, especially when connected to multiple local networks, which can decrease performance.
Innovation Solution
A communication relay device with a communication path setting part and a communication controller that manages the establishment of communication paths between image processing devices and application servers, allowing for the reuse of existing paths for new jobs, thereby reducing the number of new paths created and the associated load on the application server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a new communication path is established for each job between the image processing device and the application server, then the system can handle multiple jobs flexibly, but the number of communication paths increases, resulting in increased load on the application server and decreased performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple job communications into a single communication path. The relay device establishes one communication path between the image processing device and the application server, and reuses this path for multiple jobs. This combining approach reduces the total number of communication paths while maintaining the ability to handle multiple jobs, thereby decreasing the load on the application server and improving its performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes a single communication path universal by enabling it to serve multiple jobs. The relay device manages the communication path so that it can be reused across different jobs without requiring dedicated paths for each job. This multi-functionality reduces the number of paths needed while maintaining job handling flexibility, thus improving application server performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the application server is connected to multiple local networks and establishes communication paths for each job, then comprehensive job handling is enabled, but the load on the application server increases significantly, affecting its ability to provide application services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay device as an intermediary between the image processing device and the application server. This relay device manages the communication paths, establishing and reusing paths on behalf of multiple jobs. By placing this intermediary in place, the application server does not need to directly manage multiple communication paths across different local networks, thereby reducing its load while maintaining comprehensive job handling capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If communication paths are established for every job creation event, then job processing is simplified, but the complexity of managing communication paths increases, especially when the application server connects to multiple local networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the communication path management function from the application server and places it in a dedicated relay device. This separation allows the application server to focus on job processing without the complexity of managing communication paths. The relay device handles the complex tasks of establishing, maintaining, and reusing communication paths, thereby simplifying job creation at the application server while managing path complexity centrally.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A communication relay device (3) installed on a local network (6). The communication relay device (3) relays communications between an image processing device (4) installed on the local network (6) and an application server (8) installed on a network different from the local network (6), comprising: a communication path setting part (50) that sets a communication path (11) to send and receive job data (14) of a job to and from the application server (8) when the job is created at the image processing device (4) or the application server (8); and a communication controller (60) that sends and receives the job data (14) to and from the application server (8) over the communication path (11). When a new job is created at the image processing device (4) or the application server (8) as at least one communication path (11) has been established with the application server (8), the communication path setting part (50) sets either the new communication path (11) or the existing communication path (11) for the new job.