Relay Server Architecture for Stable Remote Panel Video Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote management systems for image forming apparatuses face challenges in stabilizing and speeding up video data transfer, which is dependent on network speed and geographic location, leading to inefficiencies in remote panel function operations.
Innovation Solution
A remote management system comprising a user operation server, remote maintenance server, connection server, relay server, cache server, user terminal, and image forming apparatus, where the remote maintenance server determines the relay server for connection, writes verification information, and sends connection commands to establish a stable and high-speed video data transfer between the user terminal and image forming apparatus via the relay server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If video data transfer is performed via public network, then remote panel function can be accessed, but transfer stability and speed depend on network conditions and geographic location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay server as an intermediary component between the user terminal and the image forming apparatus. The relay server receives video data from the user terminal and forwards it to the image forming apparatus, and vice versa. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to establish a dedicated communication path that is less dependent on public network conditions, thereby improving transfer stability while maintaining adaptability across different network environments and geographic locations.
2Reliability
If relay server is introduced for stable connection, then video data transfer reliability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay server is designed to perform multiple functions: it relays video data in both directions (from user terminal to image forming apparatus and vice versa), manages connection establishment, and handles verification information. By making the relay server multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby improving connection stability while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.
3Speed
If verification information is stored in cache server, then connection speed improves, but data management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing verification information in the cache server before the actual video data transfer begins. The relay server retrieves this pre-stored verification information when establishing connections, which speeds up the connection process. This preliminary action approach improves connection speed while the automated retrieval mechanism keeps data management complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A remote maintenance server includes a processor that operates as a remote panel function start instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction to start a remote panel function from a user via the user terminal and the user operation server, a relay server determining unit that determines the relay server to be used when executing the remote panel function, a verification information writing unit that writes verification information in the cache server, the verification information being used when the relay server relays connection, and a connection command sending unit that sends a connection command to the image forming apparatus that executes the remote panel function via the connection server, the connection command instructing to connect to the relay server to be used.