Remote Connection Restart Control for Image Forming Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image forming apparatuses automatically restart remote connections with a terminal device after rebooting, which is inconvenient for users who do not wish to restart the connection.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with an information manager that manages restart settings for remote connections, allowing users to control whether the connection should automatically restart or not, through a connection controller and function executor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If remote connection is automatically restarted after rebooting, then connection availability is improved, but user control and convenience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection availabilityVSAvoiduser control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the remote connection restart behavior adjustable rather than fixed. The control unit changes the restart behavior based on the operation state (whether reboot is triggered by power failure or user instruction), allowing the system to adapt its connection management strategy dynamically. This resolves the contradiction by providing both automatic restart capability (for reliability) and user control (for ease of operation) through state-dependent behavior adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of connection restart behavior from a fixed state to a variable state that depends on the operation state. When power failure occurs, the system parameter is set to automatically restart connection; when user-initiated reboot occurs, the parameter is set to maintain terminated connection. This parameter change approach allows the system to optimize both connection availability and user control under different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Extent of automation

If remote connection is always automatically restarted, then system automation is improved, but user preference and convenience worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic connection restartVSAvoiduser preference

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the extent of automation based on the operation state. For power failure scenarios, full automation is applied (automatic restart). For user-initiated reboots, automation is reduced or eliminated (connection remains terminated). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between automation and user preference by applying appropriate levels of automation to different situations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The automation parameter is changed based on the triggering event type. The control unit modifies the restart behavior parameter according to whether the reboot was caused by power failure or user instruction, thereby adjusting the extent of automation to match user expectations for each scenario while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of stationary object

If remote connection restarts automatically after reboot, then connection continuity is improved, but operational flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection continuityVSAvoidoperational flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connection continuity is dynamically managed based on the operation state. The system provides continuous connection automatic restart for power failures while allowing connection termination for user-initiated reboots. This dynamic approach maintains connection continuity when needed while providing operational flexibility when users require connection termination, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection management parameter is changed according to the reboot cause. The control unit sets different restart behavior parameters for different operation states, enabling the system to adapt its connection continuity behavior to match operational flexibility requirements. This allows the system to be versatile in handling different scenarios while maintaining appropriate connection continuity for each case.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10880442B2Electronic device and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium

Publication Date: 2020.12.29 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An image forming apparatus manages restart setting information that defines settings related to restarting of remote connection with a computer, controls remote connection, and changes the restart setting information according to an instruction. When remote connection is terminated as a result of a function that terminates remote connection being executed, if the restart setting information includes a setting for automatically restarting remote connection, remote connection is automatically restarted and, if the restart setting information includes a setting for not automatically restarting remote connection, remote connection is not automatically restarted.