Remote Image Composite Generation for Printer Data Delay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Remote operation of image forming apparatuses faces delays due to large data capacity of combined panel screen and hardware key images, leading to reduced operability during remote operations.
Innovation Solution
Generating a composite image by displaying the hardware key image within and over the operation screen image, and transmitting only the composite image data for remote operation, allowing for efficient data transmission and improved operability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If panel screen image and hardware key image are combined inline to enable remote operation of both touch panel and hardware keys, then remote operation capability is improved, but data capacity increases causing transmission delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the remote operation interface into two separate images: panel screen image data and hardware key image data. Instead of combining them into a single large composite image, the system transmits these as separate data streams, allowing the external terminal to composite them locally. This segmentation reduces the data capacity of each transmitted image, thereby reducing transmission delay while maintaining the ability to remotely operate both touch panel and hardware keys.
2Ease of operation
If combined image data is transmitted to external terminal for remote operation, then remote control functionality is improved, but data capacity causes transmission delay reducing operability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the remote operation image into separate panel screen image data and hardware key image data components. By transmitting these segmented data separately rather than as a single combined image, the data capacity per transmission is reduced, minimizing transmission delay and improving the responsiveness and operability of remote operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If large capacity composite image is transmitted for complete remote operation interface, then comprehensive remote control is achieved, but transmission speed decreases due to data capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive remote operation interface into separate image data components (panel screen image and hardware key image). This segmentation allows each component to be transmitted with smaller data capacity, increasing transmission speed while the external terminal composites them to provide comprehensive remote control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the compositing operation from the transmission dimension to the display dimension. Instead of transmitting a pre-composed composite image, the system transmits separate image data components and performs the compositing operation at the external terminal's display dimension. This dimensional shift reduces transmission data capacity and increases transmission speed while maintaining comprehensive remote control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus remotely operated by an external terminal includes a generation unit that generates a first composite image by combining a first image and a second image such that the second image is displayed within and over the first image, the first image being an operation screen image corresponding to an operation screen of the image forming apparatus, and the second screen being an image of an area including hardware key images corresponding to hardware keys of the image forming apparatus, a transmission unit that transmits first image data that is image data of the first composite image to the external terminal as data for displaying a remote operation image for the image forming apparatus, and a reception unit that receives, from the external terminal, first manual input information on manual input to the first composite image displayed as the remote operation image on the external terminal.