Remote Image Forming Apparatus Status Display via Composite Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote operation systems for image forming apparatuses do not provide users with real-time status information beyond the touch panel, making it difficult for users to manage their operations when the apparatus is being used by another user, leading to potential delays in their own tasks.
Innovation Solution
An image forming system that includes a touch panel for operation inputs, a status detection mechanism to monitor the apparatus status, and a separate status display part to show the detected status, with the ability to transmit both panel and status images to an external terminal for remote operation, allowing users to view the apparatus's status remotely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If only touch panel display content is transmitted to external terminal, then data transmission simplicity is maintained, but user awareness of apparatus status deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch panel image and status display part image into a single composite image that is transmitted to the external terminal. This combining approach ensures that both the operational interface and status information are conveyed together in one data transmission, preventing loss of status information while maintaining relatively simple system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The generated composite image serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays the touch panel content for operation input, shows status information through the status display part, and provides visual feedback to remote users. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by delivering comprehensive information without requiring separate transmission channels.
2Loss of information
If status display part is added separately, then status visibility is improved, but remote operation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the status display part with the touch panel display into an integrated visual output that is transmitted to the external terminal. This merging ensures that status information becomes visible to remote users without adding separate operational interfaces, thereby maintaining ease of remote operation while improving status visibility.
3Loss of information
If composite image is generated and transmitted, then complete status information is provided, but transmission data volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy of the status information by rendering it as an image on the status display part and incorporating it into the composite image. This copying approach allows status information to be transmitted in visual form rather than requiring separate data protocols, efficiently conveying complete status information while utilizing existing image transmission capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus which can be remotely operated by an external terminal comprises a touch panel for displaying various information and receiving an operation input from an operator, a status detection part for detecting an apparatus status of the image forming apparatus, a status display part provided separately from the touch panel, for displaying the apparatus status detected by the status detection part, a generation part for generating data of a first image representing a display content on the touch panel and a second image representing a display content on the status display part, and a transmitting part for transmitting the data of the first and second images to the external terminal as display data for a remote operation screen on the external terminal.