Remote Maintenance Server Scheduling for Apparatus Status Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
In remote monitoring systems, it is challenging to manage electronic apparatuses, such as image forming apparatuses, when they are not in operation, as status information cannot be acquired, and it is difficult to determine whether the issue is due to a power-off status or communication failure, leading to uncertainties in reattempting data acquisition.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus management system that includes an agent unit to acquire status information from electronic apparatuses and a remote maintenance server that transmits acquisition instructions, registers retransmission schedules based on operation schedules, and reattempts data acquisition during the apparatus's operational periods, ensuring timely and accurate data retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the monitoring device attempts to acquire apparatus status information continuously, then the reliability of data acquisition is improved, but the loss of time occurs when the electronic apparatus is not in operation and cannot provide status information
Solution Approach 1:
The remote maintenance server acquires operation schedule information in advance from the electronic apparatus, and based on this pre-acquired schedule, determines appropriate retransmission timing before actually attempting to acquire status information. This preliminary acquisition of schedule data allows the system to avoid unnecessary retransmission attempts during non-operational periods, reducing time loss while maintaining reliable data acquisition during operational periods.
2Productivity
If the system schedules retransmission of acquisition instructions, then the productivity of apparatus management is improved, but the device complexity increases due to retransmission schedule registration and management
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic apparatus autonomously provides its own operation schedule information to the remote maintenance server. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex centralized schedule management systems, as the apparatus itself generates and transmits its operational timing information, simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling efficient productivity improvement through automated retransmission scheduling.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation schedule information acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the electronic apparatus and the remote maintenance server's retransmission scheduling mechanism. Instead of implementing complex direct coordination logic, the schedule information serves as a shared reference that simplifies the interaction, allowing the server to automatically determine appropriate retransmission timing without requiring sophisticated control algorithms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system acquires operation schedule information from the electronic apparatus, then the adaptability of the monitoring system is improved, but the loss of information occurs when the apparatus is not in operation and cannot transmit schedule information
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic acquisition attempts of operation schedule information, where the remote maintenance server repeatedly tries to acquire schedule data at regular intervals. When the electronic apparatus is temporarily unavailable, the periodic nature of these attempts ensures that schedule information will be acquired once the apparatus becomes available again, preventing permanent information loss while demonstrating system adaptability to varying operational states.
Data Source
AI summary
An agent unit acquires apparatus status information that indicates a status of the electronic apparatus from an electronic apparatus. A remote maintenance server transmits an acquisition instruction of the apparatus status information to the agent unit and receives the apparatus status information from the agent unit if acquisition of the apparatus status information succeeded. The remote maintenance server (a) acquires operation schedule information on the electronic apparatus, (b) transmits an acquisition instruction of the apparatus status information to the agent unit, (c) registers a retransmission schedule of the acquisition instruction so as to transmit the acquisition instruction at a timing within an operation period of the electronic apparatus determined from the operation schedule if acquisition of the apparatus status information failed, and (d) transmits the acquisition instruction to the agent unit at the timing of the retransmission schedule.