Role-Based Maintenance Assistance for Image-Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing maintenance assistance systems require maintenance workers to switch between the operation panels of different apparatuses, reducing work efficiency due to smaller display areas and less user-friendly interfaces on image forming apparatuses, especially when the service tool is installed externally.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that cooperates with an image forming apparatus to transmit and display maintenance screens based on worker roles, allowing seamless transitions between service manuals and operation screens using remote connection protocols like VNC, enabling efficient maintenance work even when the service tool is installed separately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the service tool is installed in an external apparatus separate from the image forming apparatus, then the display area and user-friendliness are improved, but the work efficiency is reduced due to the need to switch between operation panels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the service manual display and the image forming apparatus operation panel into a single integrated display interface. The maintenance assistance system displays both the service manual content and the apparatus operation screens on the same display device, eliminating the need to switch between separate operation panels while maintaining access to both manual guidance and apparatus control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance assistance system acts as an intermediary between the service tool and the image forming apparatus operation panel. It receives screen information from the apparatus, processes it alongside manual content, and presents an integrated view that combines manual guidance with operational interfaces, thereby bridging the gap between external service tools and apparatus control.
2Ease of operation
If the service tool is installed in an external apparatus, then the interface user-friendliness is improved, but the switching between manuals and operation screens becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the service manual display and apparatus operation screens into a single integrated interface on the maintenance assistance system. This allows maintenance workers to view manual instructions and apparatus operation screens simultaneously or switch between them without leaving the maintenance assistance interface, eliminating the time-consuming process of switching between separate operation panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance assistance system preliminarily loads and prepares both service manual content and apparatus screen information in advance. When a maintenance worker needs to reference either the manual or operation screens, both are already available in the integrated interface, eliminating the delay associated with real-time switching between separate systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the operation panel of the image forming apparatus is used, then the direct access to apparatus functions is improved, but the display area is smaller and less user-friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance assistance system combines the apparatus operation panel functionality with a larger external display interface. It receives and displays apparatus screen information on the maintenance assistance system's display device, providing both the direct access to apparatus functions and the larger, more user-friendly display area of the external system.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus configured to cooperate with an image forming apparatus issues an instruction, in response to selection of an item that is included in a manual displayed by a display and is associated with a maintenance screen of the image forming apparatus displayed by the image forming apparatus on a display of the image forming apparatus, to the image forming apparatus to transmit screen information of the maintenance screen associated with the item for each role of the worker who performed the selection. The information processing apparatus displays the maintenance screen on the display based on the screen information transmitted by the image forming apparatus in response to the instruction.