Scanner Error Notification via Host Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image scanning apparatuses lack effective mechanisms for users to easily check the status and errors, especially when unique hardware configurations, like the lock member, are not supported by standard driver software, leading to unnoticed errors during scanning.
Innovation Solution
The image scanning apparatus transmits notification image data to a host computer instead of original document image data when an error occurs, using the same data transmission mechanism, allowing the host computer to display an explanation image that informs the user of the error, thus enabling users to check the apparatus status without requiring dedicated driver software or additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image scanning apparatus uses standard driver software for scanning, then the basic scanning function is maintained, but errors related to unique hardware configurations (e.g., lock member) cannot be properly detected or notified to users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (notification image data transmission) between the scanning apparatus and the host computer to convey error status. When an error is detected, the apparatus transmits notification image data that displays error information on the host computer's display device, serving as a mediator to bridge the gap between the apparatus's error detection capability and the user's awareness.
2Reliability
If dedicated driver software is developed to support unique hardware configurations, then error detection and notification capability is improved, but device complexity and development cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the notification image data transmission mechanism universal by utilizing the existing standard data transmission pathway between the scanning apparatus and host computer. The same interface and protocol used for transmitting scanned image data are also used for transmitting error notification image data, allowing the system to serve multiple functions (scanning and error notification) through a single universal interface, thereby avoiding the need for dedicated driver software.
3Ease of operation
If additional hardware components are added to provide status display, then user convenience is improved, but design cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service approach where the scanning apparatus automatically detects errors and transmits notification image data to the host computer without requiring additional hardware components. The system uses its existing resources (data transmission interface) to provide the status display function, eliminating the need for extra display hardware in the scanning apparatus itself.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a technique for allowing a user to easily check the status of an image scanning apparatus. An image scanning apparatus is configured to transmit original document image data by storing, sequentially in a buffer, line data obtained by line-by-line scanning of an original document and transmitting the stored line data to a host computer sequentially line by line, and includes a control unit configured to perform control to transmit original document image data including notification image data to the host computer in a case where it is detected that the apparatus status of the image scanning apparatus is not normal during processing executed in response to a scan command received from the host computer, the notification image data being a notification of an error occurrence.