Scheduled Maintenance Screen Display for Image-Forming Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for image forming devices lack a user-friendly mechanism to schedule and manage maintenance tasks, requiring administrators to manually search for appropriate maintenance screens and manage when to perform various maintenance operations.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that allows administrators to register maintenance tasks in a schedule, enabling automatic display of necessary screens for maintenance operations based on the current time, reducing the need for manual screen selection and improving task management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If administrators manually check and select maintenance screens from multiple options, then they can access device settings, but the workload increases and time is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of accessing maintenance screensVSAvoidtime required to check and select maintenance screens
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically determining and displaying the appropriate maintenance screen based on the current scheduled task, eliminating the need for administrators to manually search through multiple maintenance screens. The control device pre-processes the task information and prepares the relevant screen for immediate display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system serves itself by automatically selecting and displaying the correct maintenance screen without requiring administrator intervention for screen selection. The control device autonomously processes the scheduled task information and presents the appropriate interface, reducing manual workload.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If administrators manage multiple maintenance tasks manually, then they can control device settings, but the complexity of task management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to perform various maintenance tasksVSAvoidcomplexity of managing maintenance schedules
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple maintenance task management functions into a unified scheduled task interface. Instead of managing each maintenance task separately, the control device consolidates task scheduling, screen selection, and execution into a single integrated system that handles multiple tasks through one management mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control device performs multiple functions through a single scheduled task mechanism: it manages task timing, selects appropriate maintenance screens, and coordinates device operations. This universal approach allows one system to handle diverse maintenance tasks without requiring separate management procedures for each task type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the system automatically displays screens based on scheduled tasks, then user workload is reduced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of maintenance task executionVSAvoidcomplexity of automated screen display system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device acts as an intermediary between the scheduled task system and the display device. It receives task information, determines the appropriate maintenance screen, and transmits the necessary information to display the correct screen. This intermediary role automates the process while maintaining system modularity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3968140B1Information processing system, information processing device, information processing method, recording medium, program, and device
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP3968140B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3968140B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3968140B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(d)

AI summary

An information processing system includes a device; and an information processing device, the information processing device being configured to receive registration of tasks related to maintenance of the device. The information processing device includes a storage unit configured to store schedule information in which a task related to the maintenance is registered; a screen display unit configured to display the schedule information associated with a screen, the screen relating to execution of the task; and an input acquiring unit configured to receive an input related to the task associated with the screen displayed by the screen display unit.