Image Forming Sleep Transition Timeout for Deadlock Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face issues with deadlocks during transitions to energy-saving modes, leading to downtime and difficulty in identifying the cause of failure, which complicates the return to normal operation.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a time measuring device and a control device with a transition processor, detector, and determiner to monitor and determine if transition processing to an energy-saving mode is completed within a predetermined time, generating a log and restarting the apparatus if not, thereby addressing deadlocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the image forming apparatus transitions to energy-saving mode, then power consumption is reduced, but the system may experience deadlocks causing transition failure and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by setting a predetermined time limit before the transition processing is completed. The time measuring device starts measuring time when transition processing begins, and if the processing does not complete within this predetermined time, the system determines that a deadlock has occurred and takes corrective action (forcing mode switching). This prevents the system from remaining stuck in an incomplete transition state indefinitely.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the detector that continuously monitors whether transition processing has been completed, and the determiner that compares the detection result with the measured time. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect deadlocks and respond appropriately by forcing mode switching, thereby improving the reliability of the energy-saving transition process.
2Reliability
If the apparatus monitors transition processing completion, then deadlocks can be identified, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by integrating multiple functions into the control device: the time measuring device not only measures time but also provides the basis for deadlock determination; the detector both monitors transition completion and feeds information to the determiner; and the control device combines timing, detection, and determination functions in a unified control system. This multi-functional approach reduces overall system complexity while maintaining reliable deadlock detection.
3Loss of time
If the predetermined time is set short, then deadlock identification is faster, but the risk of false positives increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by allowing the predetermined time to be adjusted based on the specific transition processing requirements. The time can be set according to the expected duration of normal transition processing, providing a balance between quick deadlock identification and avoiding false positives. This parameter adjustment capability enables the system to adapt to different operating conditions while maintaining determination accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a time measuring device and a control device. The time measuring device measures a predetermined time. The control device operates as a transition processor, a detector, and a determiner. The transition processor performs transition processing for allowing the image forming apparatus to transition to an energy-saving mode. The detector detects that the transition processing has been completed. The determiner determines, when not yet obtaining from the detector detection information indicating completion of the transition processing at a time when the time measuring device has measured lapse of the predetermined time from start of the transition processing, that the transition processing has not yet been completed.