Staggered Reboot Scheduling for Image Forming Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reboot control systems for information processing devices, such as image forming devices in multiple stores, often result in simultaneous rebooting or updating, leading to prolonged device unavailability and user inconvenience, as the time required for rebooting or updating varies and is difficult to predict, causing users to wait for extended periods without knowing when the device will be usable again.
Innovation Solution
A reboot control system that includes a reboot management device connected to information processing devices over a network, which manages reboot times by setting different reboot times for devices in a neighboring relationship based on their positional relationship, ensuring that not all devices in close proximity reboot simultaneously, thus maintaining some devices in a usable state for users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If reboot instruction is transmitted to multiple image forming devices simultaneously, then the reboot management efficiency is improved, but the user convenience deteriorates because users may have to wait for extended periods without knowing when the device will be usable again
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by notifying users in advance before the reboot occurs. The notification is sent a predetermined time before the reboot, allowing users to plan accordingly and reducing the impact of device unavailability. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining efficient simultaneous reboot management while improving user convenience through advance warning.
2Speed
If multiple image forming devices in nearby stores reboot simultaneously, then the overall system update speed is improved, but the service availability deteriorates because users cannot access any device in the area
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by differentiating reboot timing based on device location. Devices in nearby stores (within a predetermined distance) are assigned different reboot times, while devices in distant locations can reboot simultaneously. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining fast system-wide updates while ensuring service availability in local areas through staggered regional reboot scheduling.
3Productivity
If the reboot time is set without considering device usage state, then the reboot execution efficiency is improved, but the loss of time increases because users have to wait for ongoing processes to complete
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback by monitoring the usage state of devices and adjusting reboot timing accordingly. When a device is detected to be in use, the reboot is delayed until the usage ends. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining efficient reboot execution while reducing user waiting time through dynamic timing adjustment based on real-time device state feedback.
Data Source
AI summary
A reboot control system includes an information processing device and a reboot management device connected over a network. The reboot management device includes a first storage unit that stores device management information including information related to each information processing device, a reboot time setting unit that sets a reboot time, and a reboot time notification unit that transmits the set reboot time to each information processing device. The information processing device includes a reboot information acquisition unit that acquires the transmitted reboot time, and a reboot execution unit that executes a reboot at the acquired reboot time. The reboot time setting unit takes Into account a positional relationship of multiple information processing devices existing in a predetermined neighboring relationship to set the reboot times of the multiple information processing devices existing in the predetermined neighboring relationship to mutually different times.