State Transition Inference for Intermittent Device Polling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems face challenges in accurately understanding state transitions of an image forming apparatus during polling periods due to multiple state changes occurring without timely acquisition, leading to deficiencies in the acquired state.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus is designed to intermittently acquire the state of an external device and complement deficient states using a state before change, a state after change, and a state transition diagram, ensuring accurate understanding of state transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If state acquisition is performed intermittently at fixed polling intervals, then energy consumption and system load are reduced, but state transition accuracy deteriorates when multiple changes occur within a polling period

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidstate transition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring not only the current state but also the previous state and state transition diagram before change in advance. This preparation enables the subsequent determination of deficient states without requiring additional real-time acquisitions, thus maintaining low energy consumption while improving accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The state transition diagram before change serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between intermittent acquisitions. By using this diagram along with previous and current states, the system can infer missing state transitions that occurred during polling periods without directly observing them, resolving the contradiction between infrequent sampling and accurate tracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If polling frequency is increased to capture all state transitions, then state transition accuracy is improved, but energy consumption and system load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestate transition accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of performing excessive state acquisitions at every possible moment, the system performs partial acquisitions only when necessary - specifically acquiring previous state, current state, and state transition diagram before change. This selective partial action achieves sufficient accuracy without the energy cost of continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of frequent physical state acquisitions with an information-processing approach. By using logical deduction from available data (current state, previous state, and state transition diagram), the system substitutes direct observation with computational inference, reducing energy consumption while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Speed

If state acquisition is performed intermittently, then system responsiveness is improved, but completeness of state information deteriorates during polling periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem responsivenessVSAvoidstate information completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback by continuously comparing the current acquired state with the previous state and the state transition diagram before change. This feedback mechanism enables the determination of what states were missed during polling periods, compensating for information loss while maintaining fast intermittent sampling intervals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11055030B2Information processing apparatus to determine state transitions and compliment a deficient state, information processing system, information processing method, and recording medium

Publication Date: 2021.07.06 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes circuitry to acquire a state of an external device intermittently from the external device, and complement a deficient state in which the state of the external device is transitioned during a polling period in which the state is not acquired, based on a state before change, a state after change that is acquired next to the state before change, and a state transition diagram of the external device.