Information Processing Apparatus Timer Reset During Terminal Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
The issue of unintended automatic clearing in information processing apparatuses occurs when they cooperate with terminals, leading to decreased usability due to user operations being performed only on the terminal, not the apparatus, causing the apparatus to clear settings after a predetermined time.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus equipped with a counting unit to track user inactivity, a performing unit to execute automatic clearing when a predetermined time elapses, and a resetting unit to reset the count upon receiving a request from the terminal, ensuring appropriate clearing even during cooperation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the information processing apparatus executes automatic clearing when no user operation is detected for a predetermined time, then security and resource management are improved, but usability deteriorates when the user operates only the terminal and not the apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device sends operation notification messages to the information processing apparatus to provide feedback about user operations. This allows the apparatus to know when the user is actively using the terminal and adjust its automatic clearing behavior accordingly, preventing unintended clearing while maintaining security when the terminal is not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device acts as an intermediary between the user and the information processing apparatus. It monitors user operations and communicates this information to the apparatus, allowing the apparatus to make informed decisions about when to execute automatic clearing without directly monitoring user input itself.
2Ease of operation
If the information processing apparatus monitors user operations continuously to prevent unintended clearing, then usability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device performs the monitoring of user operations itself and sends notifications to the information processing apparatus. This shifts the monitoring burden from the apparatus to the terminal, allowing the apparatus to maintain simple logic while still achieving the goal of preventing unintended clearing.
3Ease of operation
If the automatic clearing time is extended to accommodate terminal operations, then usability is improved, but loss of time increases when the apparatus should clear independently
Solution Approach 1:
The real-time operation notification feedback mechanism allows the apparatus to dynamically adjust its clearing timing based on actual user activity. This prevents both premature clearing (which would cause data loss) and excessive delays (which would waste time), optimizing the clearing timing for each specific usage scenario.
Data Source
AI summary
A configuration is provided in which in a case where a user operation is performed on an image forming apparatus or a data processing apparatus while the image forming apparatus and the data processing apparatus are operating in cooperation with each other, the automatic clearing timers of both the apparatuses are reset.