Third Party App Update Management for Multi-Function Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Third party applications on multi-function device (MFD) web browsers often become incompatible after updates, leading to inefficient and costly manual updates by service providers across customer sites, as each MFD model may require different versions of updates due to varying capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that detects updates to third party applications, dynamically packages updates based on MFD models, and stores them on a server, allowing MFDs to access and execute the updated applications remotely, eliminating the need for manual updates at each customer site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual updates are performed at each customer site, then update reliability is improved, but service provider time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The MFD automatically detects when a third party application has been updated and initiates the update process without requiring manual intervention from the service provider. The system self-manages the update lifecycle including detecting updates, retrieving them from the server, and applying them to the third party application.
Solution Approach 2:
Updates to third party applications are stored on a server in advance before they are needed. When an MFD needs to update, it simply retrieves the pre-stored update from the server, eliminating the need for real-time manual intervention and reducing service provider time.
2Reliability
If manual updates are performed at each customer site, then update accuracy is improved, but service provider cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The MFD autonomously manages the update process by detecting updates, retrieving them from the server, and applying them without requiring paid manual intervention from service providers, thereby reducing costs while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of manually copying updates to each MFD, the system stores updates on a server and has MFDs retrieve copies as needed. This eliminates the need for service providers to manually intervene and reduces labor costs while maintaining update accuracy.
3Productivity
If a single update is deployed across all MFDs, then deployment efficiency is improved, but compatibility issues arise due to varying MFD capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores different versions of third party application updates on the server, each tailored to specific MFD models and capabilities. When an MFD needs an update, it retrieves the version appropriate for its specific hardware and software configuration, ensuring compatibility while maintaining efficient deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects which update version to retrieve based on the MFD's model and capabilities. The MFD determines its own requirements and retrieves the appropriate update version from the server, allowing a single deployment infrastructure to serve multiple MFD types with different capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed. For example, the method executed by a processor of a multi-function device (MFD) includes accessing a third party application stored in a memory of the MFD, determining that the third party application has been updated, retrieving an update to the third party application from a server that stores updates for third party applications, and executing the third party application with the update on the MFD.