Unified Display Interface for Electrical Device and External Service Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical devices, such as image forming apparatuses, limit operator convenience by only allowing operational control of the device itself through a display screen, without enabling control of external devices or services associated with displayed objects.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device generates screen data for a display screen, incorporating parts selection, job selection, and external service selection instructions, allowing operators to associate jobs and services with display object parts, and generates screen data based on these selections, enabling operational control of both the device and external devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the display screen only shows operations for the electrical device itself, then the device complexity is reduced, but the operator convenience and versatility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The display screen is designed to serve multiple functions: it can display operations for the electrical device itself (e.g., printer functions) and also display operations for external devices (e.g., scanner, FAX) and services (e.g., e-mail, web browsing). This multi-functionality allows a single display interface to control various devices and services within the operational control system, thereby improving adaptability and versatility without requiring separate control interfaces for each device type.
2Ease of operation
If the display screen integrates multiple device operations, then operator convenience is improved, but the ease of manufacture and system configuration becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The operational control system is segmented into distinct functional modules: electrical device operations, external device operations, and service operations. Each module can be independently configured and managed. The display screen presents these as separate sections or tabs, allowing operators to access different functions without confusion. This segmentation simplifies both the user interface and the underlying system configuration, making it easier to manufacture and deploy while maintaining ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system allows selection of external services, then the versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary layer is introduced between the operator and the various devices and services. This intermediary is the operational control system, which provides a unified interface for selecting and controlling both internal electrical device operations and external device/services operations. The intermediary manages the complexity of connections and communications, presenting a simplified selection mechanism to the operator while handling the underlying system integration automatically.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing device has a parts selection instruction receiving portion that receives from an operator a selection instruction of display object parts to be displayed on a screen for receiving an instruction from an operator. A job selection instruction receiving portion receives from an operator a selection instruction of a job that is executable by an electrical device and is associated with the display object parts indicated by the display object parts selection instruction. An external service selection instruction receiving portion receives from an operator a selection instruction of a service executable by an external device other than the electrical device and associated with the display object parts indicated by the display object parts selection instruction. A screen data generation portion generates screen data of the display screen based on content determined by the parts selection instruction, the job selection instruction, and the service selection instruction.