USB Access Control Program Bypassing Abstraction Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-function peripherals with multitier architecture, accessing external devices like USB memory results in performance degradation due to various overheads, reducing convenience and unnecessarily consuming resources.
Innovation Solution
An image forming device with a USB access control program that stores path information to directly access external devices from the application layer to the operating system layer, bypassing the abstraction layer, thereby reducing overhead and improving access efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an application program accesses an external device through the standard multitier architecture (application layer → abstraction layer → device control layer → OS layer), then the system maintains good portability and compatibility across different devices and versions, but access efficiency deteriorates due to multiple API calls and overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the access path by introducing a dedicated USB access control program that handles USB-specific operations separately from the general multitier architecture. This allows the application program to access USB devices through a simplified interface while USB-specific control operations are performed by the dedicated control program, reducing the number of API calls through the abstraction layer and improving access efficiency while maintaining portability.
2Ease of operation
If the abstraction layer hides all implementation details of lower layers, then the upper layer becomes independent and portable, but access overhead increases due to multiple control API calls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a USB access control program as an intermediary between the application program and the USB device. This intermediary handles USB-specific control operations directly, reducing the need for multiple API calls through the abstraction layer. The control program acts as a specialized mediator that understands USB protocols and can perform operations more efficiently while the application program maintains its independence through the standardized interface.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming device to which an external device is detachably attached, including an interface that is able to attach to the external device, a storage that stores multi-tier architecture software, and a computer that executes the multi-tier architecture software. The multi-tier architecture software includes a lower layer that includes an operating system that manages the external device, an upper layer that includes an application program that accesses the external device via the lower layer, and an intervening abstraction layer that hides implementation of the lower layer from the upper layer. The upper layer includes an access control program that is able to save path information to access the external device to the storage, and relays access from the application program to the external device by accessing the lower layer without going through the abstraction layer and accessing the external device using the path information.