Virtual Execution Device for Image Forming Apparatus Error Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in processing data received from external devices due to compatibility issues, leading to potential errors when the operation state violates predetermined allowing conditions.

Innovation Solution

A virtual execution device and method that simulates an image forming apparatus to identify and exclude jobs causing errors by selecting reference jobs received before the operation state violates the allowing condition, and sets virtual setting values to satisfy the condition, thereby specifying cause jobs and target setting values.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the image forming apparatus processes all externally received jobs, then the device utilization is maximized, but errors occur when data compatibility is not guaranteed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice utilizationVSAvoiderror occurrence

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary simulation of job processing using a virtual image forming apparatus before actual execution. The virtual device predicts whether allowing conditions will be violated by processing each job, enabling preventive identification of incompatible data before it causes errors in the real apparatus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A virtual image forming apparatus is introduced as an intermediary between the external data source and the real image forming apparatus. This virtual device acts as a mediator that simulates processing outcomes and provides compatibility assessment without affecting the actual device operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the image forming apparatus rejects incompatible jobs, then error occurrence is reduced, but device utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror preventionVSAvoiddevice utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to the external device about job compatibility based on virtual simulation results. This feedback mechanism allows external devices to understand which types of data are compatible, enabling them to adjust their output to improve overall system utilization while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If virtual simulation is performed for all jobs, then accurate error prediction is achieved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror prediction accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs virtual simulation selectively rather than for all jobs. By focusing simulation resources on jobs with higher risk of compatibility issues or greater impact on the system, the solution achieves adequate prediction accuracy while minimizing time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Reliability

If complex allowing conditions are specified, then operational safety is improved, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational safetyVSAvoidconfiguration simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically manages complex allowing conditions through virtual simulation without requiring manual configuration by users. The virtual device self-evaluates job compatibility against predefined conditions, eliminating the need for users to understand or configure complex safety parameters while maintaining high operational safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10542178B2Virtual execution device, virtual execution method and non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing virtual execution program

Publication Date: 2020.01.21 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

A virtual execution device includes a hardware processor, the hardware processor forming a virtual device by simulating an image forming apparatus in operation, in the case where a predetermined allowing condition is unsatisfied by an operation state of the image forming apparatus, acquiring a plurality of respective jobs that have been externally received by the image forming apparatus before the allowing condition becomes unsatisfied by the operation state of the image forming apparatus as reference jobs, selecting one or more reference jobs as exclusion jobs from among the plurality of acquired reference jobs, causing the virtual device to process subject jobs that are not the one or more selected exclusion jobs among the plurality of acquired reference jobs, and in the case where the allowing condition is satisfied by an operation state of the virtual device, specifying the exclusion jobs as cause jobs that have caused errors in the image forming apparatus.