Virtual Machine Background Drawing Control for MFP GUI Flicker

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Solution Overview

Problem

In Multifunction Peripherals (MFPs), the display of extended-application GUIs often results in flicker due to multiple drawing of the background, and existing solutions that prevent the virtual machine from drawing the background lead to incomplete GUI displays.

Innovation Solution

An application execution apparatus with a virtual machine that references attribute information to determine if an application draws its background, and sets the virtual machine to draw the background if not specified, preventing incomplete displays and reducing flicker.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the virtual machine draws the background of the extended-application GUI according to system specification, then the GUI display is complete, but the background is drawn multiple times causing remarkable flicker

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveGUI display completenessVSAvoiddisplay flicker

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (background drawing control unit) that mediates between the virtual machine and the extended application to coordinate background drawing responsibilities. This mediator determines whether the virtual machine or the extended application should draw the background based on detection results, preventing both from drawing simultaneously and eliminating flicker while ensuring complete GUI display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system detects whether an extended application draws its own background, and based on this feedback, automatically adjusts the virtual machine's background drawing behavior. When detection shows the application draws the background, the virtual machine is prohibited from drawing it; otherwise, the virtual machine draws the background. This feedback loop ensures complete GUI display without flicker.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the virtual machine is prohibited from drawing the background to eliminate flicker, then display flicker is reduced, but an incomplete GUI display occurs when the application specification allows VM background drawing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay flickerVSAvoidGUI display completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the background drawing behavior dynamic rather than static. The system continuously detects whether the extended application draws its own background and dynamically adjusts the virtual machine's background drawing permission accordingly. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the virtual machine draws the background only when necessary (when the application doesn't draw it), preventing both flicker and incomplete display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of background drawing responsibility based on detected conditions. The system monitors the extended application's drawing behavior and changes the parameter (who draws the background) from fixed to variable. When the application draws the background, the parameter is set to prohibit VM drawing; when it doesn't, the parameter allows VM drawing. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between eliminating flicker and ensuring complete display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the extended application draws the entire GUI including background, then the GUI is complete, but the background is drawn multiple times when the virtual machine also draws it causing flicker

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveGUI display completenessVSAvoiddrawing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (background drawing control unit) that mediates between the virtual machine and the extended application to coordinate background drawing responsibilities. This mediator detects whether the extended application draws its own background and controls the virtual machine's background drawing accordingly, preventing redundant drawing operations and improving drawing efficiency while maintaining complete GUI display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the principle of avoiding excessive action by preventing the virtual machine from drawing the background when the extended application already draws it. The system detects the application's drawing behavior and restricts the virtual machine's background drawing to only necessary cases, eliminating redundant drawing operations and improving overall drawing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10592265B2Application execution apparatus equipped with virtual machine controlling installed application, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 CANON KK

AI summary

An application execution apparatus that is capable of preventing display of an incomplete image. A virtual machine controls an installed application. A reference unit refers to attribute information showing whether an application draws a background of an image when the application draws the image. And a setting unit sets so that the virtual machine draws the background when it is not set that the application draws the background of the image to the attribute information.