Wireless Operation Unit for Multi-Device Image Forming Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming systems with wireless operation units lack efficient control over multiple devices, leading to unintended power mode changes in unselected image forming apparatuses, especially in commercial printing environments where a single user operates multiple machines.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling an image forming system that includes a wireless operation unit capable of shifting between sleep and ready states, allowing individual control of multiple image forming apparatuses without a wireless LAN router, using a touch panel display to generate and transmit commands for selecting which devices to activate or return from power saving modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a portable operation portion is used to operate multiple image forming apparatuses, then versatility and ease of operation are improved, but unintended power mode changes occur in unselected apparatuses
Solution Approach 1:
The operation portion divides the control interface into separate, dedicated buttons for each connected image forming apparatus. Each button is associated with a specific apparatus, allowing the user to select and control only the intended device. This segmentation prevents unintended power mode changes by ensuring that operations are directed to the correct apparatus through explicit selection.
2Ease of operation
If all connectable image forming apparatuses are returned from power saving mode in synchronization, then ease of operation is improved, but power consumption increases and control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local quality by allowing independent power mode control for each image forming apparatus. Instead of synchronizing all apparatuses, the operation portion enables the user to return only the selected apparatus from power saving mode while leaving others in their current state. This localized control reduces overall power consumption by maintaining power saving modes for unselected devices.
3Device complexity
If wireless communication without a router is used, then device complexity is reduced, but control precision over multiple devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The operation portion segments the control mechanism by providing dedicated selection buttons for each connected image forming apparatus. This segmentation maintains control precision by ensuring that commands are clearly directed to the intended device, even in a simplified wireless communication environment without a router. Each button press is unambiguously associated with a specific apparatus.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling an image forming system includes a shifting process in which a wireless operation unit from a sleep state to a ready state; a connection process in which the wireless operation unit connects individually to each of a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus via wireless communication without a wireless LAN router in response to the shift of the wireless operation unit to the ready state in the shifting process; and a display process in which the touch panel display displays, side by side, a first return icon to return the first image forming apparatus to a ready state and a second return icon to return the second image forming apparatus to a ready state in response to the execution of wireless communication in the connection process.