Wireless Operation Unit Standby Mode Reset for Image Forming Systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatus transitions to sleep mode during user operations on a mobile terminal, leading to increased time for completing tasks and reduced productivity due to automatic power-saving mode transitions, especially when setting operations are time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
An image forming system with a wireless operation device that includes setting and execution icons for wirelessly transmitting commands to the image forming apparatus, featuring a counter to determine the transition to sleep mode and a resetter to prevent unnecessary transitions based on user operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the image forming apparatus automatically transitions to sleep mode after a predetermined time in standby mode, then power consumption is reduced, but the time required to complete user operations increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless operation unit performs preliminary actions by detecting setting operations (icon selection, parameter input) before the user completes the full operation sequence. This triggers the image forming apparatus to maintain standby mode proactively, preventing automatic sleep mode transitions before they occur, thus ensuring the apparatus is ready when the user initiates execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by having the image forming apparatus respond to detection results from the wireless operation unit. When setting operations are detected, the apparatus receives feedback to extend its standby duration. This closed-loop feedback mechanism dynamically adjusts power mode based on actual user behavior, balancing power consumption with operational readiness.
2Productivity
If the image forming apparatus remains in standby mode for extended periods to accommodate user operations, then operation completion time is reduced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the standby mode duration based on detected user operations. Rather than using a fixed timeout, the standby period extends adaptively when setting operations are detected via the wireless operation unit. This dynamic adjustment allows the apparatus to remain responsive during active user interaction while automatically transitioning to power-saving mode when idle, optimizing the balance between productivity and energy efficiency.
3Loss of energy
If the image forming apparatus transitions to sleep mode during setting operations on the mobile terminal, then power consumption is reduced, but the user experience deteriorates due to mode switching interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless operation unit performs preliminary detection of setting operations (icon selection, parameter input) before the apparatus would normally transition to sleep mode. This preliminary detection triggers a proactive extension of standby mode, ensuring uninterrupted user experience during the entire setting operation sequence, including time-consuming edits to email addresses or body text.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the wireless operation unit to determine whether to maintain standby mode. When setting operations are detected, the feedback mechanism instructs the apparatus to remain in standby, preventing disruptive mode transitions. This feedback loop ensures smooth, interruption-free user experience while still allowing power-saving transitions during genuine idle periods.
Data Source
AI summary
In a case where an image forming apparatus has entered into a sleep mode, a user is required to wait, after issuing an instruction for image formation via a wireless operation unit, until the image forming apparatus returns from the sleep mode to a standby mode, for the requested processing to be performed. Accordingly, an image forming system is provided that includes an image forming apparatus capable of transitioning between a standby mode and a sleep mode includes a wireless operation unit capable of performing wireless communication with the image forming apparatus, and that includes a counter for counting a time for determining timing of transition from the standby mode to the sleep mode, and a resetter capable of resetting a count value of the counter in response to a predetermined icon being selected in the wireless operation unit in the standby mode.