Workflow Unit for Automatic Peripheral Discovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current distributed computing systems lack flexibility and efficiency in allowing computing devices and peripherals to interact, as users must manually discover and configure devices, and each device requires specific software and protocols, limiting the use of new peripherals and hindering automatic detection and processing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A distributed workflow-enabled system that includes a workflow unit with a communication manager, process control module, and user interface module, allowing for automatic discovery and customizable interaction between providers and clients, and enabling workload distribution based on device capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a new peripheral device is added to the network, then the device functionality and capabilities are improved, but each existing computing device must be modified or new software must be added to communicate with the new device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a workflow manager as an intermediary component that mediates between computing devices and peripheral devices. The workflow manager discovers peripheral devices on the network, retrieves their capability information, and automatically generates appropriate workflow configurations. This eliminates the need for manual software installation and configuration on each computing device, as the workflow manager handles all compatibility and communication protocol translations centrally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements automatic device discovery and capability retrieval mechanisms where the workflow manager autonomously detects new peripheral devices on the network, retrieves their capability information without human intervention, and automatically configures workflows. This self-service approach eliminates manual software updates and configurations, allowing the system to adapt to new devices automatically.
2Reliability
If there is no automatic device discovery mechanism, then device compatibility is maintained through manual configuration, but user time and effort are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the workflow manager continuously monitor the network for peripheral devices and pre-retrieve their capability information before any computing device needs to interact with them. When a peripheral device is added to the network, the workflow manager proactively discovers it, retrieves its capabilities, and prepares workflow configurations in advance, eliminating setup time for users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the workflow manager continuously monitors network traffic and device status, automatically detecting when new peripheral devices are added. This real-time feedback enables the system to dynamically update device catalogs and generate appropriate workflows without user intervention, maintaining reliable device interaction while eliminating manual configuration time.
3Productivity
If each peripheral device requires specific communication protocols and data formats, then device functionality is optimized, but system complexity and difficulty of integration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal workflow management system that can handle multiple peripheral device types and communication protocols through a single interface. The workflow manager retrieves capability information from various peripheral devices (printers, scanners, MFPs) and automatically generates appropriate workflows regardless of the specific device protocol or data format, making the system universally compatible while maintaining optimized device processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes communication parameters by having the workflow manager retrieve specific capability information from each peripheral device and adapt the data formats and communication protocols accordingly. Instead of requiring all devices to use a single protocol, the system transforms and adapts data parameters to match both the peripheral device requirements and the computing device capabilities, reducing integration complexity while maintaining optimized processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A distributed workflow-enabled system includes: a workflow-enabled provider and a workflow-enabled client communicatively coupled by a network. The workflow-enabled provider and the workflow-enabled client include a workflow unit. The workflow unit allows the workflow-enabled provider and the workflow-enabled client to communicate, distribute processes and present a user interfaces by providing a communication manager, a process control module and a user interface module. The present invention also includes a number of novel methods including a method for communication, a method for processing by a process control module, a method for creating and presenting the user interface and a method for retrieving processes executable by the process control module.