Controlling an image forming apparatus according to parameters determined based on paper type history

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9462149-B2
Application number	US-201414467733-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2014
Priority date	Feb 3, 2014
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

Provided is a parameter setting system, including a storage unit that memorizes a history of parameter values in an image forming apparatus in association with a type of paper, an acquiring unit that acquires a trend of parameter values in plural image forming apparatuses of the same type with the image forming apparatus with respect to each type of plural other paper sheets in which the number of types of switched paper and the number of histories are greater than or equal to a threshold value, and a calculating unit that calculates a parameter value to be set with respect to the type of switched paper based on the trend of parameter values acquired with respect to the type of switched paper and each type of the plural other paper sheets, and the history corresponding to each type of the plural other paper sheets.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A parameter setting system, comprising:
a memory device configured to store a history of parameter values in an image forming apparatus in association with a type of paper with respect to the image forming apparatus which sets the parameter value for controlling an image forming operation according to the type of paper; and
a processor configured to act as:
an acquiring unit configured to acquire, via a network, a trend of parameter values in a plurality of image forming apparatuses of the same type with the image forming apparatus with respect to each type of a plurality of other paper sheets in which the number of types of switched paper and the number of histories are greater than or equal to a threshold value when the number of histories corresponding to the type of switched paper upon switching the type of paper to be used in the image forming apparatus is smaller than the threshold value;
a calculating unit configured to calculate, a parameter value to be set for the image forming apparatus with respect to the type of switched paper based on the trend of parameter values acquired with respect to the type of switched paper and each type of the plurality of other paper sheets, and the history corresponding to each type of the plurality of other paper sheets; and
an operational control unit configured to set the calculated parameter value in the image forming apparatus for use in an image forming process, and to control the image forming process using the set calculated parameter value,

wherein the trend is derived based upon distribution information of the parameter values.

2. The parameter setting system according to claim 1 ,
wherein each type of the plurality of other paper sheets has a characteristic close in a value to a characteristic of the type of switched paper.

3. The parameter setting system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a management server that collects the history of the parameter value from the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and calculates the trend of parameter values for each type of image forming apparatuses,
wherein the acquiring unit acquires the trend of parameter values of the plurality of image forming apparatuses of the same type with the image forming apparatus that switches the paper to be used from the management server.

4. The parameter setting system according to claim 3 , further comprising:
the processor further configured to act as a correction unit that calculates a correction amount of a parameter value according to a change of a usage state of the image forming apparatus,
wherein the correction unit calculates a correction amount of a parameter value corresponding to the usage state of the image forming apparatus based on a prediction model in which a time-series correction result of the parameter value in the plurality of image forming apparatuses of the same type with the image forming apparatus is modeled.

5. The parameter setting system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
the processor further configured to act as a correction unit that calculates a correction amount of a parameter value according to a change of a usage state of the image forming apparatus,
wherein the correction unit calculates a correction amount of a parameter value corresponding to the usage state of the image forming apparatus based on a prediction model in which a time-series correction result of the parameter value in the plurality of image forming apparatuses of the same type with the image forming apparatus is modeled.

6. The parameter setting system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a management server that collects the history of the parameter value from the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and calculates the trend of parameter values for each type of image forming apparatuses,
wherein the acquiring unit acquires the trend of parameter values of the plurality of image forming apparatuses of the same type with the image forming apparatus that switches the paper to be used from the management server.

7. The parameter setting system according to claim 6 , further comprising:
the processor further configured to act as a correction unit that calculates a correction amount of a parameter value according to a change of a usage state of the image forming apparatus,
wherein the correction unit calculates a correction amount of a parameter value corresponding to the usage state of the image forming apparatus based on a prediction model in which a time-series correction result of the parameter value in the plurality of image forming apparatuses of the same type with the image forming apparatus is modeled.

8. The parameter setting system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
the processor further configured to act as a correction unit that calculates a correction amount of a parameter value according to a change of a usage state of the image forming apparatus,
wherein the correction unit calculates a correction amount of a parameter value corresponding to the usage state of the image forming apparatus based on a prediction model in which a time-series correction result of the parameter value in the plurality of image forming apparatuses of the same type with the image forming apparatus is modeled.

9. A parameter setting apparatus comprising the parameter setting system according to claim 1 .

10. The parameter setting system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
the processor further configured to act as an analysis unit that analyzes the parameter values and calculates distribution information indicating the trend of the parameter values, and
wherein the acquiring unit acquires the distribution information indicating the trend of parameter values.

11. The parameter setting system according to claim 10 , wherein
the processor further configured to act as the analysis unit calculates the distribution information based upon a histogram of the parameter values.

12. The parameter setting system according to claim 10 , wherein
the distribution information includes statistics such as a central value or a standard deviation of the parameter values.

Assignees

• Fuji Xerox Co Ltd

Inventors

• Adachi Koji

Classifications

• H04N1/00082

  Adjusting or controlling (interrupting an operation H04N1/00915; inhibiting an operation H04N1/00925) · CPC title

• H04N2201/0094

  Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception · CPC title

• H04N1/00039

  Analysis, i.e. separating and studying components of a greater whole · CPC title

• H04N1/00954 Primary

  Scheduling operations or managing resources (H04N1/0096 takes precedence; program initiating or switching G06F9/48; allocation of computer resources G06F9/50) · CPC title

• H04N1/00068

  Calculating or estimating · CPC title