Ricoh has been granted a patent for an information processing apparatus that detects connection errors between an operation panel and a controller. The apparatus employs specific determination processes based on the activation sequence and timing of both components to identify communication issues. GlobalData’s report on Ricoh gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Ricoh, E-transaction user interfaces was a key innovation area identified from patents. Ricoh's grant share as of July 2024 was 41%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Connection error detection between operation panel and controller

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: Ricoh Co Ltd

The patent US12075006B2 describes an information processing apparatus that includes an operation panel and a controller, both of which can activate independently while remaining communicably connected. The operation panel is equipped with circuitry designed to detect connection errors between itself and the controller. This detection occurs through two primary determination processes: the first assesses whether the controller's activation is completed within a specified time frame after the operation panel's activation, while the second checks for established communication between the two components within a subsequent time period. The apparatus is capable of handling scenarios where either the operation panel or the controller completes activation first, ensuring robust error detection.

Additionally, the circuitry can adapt the predetermined time periods based on measured activation times, enhancing the system's responsiveness. The patent also encompasses a method executed by the operation panel, which mirrors the error detection processes outlined for the apparatus. Furthermore, it includes provisions for a non-transitory recording medium that, when executed by processors on the operation panel, facilitates the same error detection methods. The claims highlight the apparatus's potential integration with an image forming device, which may include a printer, thereby broadening its application in various information processing contexts.

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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.