AI-Assisted Print Image Retrieval for Reduced User Wait Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing systems that acquire images from another device can take a long time, leading to user wait times.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device that acquires first print instruction information, requests an image from another server when the image is not stored, and controls an image forming device to print the acquired image, utilizing AI servers for image and text generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the system requests and generates images from another server when not stored locally, then image variety and user desire matching are improved, but processing time and user wait time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage varietyVSAvoiduser wait time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-generates multiple candidate images using AI image generation and stores them in the storage unit before user requests. When a user provides print instruction information, the system can quickly retrieve and select from pre-generated images rather than generating them in real-time, significantly reducing user wait time while maintaining image variety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts its image acquisition strategy based on availability. When images are available in storage, it quickly retrieves them; when not available, it requests from another server or generates new images. This dynamic approach balances image variety with processing time based on actual system state and user needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system stores multiple candidate images locally, then image selection flexibility is improved, but storage resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage selection flexibilityVSAvoidstorage resource

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system stores multiple candidate images with different characteristics (e.g., different styles, compositions, or interpretations of the same subject) in the storage unit. Each image has specific local qualities that make it suitable for different user preferences. This allows the system to provide diverse image selection flexibility while using storage resources efficiently by maintaining a curated set of high-quality candidate images rather than storing all possible images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250307584A1Information processing device, information processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An information processing device includes an instruction information acquisition unit configured to acquire first print instruction information including designation of a drawing target, an image request unit configured to, when an image corresponding to the acquired first print instruction information is not stored in a storage, request, using the first print instruction information, another server to transmit an image in which the drawing target is drawn, an image acquisition unit configured to acquire the image from the other server, and a print control unit configured to cause an image forming device to print the acquired image.