Background Pattern Synthesis in Printing Systems

Solution Overview

Problem

Current security printing systems face inefficiencies in transmitting and processing background pattern data for documents with multiple pages of varying sizes, leading to increased data traffic and complexity in embedding and synthesizing copy-evident patterns.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and image forming apparatus system that transmits background pattern data only once for registration, generating synthesis information and drawing commands to synthesize the pattern with each page of image data, reducing data traffic by separating foreground and background patterns and embedding commands within the print request.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If background pattern data is embedded with each page data for documents with multiple pages of varying sizes, then the copy-evident patterns can be synthesized for each page, but the data traffic volume increases and the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecopy-evident pattern synthesisVSAvoiddata traffic volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the background pattern data transmission from the page data transmission. The background pattern data is transmitted once and stored in the image forming apparatus, while each page data contains only the necessary synthesis parameters. This segmentation reduces redundant data transmission while ensuring each page can be synthesized with the appropriate background pattern.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The background pattern data is transmitted and registered in advance before the actual printing process. This preliminary action allows the image forming apparatus to have the background pattern data ready and stored, eliminating the need to retransmit it for each page and reducing overall data traffic volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If background pattern data is embedded with each page data for documents with multiple pages of varying sizes, then the copy-evident patterns can be synthesized for each page, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecopy-evident pattern synthesisVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the processing into two distinct phases: a registration phase where background pattern data is stored, and a printing phase where synthesis parameters are processed. This segmentation simplifies the processing complexity by separating data management from synthesis operations, making each phase more manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces synthesis information as an intermediary element that bridges the background pattern data and page data. This synthesis information contains the necessary parameters for synthesis without requiring the full background pattern data to be embedded in each page, thereby reducing processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If background pattern data is transmitted separately from the print request, then data traffic volume is reduced, but the system requires coordination between separate transmission steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata traffic volumeVSAvoidsystem coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The background pattern data is transmitted and registered in advance before the actual printing process. This preliminary action allows the image forming apparatus to have the background pattern data ready and stored, eliminating the need to retransmit it for each page and reducing overall data traffic volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a registration request command that provides feedback confirmation when background pattern data is successfully stored. This feedback mechanism ensures proper coordination between the separate transmission steps, allowing the system to verify that the preliminary data transmission was successful before proceeding with printing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9860414B2Information processing apparatus and method, and printing system

Publication Date: 2018.01.02 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes a communication interface to communicate data including image data with an image forming apparatus, a data storage device to store background pattern data, and circuitry. The circuitry causes the communication interface to transmit the background pattern data and a registration request command to the image forming apparatus, generates synthesis information, generates a background pattern synthesis drawing command for instructing the image forming apparatus to synthesize the background pattern data with each page data of the image data, based on the synthesis information of the page data, generates a printing command for printing the image data, generates print request information for requesting the image forming apparatus to print the image data, and causes the communication interface to transmit the print request information to the image forming apparatus.