Cloud Print Queue Routing for Vendor-Specific Print Settings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Printing apparatuses that do not support extended print settings from a specific vendor cannot effectively utilize print jobs with such settings when using cloud print services, leading to incomplete or improperly executed print jobs.

Innovation Solution

A print server and information processing apparatus that manage and process print jobs by associating logical printers with physical printers, adding vendor information to print jobs, and moving them to the correct print queue based on matching vendor information, allowing extended print settings to be applied by compatible printers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a cloud print service associates printing apparatuses from different vendors with a virtual printer, then the service can accept print jobs from diverse sources, but printing apparatuses that do not support extended print settings cannot execute print jobs with such settings, leading to loss of print settings information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with different vendor printersVSAvoidextended print settings

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a print server as an intermediary between the client terminal and printing apparatuses. The print server stores print jobs with extended print settings in a print queue, receives execution instructions from printing apparatuses, and transmits the appropriate print jobs including vendor-specific extended settings to compatible printers. This mediator enables diverse printers to access the service while ensuring extended settings reach only compatible devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by associating each printing apparatus with a dedicated logical printer that maintains vendor-specific information. When a print job is transmitted, the print server matches the vendor information in the print job with the vendor information of the printing apparatus. This ensures that extended print settings are preserved and applied only when there is a vendor match, while standard printers receive only standard print jobs without extended settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If vendor-specific extended print settings are added to standard print functions, then users can access advanced print features, but printing apparatuses from other vendors cannot process these extended settings, reducing reliability of print job execution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextended print functionalityVSAvoidprint job execution accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the printing apparatus sends an execution instruction to the print server, which then transmits the print job back to the printing apparatus. The print server maintains vendor information associations and uses this feedback loop to ensure that print jobs with extended settings are only transmitted to compatible printing apparatuses, thereby maintaining reliability while enabling extended functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If print jobs are held in a cloud print service for pull printing, then users can control when printing occurs, but the extended print settings may not be properly applied if the designated printing apparatus does not support them

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser control over printing timingVSAvoidprint settings application accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by storing the print job with extended print settings in the print queue of the logical printer before the user issues an execution instruction. The vendor information is associated with the print job in advance. When the user later designates a printing apparatus for pull printing, the print server can match the vendor information and ensure the extended settings are properly applied if the printing apparatus is compatible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20260079652A1Print server, information processing apparatus, control method for print server, print job submission method, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 CANON KK

AI summary

A print server (i) manages a logical printer associated with a printing apparatus, a comprehensive logical printer associated with the logical printer, and vendor information of the printing apparatus, (ii) receives a print job with vendor information added from an information processing apparatus and stores the print job in a print queue of the comprehensive logical printer, (iii) receives an instruction to execute the print job stored in the print queue of the comprehensive logical printer with the printing apparatus, and (iv) in a case where the instruction is received and vendor information added to the print job and vendor information of the printing apparatus match, moves the print job to a print queue of the logical printer associated with the printing apparatus.