Cloud Printing Client Mediator for Format Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cloud-based printing systems require documents to be uploaded to the cloud in advance, have limited memory and processing power, and can only support PDF and limited image formats, restricting printing flexibility and capability.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that register computing devices as desktop clients to communicate with cloud-based servers and printing devices, collect print driver capabilities, create printer profiles, and manage print jobs by assigning them to suitable printing devices based on supported document formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If documents are uploaded to cloud server in advance for printing, then printing system can access documents from any location, but documents must be converted to PDF format which limits printing flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The desktop client acts as an intermediary between the cloud server and printing device. It downloads documents from the cloud server in their original formats and processes them locally, eliminating the requirement for cloud-based PDF conversion while maintaining cloud accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates document storage (cloud server) from document processing (desktop client). This segmentation allows the cloud to handle document management while the local client handles format-specific processing, enabling support for multiple document formats without compromising cloud-based access.
2Device complexity
If cloud server directly manages print jobs, then system architecture is simplified, but cloud server requires significant memory and processing power to handle complex print options
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts complex print processing functions from the cloud server and relocates them to the desktop client. This includes document format conversion, print option processing, and driver-specific operations, thereby reducing the computational burden on the cloud server while maintaining centralized job management.
3Ease of manufacture
If printer has limited memory and processing power, then device cost is reduced, but printer cannot support documents in formats other than PDF and limited image formats
Solution Approach 1:
The desktop client serves as a mediator that performs document format conversion and processing before sending print jobs to the printer. This allows the printer to maintain limited memory and processing power while still supporting a wide range of document formats through the client's local processing capabilities.
4Extent of automation
If cloud server initiates printing process, then centralized control is achieved, but updated desktop client with model-specific printer driver cannot access documents directly
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic role assignment where the desktop client can initiate printing for cloud-stored documents, and the cloud server can initiate printing for locally stored documents. This dynamic flexibility allows both centralized control and direct client access depending on the document location and user needs.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for managing print jobs among a plurality of printing devices. At least one desktop client is disclosed in the methods and systems. The at least one desktop client includes a database storing a desktop client application and a processor configured to collect data, transmit/receive data with a cloud-based server, choose a suitable printing device and direct a print job to the suitable printing device. The at least one desktop client can be a computing device, a mobile device, or a local server. The at least one desktop device may also be a multiple-function printing device (MFP).