Code Image Printing System with Database Matching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Operators often struggle to recognize and correctly select related images for barcode symbols, leading to potential misprints of unrelated images, which can result in incorrect printing of related images not associated with the intended code image.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that acquires code information from a code image and generates print data based on related information stored in a database, ensuring that only relevant related images are printed alongside the code image, by utilizing a local database or a server database connected via a network, and determining the appropriate database to refer to based on the type of code image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an operator manually selects a related image for a code image, then the operator can choose from multiple available images, but the operator may incorrectly select an unrelated image leading to printing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically extracts code information from the code image and retrieves the corresponding related image from the database without requiring manual operator selection. The printing apparatus performs the information retrieval and matching process itself, eliminating human error while maintaining the ability to select from multiple related images stored in the database.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of operator selection is replaced with an automated information processing system. The printing apparatus uses its control unit to automatically read the code image, query the database for related information, and select the appropriate related image, substituting human cognitive and manual operations with automated digital processing.
2Reliability
If the printing apparatus automatically extracts code information and retrieves related information from a database, then the accuracy of image selection is improved, but the system complexity and information processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The printing apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions: it can print without a code image, print with a manually selected related image, and print with an automatically retrieved related image. The control unit handles various operation modes (manual input, code image reading from various sources) and database interaction in a unified manner, reducing the need for separate specialized systems.
Solution Approach 2:
A database serves as an intermediary between the code information and the related images. Instead of hardcoding relationships or requiring complex real-time processing, the system uses a structured database to store and retrieve related information, simplifying the connection between code images and their corresponding related images while maintaining accuracy.
3Speed
If the printing apparatus refers to a local database, then the information retrieval speed is improved, but the database size and local storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a hierarchical database structure where frequently accessed or commonly used related information is stored locally in the printing apparatus for rapid retrieval, while less frequently accessed data remains in the server database. This allows the system to optimize for speed when needed while keeping overall storage requirements manageable by only maintaining essential data locally.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a code information acquisition unit that acquires code information indicated by a code image, and a print data generation unit that generates print data based on related information extracted based on the code information acquired by the code information acquisition unit from a database in which the code information and the related information are stored in association with each other.