Combined Print Job Resumption With Individual Progress Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming systems struggle with managing individual jobs within combined jobs, leading to unnecessary reprinting and waste due to incomplete job recognition upon resumption, and inefficient handling of blank sheets during job interruptions.
Innovation Solution
A job execution system that includes a controller and image forming apparatus, capable of combining multiple jobs, which are managed and executed with individual job information tracking, allowing precise job resumption and minimizing blank sheet generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If combined job is managed as one job, then job execution simplicity is improved, but individual job progress tracking capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the combined job into individual job units while maintaining the combined job structure. Each job within the combined job is assigned a job ID and tracked independently through the job information management unit, allowing individual progress monitoring while executing as part of the combined job. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational simplicity at the combined job level while introducing granular tracking at the individual job level.
2Reliability
If combined job is restarted from beginning, then job completion reliability is improved, but time loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary tracking of individual job progress status during execution. The job information management unit continuously monitors which jobs within the combined job have been completed, are in progress, or are pending. When resumption is needed, this pre-acquired information allows the system to determine the exact restart point without re-executing completed jobs, thus reducing time loss while maintaining reliability.
3Loss of time
If combined job is restarted from stopped position, then time loss is reduced, but blank sheet generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the job information management unit continuously monitors job execution status and provides feedback on which jobs have been completed and which are pending. This feedback enables the control unit to intelligently determine the optimal restart position, ensuring that jobs are resumed from the correct position without generating blank sheets, while also tracking progress to avoid re-printing completed sections.
4Loss of information
If individual job tracking is implemented, then job progress monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a job information management unit that serves multiple functions: tracking individual job progress, managing combined job execution, determining restart positions, and providing feedback to the control unit. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional unit rather than separate systems, the patent improves job progress monitoring capability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A job execution system comprises a controller and a job execution apparatus. The controller combines a plurality of jobs to generate a combined job, and transmits job information on at least one of the plurality of jobs and the combined job. The job execution apparatus acquires and manages the job information and the combined job, and executes the combined job.