Information Processing Apparatus Communication Session Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication between an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus is often cut off during the printing process, especially when managed by an operating system, leading to interruptions and unclear reasons for printing failures.
Innovation Solution
The information processing apparatus transmits predetermined data, such as dummy data, at predetermined intervals to maintain the communication session with the image forming apparatus while the operation screen is displayed, preventing session timeouts and ensuring continuous communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If communication is managed by the operating system during printing, then the printing process can be controlled automatically, but the communication session is cut off during the printing process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication maintenance mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the OS-managed printing process and the communication session. By transmitting dummy data at predetermined intervals, the system maintains the communication session alive without interfering with the automatic printing control, thus resolving the contradiction between automation and communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by transmitting dummy data before the actual printing process completes. This preliminary maintenance of the communication session prevents session cutoff during the printing process, ensuring that the communication channel remains open and reliable while the OS continues to manage the printing automatically.
2Reliability
If dummy data is transmitted at predetermined intervals to maintain communication, then communication session cutoff is prevented, but additional data transmission is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dummy data as temporary, disposable data packets that serve only the purpose of maintaining the communication session. These dummy data transmissions are minimal and transient, requiring very little data volume compared to actual print data, thus the additional data transmission cost is negligible while achieving reliable communication session maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous data transmission, the system employs periodic action by sending dummy data at predetermined intervals. This periodic maintenance approach reduces the total data transmission volume significantly compared to continuous transmission, while still effectively preventing communication session cutoff during the printing process.
3Productivity
If communication session is maintained during printing, then printing interruptions are reduced, but the complexity of data transmission management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication maintenance mechanism operates autonomously without requiring complex management or user intervention. The system automatically transmits dummy data at predetermined intervals to maintain the communication session, serving itself by ensuring printing continuity without adding significant complexity to the data transmission management process.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of periodic dummy data transmission simplifies the management complexity by establishing a regular, predictable pattern rather than requiring complex real-time management. This periodic approach makes the communication maintenance easier to implement and manage while still achieving high printing continuity and productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus controls a printing process performed by an image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a communication controller configured to perform communication with the image forming apparatus; a display controller configured to cause a display to display an operation screen for accepting a setting or an operation relating to the printing process; a data transmitter configured to transmit predetermined data by the communication to the image forming apparatus, while the operation screen is being displayed; and a renderer configured to generate print data to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus by the communication, according to the setting or the operation accepted at the operation screen.