Control Device Server Offload for Print Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies face challenges in executing printing when the transformation process for print data fails halfway, leading to incomplete or incorrect print output due to unsupported commands or memory limitations in printers.
Innovation Solution
A control device and method that sends partial target data to a server for further transformation and processing when the initial transformation process fails, allowing the printer to receive and utilize the transformed data for printing, ensuring complete and accurate output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the printer executes the first type of transformation process for all partial target data locally, then the printing process can be completed without external server assistance, but the transformation may fail halfway due to unsupported commands or memory limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transformation process into two types: first type transformation executed locally by the printer for compatible data, and second type transformation executed by an external server for data requiring advanced processing. This segmentation allows the printer to handle simple cases independently while offloading complex cases to the server, improving overall reliability without requiring the printer to have full transformation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external server as an intermediary to assist the printer in transformation processes. The server receives target data from the printer, executes the second type of transformation process for data that cannot be processed locally, and returns the transformed print data to the printer. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by providing additional transformation capabilities without requiring the printer itself to be overly complex.
2Reliability
If the printer uses a more powerful transformation engine to handle all data formats, then transformation success rate increases, but the device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the transformation capabilities of the printer with those of an external server. The printer maintains its own first type transformation engine for basic processing, while the server provides second type transformation capabilities for more complex data formats. This merging allows the system to achieve high transformation success rates without requiring the printer alone to have all necessary transformation engines, thus avoiding excessive device complexity and cost.
3Manufacturing precision
If the printer sends all partial target data to the server for transformation, then transformation accuracy improves, but communication time and network usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by sending only the necessary portion of data to the server. Specifically, the printer first attempts local transformation and only sends data requiring second type transformation to the server. This partial approach ensures print data accuracy for complex formats while minimizing communication time and network usage compared to sending all data regardless of necessity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary filtering at the printer to identify which partial target data requires server assistance. By pre-processing the data and determining transformation requirements before communication, the system avoids unnecessary network transmissions, thus reducing communication time while maintaining the accuracy benefits of server-based transformation when needed.
4Quantity of substance
If the printer processes all partial target data sequentially, then memory usage is reduced, but total processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing workload between the printer and server. The printer processes compatible data locally without loading all data into memory, while the server handles data requiring second type transformation. This segmentation allows parallel processing of different data portions, improving overall processing speed without requiring the printer to allocate large memory for all data simultaneously.
Data Source
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AI summary
A control device (20) may execute a first type of transformation process for each of a plurality of partial target data sequentially, so as to try to generate each of a plurality of partial print data sequentially. The control device (20) may send second partial target data to a server via a network, in a first case where the first type of transformation process for the second partial target data does not succeed after the first type of transformation process for first partial target data succeeded and first partial print data was generated. The control device (20) may receive first transformed data from the server via the network in the first case. The control device (20) may supply second partial print data obtained by using the first transformed data to a print execution unit (18) in the first case.