Embedded DFE Imposition Offloading to Client Devices

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Embedded digital front ends (DFEs) in printing devices lack the processing power and memory to perform complex imposition tasks, limiting their functionality compared to server DFEs.

Innovation Solution

A printing system that offloads imposition operations to client devices, where an imposition engine and user interface are downloaded to define and apply imposition settings to a job file, allowing the client to generate an imposed job file and template, which are then uploaded to the embedded DFE for printing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If embedded DFE uses low cost processors with limited memory, then device cost is reduced, but imposition functionality is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice costVSAvoidimposition functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server DFE as an intermediary that performs complex imposition operations. The embedded DFE communicates with the server DFE, which has the processing power and memory to handle sophisticated imposition tasks. This mediator approach allows the embedded DFE to access advanced functionality without requiring high-performance local hardware, thus resolving the contradiction between low cost and advanced functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If embedded DFE performs complex imposition locally, then imposition capability is improved, but processing power and memory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimposition capabilityVSAvoidprocessing power and memory

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex imposition processing function from the embedded DFE and relocates it to a server DFE. The embedded DFE retains only the necessary functions for communication and basic job management, while the heavy computational burden of complex imposition is handled by the server. This extraction allows the embedded DFE to provide advanced imposition capability without requiring substantial processing power or memory locally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Power

If server DFE is used for imposition, then processing power is sufficient, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing powerVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the DFE functionality into two distinct components: an embedded DFE for basic operations and a server DFE for complex imposition tasks. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the embedded DFE remains simple and cost-effective, while the server DFE provides high-performance processing when needed. The system architecture separates concerns, reducing overall complexity compared to requiring every device to have full server-grade capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11474761B1Printing system and methods to enable imposition using a digital front end

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A printing system includes a printing device having an embedded digital front end (DFE) and at least one client device that sends print jobs to the printing device. The embedded DFE provides imposition functionality to define imposition settings for a job file. The DFE downloads the job file, a user interface, and an imposition engine to the client device. The client device uses the user interface to enter imposition settings and instructions that are applied to the job file. A visual representation can be made within the user interface to show the imposition setting. After imposition operations are complete, the client device uploads the imposed job file and an imposition template of the imposition settings to the DFE. The embedded DFE stores the imposed job file and the imposition template.