Distributed Printing Control System Job Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In distributed printing systems, existing methods fail to ensure that image forming apparatuses finish their job processing at the same time, especially when their processing capacities differ or when issues like paper jams occur, leading to inefficiencies and delays in finishing operations.
Innovation Solution
A distributed printing control system that divides print jobs into job portions and distributes them to virtual queues, monitoring the status of each image forming apparatus to send job portions sequentially and adjust the distribution to maintain a consistent ratio of job portions in the queues, ensuring that all apparatuses finish processing simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If job portions are distributed to image forming apparatuses in advance based on processing capacities, then higher productivity is achieved, but reliability deteriorates because delays from paper jams or other issues cause finishing times to mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic job portion distribution by continuously monitoring the processing status of each image forming apparatus and adjusting the distribution in real-time. Instead of static pre-allocation, the system adapts to actual processing speeds and delays, moving job portions between virtual queues to maintain constant ratio completion across all apparatuses, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms by monitoring the processing status of each image forming apparatus and using this information to adjust job portion distribution. The system receives status information from apparatuses and dynamically redistributes job portions to maintain synchronized finishing times, ensuring both high productivity and reliable completion synchronization.
2Ease of operation
If job portions are distributed equally to all image forming apparatuses, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity deteriorates because apparatuses with different capacities cannot finish simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by distributing job portions according to the specific processing capacity of each image forming apparatus. Instead of uniform distribution, the system allocates job portions proportionally to each apparatus's capabilities, ensuring that all apparatuses can complete their assigned work simultaneously. This differentiated approach maintains operational simplicity while maximizing productivity.
3Device complexity
If distributed printing is implemented without status monitoring, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to inability to coordinate finishing times of multiple apparatuses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements status monitoring and feedback mechanisms to track the processing progress of each image forming apparatus. This feedback information is used to dynamically adjust job portion distribution and maintain synchronized finishing times. The monitoring system communicates with the control apparatus, enabling coordinated distributed processing while managing complexity through standardized status reporting.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for controlling distributed printing to be executed in a distributed printing system including at least plural image forming apparatuses. The program, when being executed, causes an apparatus in the distributed printing system to perform the following processing of controlling distributed printing. The processing includes dividing a print job into job portions, and distributing the job portions to virtual queues corresponding to the image forming apparatuses, respectively. The processing further includes sequentially sending, to each of the image forming apparatuses, job portions in the corresponding virtual queue, in accordance with a status of job processing of the each of the image forming apparatuses, and moving one or more job portions from one to another of the virtual queues so as to keep a ratio of the numbers of job portions remaining in the virtual queues constant.