Dynamic Printer Performance Monitoring via Analytics Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Production printers in print shops experience varying downtime due to maintenance and repair, making it difficult for operators to determine if each printer is operating efficiently, as there is no effective way to compare their productivity across different models and environments.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a printer analytics server to collect and analyze performance data from multiple printers, allowing for real-time monitoring and reporting of productivity metrics, enabling operators to set dynamic production targets and identify deviations, thus optimizing printer operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If production printers are used for volume printing, then printing productivity increases, but determining optimal operation efficiency becomes difficult due to varying downtime between printers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines performance data from multiple printers into a centralized database, merging individual printer metrics (uptime, downtime, throughput) into aggregate population performance data that enables comparative analysis and determination of optimal operation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously collecting performance data from printers, comparing individual printer performance against population averages, and providing operators with information about whether their printers are operating optimally, enabling corrective actions to maintain peak productivity
2Measurement precision
If real-time monitoring of individual printers is implemented, then operational efficiency can be determined, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal monitoring system that collects multiple types of performance data (uptime, downtime, throughput, error rates) from various printer models through standardized interfaces, enabling comprehensive performance measurement without requiring printer-specific complex monitoring solutions
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a centralized database and analytics server as intermediaries between individual printers and operators, simplifying the monitoring architecture by aggregating and processing raw performance data before presenting it to users, rather than requiring direct complex monitoring at each printer
3Productivity
If dynamic production targets are set based on population performance data, then productivity optimization improves, but data collection and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential performance metrics needed for productivity optimization (uptime, downtime, throughput) from the total data generated by printers, storing and processing only these key parameters to establish dynamic production targets without being overwhelmed by unnecessary data volume
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for printer analytics. One embodiment includes a printer analytics server. The server includes a memory, an interface configured to collect performance data from a population of printers and a subject printer on an ongoing basis for storage in the memory, and a controller able to determine a production target for the subject printer relative to the population of printers based on the performance data. The production target dynamically varies over time as a function of the performance data of the population of printers. The controller is further able to generate reports indicating deviation of the subject printer from the production target, as the performance data for the subject printer and the population of printers changes over time, and to transmit the reports to a print server of a print shop that operates the subject printer.