Dynamic Printing Order Control via Internal Priority Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses lack the ability to dynamically change the printing order of multiple jobs based on user instructions, leading to potential misalignment of print orders when new jobs are added, and do not effectively manage interrupt printing or unpresented jobs, resulting in user inconvenience.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with an instruction acquiring unit, internal priority setting unit, and list adjusting unit that allows users to change the printing order by setting internal priorities different from the set priorities, adjusting the order of added jobs, and managing unpresented jobs to ensure proper printing order alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the printing order is changed based on user instructions, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for internal priority management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting order adaptabilityVSAvoidpriority management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The priority management system is segmented into two distinct layers: set priority (user-defined) and internal priority (system-managed). This segmentation allows the system to handle complex printing order requirements through the internal priority mechanism while keeping the user interface simple through the set priority concept.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The internal priority acts as an intermediary between the user's set priority instructions and the actual printing execution. When jobs are added or removed, the internal priority automatically adjusts to maintain correct printing order without requiring direct user intervention, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If new jobs are added to the waiting state, then the productivity is improved, but the printing order alignment deteriorates due to potential misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejob processing throughputVSAvoidprinting order alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary assignment of internal priorities to all jobs in the waiting state before execution begins. When new jobs are added, their internal priorities are pre-calculated based on their set priorities and the current job list state, ensuring immediate correct positioning without disrupting the printing order alignment of existing jobs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the job list state and provides feedback adjustments to internal priorities. When jobs are added or removed, the system detects these changes and automatically recalculates internal priorities to maintain correct printing order alignment, thus preserving both productivity and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If the set priority is used directly for printing order, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability deteriorates due to inability to dynamically adjust order

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepriority system simplicityVSAvoidprinting order flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces dynamics by making the internal priority adjustable and responsive to changes in the job list state, while the set priority remains static and simple. This dynamic internal priority layer enables flexible adaptation to job additions, removals, and user preferences without complicating the fundamental priority assignment mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11880621B1Image forming apparatus and image forming method capable of changing the internal priority of printing order

Publication Date: 2024.01.23 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately setting and adjusting the order of printing jobs by changing an internal priority. An instruction acquiring unit presents a job list in which a plurality of jobs is arranged in printing order, and it acquires a change instruction of the printing order. An internal priority setting unit sets, based on the change instruction acquired by the instruction acquiring unit, an internal priority that is different from set priority specified for each of the plurality of jobs. A list adjusting unit adjusts the printing order of an adding job according to the internal priority set by the internal priority setting unit and reflects adjustment in the job list. An image forming unit outputs each of the plurality of jobs in the printing order based on the job list adjusted by the list adjusting unit.