External Storage Collation for Small All-in-One Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-functional printers and all-in-one printers with limited internal memory struggle to perform collation for large jobs without additional internal storage, as their internal memory is insufficient to hold all pages, leading to increased costs when additional hardware is required.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that utilizes external storage units or systems to manage and store print job data for collation, allowing multiple copies of documents to be printed in collated order without the need for additional internal storage, by forwarding data to an external storage unit when requested and retrieving it for printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional internal storage is installed to support collation for large jobs, then collation capability is improved, but printer cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external storage device as an intermediary between the printer's internal memory and the collation process. The external storage acts as a mediator that provides the necessary storage capacity for collation without requiring the printer itself to have expanded internal storage, thereby resolving the contradiction between collation capability and printer cost.
2Adaptability or versatility
If internal memory is increased to hold all pages for collation, then collation functionality is enabled, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the storage function required for collation from the printer's internal memory system and relocates it to an external storage device. This separation allows the printer to maintain its simple internal memory architecture while still providing full collation functionality through the external storage resource.
3Quantity of substance
If external storage is used for PDF/XPS jobs, then storage capacity is increased, but storage availability for collation may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic storage allocation where the external storage is flexibly assigned to different functions based on the current job requirements. When a PDF/XPS job is being processed, the external storage is used for that purpose; when collation is required, the same external storage is allocated to collation needs. This dynamic allocation allows the system to adapt storage availability to the specific demands of each job type.
Data Source
AI summary
A method implemented in a data processing system including an image forming apparatus for producing a print job, which includes the steps of: (a) receiving data representing a document to be printed in the print job; (b) receiving job information about the print job; (c) determining if the job information includes an instruction to print multiple copies of the document in a collated order; (d) forwarding the data representing the document to be printed in the print job to an external storage unit when multiple copies of the document in collated order have been requested; (e) retrieving the data from the external storage unit; and (f) printing the multiple copies of the document in collated order.