Generic Email Print Routing via Sender Address Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in selecting the appropriate network printer for their print jobs due to the complexity of remembering randomly generated email addresses assigned to printers, especially when multiple printers are available, and existing solutions do not efficiently manage printer selection based on user preferences or capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A server system that allows users to send print jobs via a generic email address, with a decision module that redirects print requests to the appropriate printer based on the sender's email address, location, and printer characteristics, using a database to maintain associations and filter available printers, and employing string analysis for intent determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a randomly generated email address is assigned to each printer, then printer security and spam prevention are improved, but user ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in remembering complex addresses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the user and the printer. The server receives print requests sent to a generic email address, determines the appropriate printer based on sender information and printer characteristics, and forwards the request to the selected printer. This mediator eliminates the need for users to remember complex printer-specific email addresses while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal generic email address (e.g., print@service.com) that can be used by multiple users to access different printers. The system determines the specific printer destination based on the sender's email address and printer characteristics, allowing one email address to serve multiple functions and users.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple network printers are available, then printer capabilities and location options are improved, but device complexity increases due to need to know details about each printer
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically determining the appropriate printer based on the sender's email address and printer characteristics stored in the database. The server autonomously selects the best printer match without requiring users to manually search or configure printer details, reducing complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-storing printer characteristics and associations with email addresses in a database before print requests are received. When a print request arrives, the system quickly queries the pre-organized data to determine the appropriate printer, eliminating the need for users to have advance knowledge of printer details.
3Ease of operation
If a generic email address is used for all printers, then user convenience is improved, but printer identification accuracy may worsen without proper disambiguation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the email address mapping specific to each user through their individual email address. While the destination address remains generic, the system creates user-specific routing rules that accurately identify which printer should receive the print request based on the sender's email address and associated printer characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic message is received from a sender having a destination address indicative of a request to print data included in the message. A printer is determined to fulfill the request based at least in part on the sender address and a printer characteristic. The data to be printed is sent to the printer for fulfillment of the request.