Hierarchical Printing Control for Mixed Single-Double Sided Jobs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current printing technologies require separate printing jobs for single-sided and double-sided printing, leading to inefficient productivity and increased maintenance costs due to the need for blank page insertion and inability to set different printing settings within a single job.
Innovation Solution
A printing control method that utilizes a hierarchical structure to set and manage different printing settings for single-sided and double-sided printing within a single printing job, allowing for independent setting of attributes at various layers and ensuring compatibility with the printer's capabilities, while warning users of potential setting changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate printing jobs are used for single-sided and double-sided printing, then printing settings can be applied correctly, but productivity decreases and maintenance costs increase due to multiple jobs and blank page insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple printing jobs (single-sided and double-sided) into a single integrated printing job. The system allows users to specify different printing settings for different portions of the same document within one job, eliminating the need for separate jobs and subsequent manual combination of printouts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the printing job into multiple portions, each with its own printing settings. The system divides the document into different sections that can have different printing attributes (single-sided or double-sided), allowing flexible configuration within a single job while maintaining printing efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If blank pages are inserted for single-sided printing parts, then double-sided printing can be achieved, but printing time increases and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the document structure and printing requirements before actual printing. It pre-calculates the optimal printing sequence and page arrangement, determining exactly which pages need single-sided or double-sided printing without requiring blank pages as placeholders, thus eliminating unnecessary printing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes printing parameters (single-sided or double-sided) for different portions of the document within the same job. The system adjusts printing settings based on document sections rather than applying a uniform setting throughout, optimizing printing time and eliminating wasteful blank page printing.
3Device complexity
If uniform printing settings are applied to all parts, then printing job management is simple, but different printing settings cannot be included in one job
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic printing settings that can change within a single printing job. The system allows printing parameters to be dynamically adjusted for different document portions based on user specifications, transitioning from static uniform settings to dynamic section-specific settings while maintaining manageable complexity through automated processing.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a printing control method and apparatus, a computer program product, and the like in which printing data is held in a hierarchical structure and a printing job is issued to a printer to cause the printer to print. In the printing control method according to the present invention, different setting values can be set in the lower and upper layers of the hierarchical structure as printing setting data containing double-sided printing or single-sided printing setting. When a setting value different from that of the upper layer is set in the lower layer of the hierarchical structure, the printer is instructed on a setting in the lower layer for each printing data to which the setting value is applied.