Image Forming Apparatus With Page-Level Print Setting Overrides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming technologies require lengthy and redundant job tickets to specify print settings for both general and exceptional pages, leading to increased data amounts and inefficient processing.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus and control device that prioritize exceptional print settings over general settings, allowing for a simplified job ticket structure by specifying general settings first and exceptional settings thereafter, reducing redundant descriptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If both general settings and exceptional settings are specified in detail for each page, then print settings can be precisely controlled, but the job ticket becomes lengthy and data amount increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments print settings into two distinct categories: general settings that apply to all pages, and exceptional settings that apply only to specific pages. This segmentation allows the job ticket to efficiently represent print settings by specifying general settings once and only including exceptional settings for pages that differ from the general configuration, thereby reducing overall data amount while maintaining precise control over both general and page-specific print parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of specifying complete settings for every page, the patent uses partial action by only describing exceptional settings for specific pages that differ from the general settings. The analyzer intelligently applies general settings to all pages by default and then overlays exceptional settings only where needed, reducing the job ticket data amount while preserving the ability to precisely control print settings for pages requiring special treatment.
2Manufacturing precision
If exceptional settings are specified for each specific page, then precise control over specific pages is achieved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing general settings that automatically apply to all pages before processing individual page exceptions. The analyzer first applies the general settings framework, then selectively overrides specific settings for pages that have exceptional configurations. This preliminary establishment of general settings simplifies processing by providing a default baseline that reduces the number of individual page settings that need to be processed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different levels of setting specification across different pages. General settings provide a uniform baseline for all pages, while exceptional settings provide localized customization for specific pages that require different configurations. This approach optimizes processing complexity by applying simple general rules broadly and applying complex specific rules only where necessary.
3Quantity of substance
If general settings are applied to all pages, then job ticket data amount is reduced, but flexibility for specific page settings is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics by creating a flexible hierarchy where general settings serve as the default for all pages, but can be dynamically overridden by exceptional settings for specific pages. The analyzer processes the job ticket by first applying general settings universally, then selectively applying exceptional settings to override specific parameters for particular pages. This dynamic approach maintains small job ticket data amounts while preserving full flexibility for specific page configurations when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves universality by designing a dual-layer setting system where general settings provide a universal baseline applicable to all pages, while exceptional settings provide targeted customization. This multi-functional structure allows the same job ticket to efficiently handle both uniform print requirements across all pages and specialized requirements for individual pages, maximizing both data compression and setting flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, and a control device that acts as an analyzer and a controller. The analyzer analyzes a job ticket in which a print setting is described, and specifies a print condition on a basis of the print setting. The controller executes a print job by controlling an operation of the image forming device according to the print condition, thereby forming an image represented by data to be printed, on a recording sheet. The analyzer specifies the print condition on a basis of a general setting to be applied to all pages of the data to be printed, and specifies, when an exceptional setting to be applied to a specific page of the data to be printed is described in the job ticket, the print condition giving priority to the exceptional setting, over the general setting.