Image Forming Apparatus Print Job Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses struggle to determine whether to refuse a print job from an external device based on whether another user is physically using the device, posing challenges in maintaining social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a communication device and a job managing unit that determines if a user is physically using the device and, if so, decides whether to refuse or allow a print job request, displaying a message to the user and considering user relationship data to make this decision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image forming apparatus refuses print jobs when another user is physically using it, then social distancing is maintained and safety is improved, but the device complexity increases due to user detection and job management logic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a job managing unit as an intermediary component that mediates between external print job requests and the physical device state. This unit detects whether another user is physically using the apparatus and manages print job requests accordingly, resolving the contradiction by adding a dedicated control layer rather than complicating the entire device system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the job managing unit continuously monitors the physical usage state of the apparatus and adjusts print job acceptance decisions based on this feedback. When another user is detected, the system provides feedback to refuse or delay print jobs, thereby maintaining safety while using a structured control approach.
2Reliability
If the apparatus determines whether to refuse print jobs based on physical user presence, then user safety and social distancing are ensured, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to the need to detect physical user presence
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus uses its existing operational state information to infer physical user presence. When the apparatus is in a state indicating active use (such as processing jobs or displaying interfaces), it self-determines that a user is physically present, eliminating the need for separate detection sensors or complex measurement systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The job managing unit serves multiple functions: it manages print job queues, detects user presence through operational state monitoring, and makes decisions about job acceptance. By making this single component multi-functional, the patent avoids adding specialized detection devices, thereby reducing the difficulty of detection while maintaining safety.
3Ease of operation
If the apparatus allows all print job requests regardless of user presence, then device complexity and operation simplicity are maintained, but social distancing cannot be enforced and overcrowding may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The job managing unit performs preliminary checks before accepting print jobs by determining whether another user is physically using the apparatus. This preliminary action prevents unsafe job acceptance before it occurs, maintaining ease of operation for legitimate users while enforcing safety protocols through automated pre-verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on real-time conditions. When no user is physically present, the apparatus operates in a permissive mode allowing all print jobs. When another user is detected, it switches to a restrictive mode that refuses or delays jobs, thereby maintaining ease of operation under normal conditions while ensuring safety when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
In an image forming apparatus, a communication device performs data communication with an external user terminal apparatus, and a job managing unit receives a print job request from the user terminal apparatus using the communication device. Further, when receiving the print job request from the user terminal apparatus, the job managing unit determines whether there is a user who is physically directly using the image forming apparatus or not, if there is not a user who is physically directly using the image forming apparatus, allows the print job request and if there is a user who is physically directly using the image forming apparatus, determines whether the print job request should be refused or not, and if the print job request should not be refused, allows the print job request and if the print job request should be refused, refuses the print job request.