Image Forming Apparatus Print Job Reception Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face memory shortages when handling multiple print jobs, particularly during sort printing, leading to inefficient execution of print jobs due to excessive restriction of receiving other jobs, regardless of the printing method used.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus determines whether print data is to be printed by sort printing and restricts the reception of subsequent print jobs only when sort printing is confirmed, allowing other jobs to be received without restriction when sort printing is not involved, thus optimizing memory allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image forming apparatus restricts reception of other PDL jobs to allocate memory for executing a received PDL job, then memory shortage is prevented, but reception of other PDL jobs is excessively restricted and print job execution efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the restriction policy based on the printing method. For sort printing, reception of other PDL jobs is restricted to prevent memory shortage, while for group printing, reception is not restricted. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying restriction only where necessary (sort printing) rather than universally, thus maintaining memory reliability while preserving print job execution efficiency for non-sort printing scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the reception restriction policy flexible and adaptive to the type of printing being performed. The determination unit dynamically identifies whether sort printing or group printing is being executed, and the restriction unit dynamically adjusts its behavior accordingly - restricting reception only during sort printing and allowing reception during group printing. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing memory management for sort printing while maintaining high efficiency for group printing
2Ease of operation
If the image forming apparatus stores print data on all pages to be printed in the memory at a time for sort printing, then sort printing can be performed, but free space of the memory is exhausted and PDL jobs cannot be executed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively restricting the reception of new PDL jobs before memory shortage occurs during sort printing. The determination unit identifies sort printing in advance, and the restriction unit preemptively prevents new jobs from being received, ensuring that sufficient memory free space is maintained throughout the sort printing process. This preliminary restriction resolves the contradiction by preventing memory exhaustion before it happens, thus maintaining both sort printing capability and adequate memory free space
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus which is capable of efficiently executing print jobs. The image forming apparatus receives a second print job after receiving a first print job and prints a plurality of copies of print data corresponding to the first print job. Whether or not the print data is to be printed by sort printing is determined, and when the print data is to be printed by sort printing, reception of the second print job is restricted until printing of the print data is completed, and when the print data is not to be printed by sort printing, reception of the second print job is not restricted even before printing of the print data is completed.