Image Forming Device Server-Push Control for Fast Job Stops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming devices lack the capability to quickly stop image formation in response to a job stop instruction from a terminal device, as they rely on continuous polling for updates which increases processing and communication load.
Innovation Solution
The image forming device establishes a server-push type connection with a print mediation server upon receiving a job execution response, allowing the server to send a stop command without additional inquiries, thereby reducing processing and communication load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the image forming device repeatedly sends inquiry requests to the server to check for job execution status, then the device can receive job execution responses, but the device cannot quickly receive job stop instructions from the server
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional polling communication model by implementing a server-push mechanism. Instead of the image forming device continuously sending inquiry requests to check for job status, the server maintains an established connection and proactively pushes job stop instructions to the device when needed. This inversion allows the server to initiate communication asymmetrically, enabling fast notification of stop instructions without requiring the device to continuously poll.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing the server-push connection in advance, before any job stop instruction needs to be transmitted. When the server receives a job cancellation request, it can immediately push the stop instruction through the pre-established connection without waiting for the next inquiry request cycle. This preliminary establishment of the communication channel eliminates the delay inherent in polling-based systems.
2Reliability
If the image forming device continuously polls the server for job status updates, then the device can detect job execution status, but processing and communication load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces continuous periodic polling with event-driven communication. Instead of the image forming device sending inquiry requests at fixed intervals, the system transitions to a model where the server pushes notifications only when relevant events occur (job execution status changes, job cancellation requests). This eliminates unnecessary periodic communications while maintaining reliable job status notification, significantly reducing processing and communication load.
Solution Approach 2:
The server takes responsibility for initiating communications by pushing job status updates and stop instructions to the image forming device. This self-service approach eliminates the need for the device to actively poll the server, as the server automatically notifies the device of relevant events. The server monitors its own state and services the client by pushing updates when needed, reducing the communication burden on the image forming device.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming device disclosed herein may comprise an image forming engine and a controller. The controller may be configured to: repeatedly send an inquiry request to a server, wherein in a case where the job execution response is received from the server, control the image forming engine to start image formation; and in the case where the job execution response is received from the server, establish a connection of server-push type with the server, wherein in a case where the server receives a job stop instruction from the terminal device, the server sends an image formation stop command to the image forming device by using the connection without receiving the inquiry request from the image forming device, wherein in a case where the image formation stop command is received from the server, the image formation is stopped.