Image Output Management Apparatus for Reducing Wasteful Print Jobs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image output systems do not effectively identify and manage overlapping request information, leading to wasteful image outputs when multiple requests for the same file or similar tasks are processed without user notification.
Innovation Solution
An image output management apparatus that compares request information and generates presentation information indicating overlapping requests, allowing users to identify and delete redundant or outdated requests before executing image output, thereby preventing wasteful outputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple overlapping request information are processed without identification, then image output is executed according to all requests, but wasteful image outputs occur due to redundant processing
Solution Approach 1:
The determination unit performs preliminary comparison and identification of overlapping request information before image output execution. By detecting similarities between request information in advance and generating presentation information, the system allows users to identify and manage redundant requests before they are processed, thereby preventing wasteful image outputs while maintaining efficient processing of unique requests
2Loss of energy
If request information comparison and presentation information generation are implemented, then wasteful image outputs are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image output management apparatus acts as an intermediary between the user's request information and the image output execution. It introduces a determination unit that compares request information and a generation unit that creates presentation information, serving as a mediating layer that identifies overlapping requests without requiring direct user intervention in the comparison process, thus managing complexity internally while providing simple user interaction
3Loss of information
If overlapping requests are identified and presented to users, then user control over redundant outputs is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual user review of all request information with an automated determination unit that mechanically compares request information using similarity determination. This substitution of automated comparison mechanisms for manual review processes provides users with pre-processed presentation information that highlights overlapping requests, improving transparency while minimizing the time users need to spend reviewing requests
Data Source
AI summary
An image output management apparatus includes a determination unit and a generating unit. The determination unit compares, with one another, pieces of request information for requesting image output, and thus determines pieces of request information satisfying a predetermined similarity condition. The generating unit generates presentation information as prior information. The presentation information indicates the pieces of request information satisfying the similarity condition. The prior information is presented to a user before execution of image output according to the pieces of request information.