Image Processing Apparatus Charged Amount Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face unfair printing charges due to charges exceeding their budget, especially when printing large monochrome areas with small colored areas, and existing methods require burdensome operations to set limits.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus with a charged amount calculation unit, setting unit, and determination unit that calculates and adjusts the charged amount to ensure it does not exceed a user-set upper limit by performing image processing such as modifying density, compressing images, or reducing print size to meet the limit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If uniform printing charge is applied regardless of print area size, then charging simplicity is maintained, but user fairness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the charging parameter from a fixed uniform rate to a variable rate based on the actual print area ratio (colored area to total area). This allows the charging amount to dynamically adapt to the actual printing characteristics, resolving the contradiction between charging simplicity and user fairness by automating the calculation while maintaining ease of use.
2Measurement precision
If charge is calculated based on toner consumption, then charging accuracy is improved, but user budget control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of the charged amount based on the print area ratio before the user executes the printing operation. By presenting the estimated charge in advance, the user can make informed decisions about whether to proceed with printing, thus maintaining both charging accuracy and user budget control.
3Measurement precision
If user sets upper limit manually, then budget control precision is improved, but operation burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the system to automatically monitor and control the charged amount against the user-set upper limit without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the comparison between actual and limit charges, and automatically prevents printing that would exceed the limit, thereby maintaining budget control precision while eliminating the operational burden of continuous manual monitoring.
4Quantity of substance
If image processing is performed to reduce charged amount, then cost control is improved, but image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies image processing selectively based on the print area ratio. When the colored area ratio is high (indicating potentially high charges), image processing such as converting to grayscale or reducing resolution is applied to reduce the charged amount. When the ratio is low, original quality is maintained. This partial application of processing resolves the contradiction by applying cost-reduction measures only when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
In a printing apparatus, a charged amount to be charged when printing is carried out under a predetermined condition is calculated in advance. If the charged amount is lower than an upper limit of the charged amount set by a user, printing is performed. Meanwhile, if the charged amount exceeds the upper limit, image processing for suppressing the charged amount or processing for changing a parameter is performed. Then, when the charged amount becomes lower than the upper limit, printing is performed.