Interrupt Job Scheduling in Printing Systems

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In printing systems, small-quantity jobs without deadlines are delayed until large-quantity jobs with deadlines are finished, and executing such jobs in the middle can cause the large-quantity job to miss its deadline, leading to scheduling conflicts.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with a control unit that allows a second job without a deadline to be executed without missing the deadline of a first job, by managing the printing schedule and interrupting processes to ensure timely completion of both jobs through a workflow software and printer control system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a small-quantity interrupting job without a deadline is executed after a large-quantity job with a deadline is finished, then the interrupting job can be completed, but the interrupting job finishes late and cannot be executed timely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejob completion efficiencyVSAvoidtime delay of interrupting job

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit determines in advance whether to execute the interrupting job by calculating the remaining time of the current job and comparing it with the deadline of the interrupting job. This preliminary assessment allows the system to decide whether to interrupt the current job execution, preventing time delays of interrupting jobs without compromising the completion of jobs with deadlines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If a small-quantity interrupting job without a deadline is executed in the middle of a large-quantity job with a deadline, then the interrupting job can be completed timely, but the large-quantity job may miss its deadline

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime delay of interrupting jobVSAvoiddeadline compliance of large-quantity job

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs preliminary calculation of the remaining time of the current job before executing an interrupting job. By comparing this remaining time with the deadline of the interrupting job, the system determines in advance whether interrupting is safe, ensuring that jobs with deadlines are not compromised while still enabling timely completion of interrupting jobs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit continuously monitors the execution status of jobs and uses feedback information (remaining time, deadline) to dynamically adjust job scheduling decisions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to make real-time decisions about whether to execute interrupting jobs without compromising the reliability of jobs with deadlines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the control unit always executes interrupting jobs, then job responsiveness is improved, but the scheduling complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejob execution responsivenessVSAvoidscheduling control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit uses parameter-based decision making by calculating remaining time and comparing it with deadline parameters. This parameter change approach simplifies the scheduling logic by reducing complex scheduling decisions to straightforward parameter comparisons, making the control mechanism easier to operate while maintaining responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10809953B2Information processing apparatus for controlling interrupt job and non-transitory computer readable medium storing program

Publication Date: 2020.10.20 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes a control unit that performs control such that performs control such that a second job for which no deadline is set is executed in a case where the second job is received while a first job for which a deadline is set is being executed and the deadline of the first job is not missed even in a case where the second job is executed.