Job Execution Apparatus Condition Prioritization

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Solution Overview

Problem

In pull printing systems, users may not always obtain the desired output as the selected apparatus may not be capable of executing the job based on the specified conditions, leading to unsatisfactory results.

Innovation Solution

A job execution apparatus that receives and determines executable conditions, prioritizes them, and executes the job based on the highest priority condition, while also providing options to select alternative apparatuses if the initial one cannot meet the conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a user selects an apparatus arbitrarily from among a plurality of apparatuses in a pull printing system, then the user can execute the job at a different location, but the selected apparatus may not be capable of executing the job based on the specified conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation flexibilityVSAvoidcondition fulfillment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of executable conditions when job data is submitted to the server. The server stores not only the job data but also the conditions under which the job can be executed, allowing the selected apparatus to be pre-screened for capability matching before the user arrives at the execution location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to the user about which conditions can be executed by the selected apparatus. When a user selects an apparatus, the system informs the user about the executable conditions and any conditions that cannot be fulfilled, allowing the user to make an informed decision or adjust expectations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system stores multiple conditions for job execution, then the user can specify desired output requirements, but the system complexity increases in determining which conditions are executable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecondition specificationVSAvoidcondition determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the condition determination process into two parts: (1) The server stores and manages multiple executable conditions associated with job data, and (2) The selected apparatus determines which of these pre-defined conditions it can execute. This segmentation reduces the complexity burden on any single component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system accepts and stores more conditions than may ultimately be executable, then filters down to what is actually feasible. The apparatus determines executable conditions by evaluating which subset of the stored conditions it can fulfill, rather than requiring perfect precision in the initial condition specification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9710200B2Adaptive job execution apparatus for executing a job with a plurality of alternative sets of executing conditions, job execution method, and computer-readable storage medium for computer program

Publication Date: 2017.07.18 KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECH INC

AI summary

An image forming apparatus is provided with the following functional portions: a printable/unprintable determination portion that determines whether or not a print job can be executed based on any of a plurality of conditions specified by a user; and a first printing process portion that executes, if it has been determined that the print job can be executed based on any of the plurality of conditions, the print job based on any of executable conditions among the plurality of conditions, the executable conditions being conditions based on which the print job can be executed.