License-Based Print Server Routing for Distributed Production Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial printing systems face inefficiencies in production printing due to the inability to efficiently distribute jobs among multiple printers based on their capabilities, leading to increased waiting times for final products.
Innovation Solution
An industrial printing system with a print server that performs distributed processing by storing license information for function capabilities, determining capable print servers, and managing job distribution based on this information to optimize processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If print data is transferred to each MFP and the MFP itself determines processing capability, then the system operates with simple architecture, but job distribution efficiency is poor and waiting time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-registers the functional capabilities of each MFP in a server before jobs are distributed. This preliminary action allows the server to efficiently determine which MFP can process each job without requiring the MFP to self-determine its capability, thereby improving job distribution efficiency and reducing waiting time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the PC and MFPs. The server manages the registration of MFP capabilities and handles the job distribution decision-making process, acting as a mediator that optimizes the overall system efficiency by matching jobs with appropriate MFPs based on pre-registered capabilities.
2Productivity
If multiple MFPs are used for distributed processing, then processing capacity is increased, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as a central coordinator that manages the complexity of multiple MFPs. By pre-registering capabilities and handling job distribution logic, the server abstracts the complexity from individual MFPs, allowing them to focus on execution while the server manages the overall system coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The server provides universal functionality by managing capability registration, job distribution, and coordination for all MFPs in the system. This multi-functional approach consolidates complex management tasks in a single component, reducing overall system complexity while enabling multiple MFPs to work together efficiently.
3Productivity
If MFPs determine their own processing capability, then device autonomy is high, but job distribution optimization is poor
Solution Approach 1:
Each MFP pre-registers its processing capabilities with the server in advance. This preliminary action allows the MFP to maintain operational autonomy while enabling the server to optimize job distribution by matching jobs with suitable MFPs based on the pre-registered capability information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback mechanism where MFPs report their capabilities to the server, and the server uses this information to make optimized job distribution decisions. This feedback loop allows the system to balance device autonomy with centralized optimization, as MFPs maintain their operational independence while contributing to overall system efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an industrial printing system that efficiently performs peer-to-peer distributed processing for production printing without requiring manual intervention. The system has a plurality of print servers that perform distributed processing of a job. Each of the plurality of print servers includes a storage unit, a processing determination unit, and a processing management unit. The storage unit stores license information including function information of an available distribution destination for distributed processing. The processing determination unit determines other print server that can process the job based on the license information stored in the storage unit. The processing management unit sends the job to the other print server determined to be capable of processing by the processing determination unit and requests processing.