MFP Document State Management via Print Completion Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for managing fax documents fail to accurately update their read status when partial pages are not printed due to issues like paper jams, leading to documents being incorrectly marked as read even if not all pages are viewed.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that accumulates fax documents and controls their output, setting the document state to 'unread' unless all pages are successfully printed or output, using a multi-function printer (MFP) with integrated circuitry and software to manage document states based on output completion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the document state is switched to already read when a user instructs to print a document, then the document management is simplified, but the document state becomes inaccurate when some pages are not printed due to paper jams or other issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by monitoring the actual printing process and using the completion status to determine whether to switch the document state to 'already read'. The control unit receives feedback from the printing unit about whether all pages were successfully printed, and only updates the document state when printing is fully completed, ensuring accurate state management while maintaining simple operation.
2Productivity
If the document state is switched to already read upon print instruction, then the operation process is streamlined, but the user cannot view unprinted pages which causes information loss
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors printing progress and provides feedback about which pages have been printed. This feedback mechanism ensures that the document state is only updated to 'already read' when all pages are successfully printed, preventing information loss while maintaining efficient operation flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of printing completion before switching the document state. By checking whether all pages are printed before updating the state, the system ensures that no information is lost and the user can still access unprinted pages if needed, while maintaining streamlined operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes circuitry configured to: accumulate a document received by FAX in a storage; control output of the accumulated document based on an operation of a user; and set a state of the document to unread in response to the document being accumulated in the storage, and set the state of the document to already read on condition that output of all pages of the document is completed.