Peer-to-Peer Printing Network for Central Server-Free Output Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing output management systems for color printing operations are limited by the need for a central server, which restricts the number of supported printing devices and are costly, making them impractical for many print shops.
Innovation Solution
A peer-to-peer network is established between digital front ends (DFEs) of printing devices, enabling direct exchange of device information and management functions such as load balancing, capability matching, failover, and print splitting without the need for a central server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a central output management server is used to manage print jobs across multiple printing devices, then output management functions such as load balancing, capability matching, and failover can be implemented, but the system cost increases and the number of supported printing devices is limited by the server's processing capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the output management functionality from a centralized server and distributes it to individual printing devices through embedded controllers. Each printing device independently performs load balancing, capability matching, and failover decisions by exchanging information with peers, eliminating the need for a costly central management server while maintaining full output management capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the centralized output management function into distributed intelligence at each printing device. Instead of one server handling all decisions, each device has an embedded controller that can independently make routing decisions based on real-time peer information, allowing the system to scale to many more devices without increasing central processing capacity
2Productivity
If a central output management server is used to route print jobs to multiple printing devices, then load balancing and capability matching can be achieved, but the server must have sufficient processing capacity to handle all devices concurrently, limiting the practical number of supported devices
Solution Approach 1:
Each printing device serves itself by independently evaluating its own workload and capabilities, then making intelligent routing decisions for incoming print jobs. The embedded controller at each device autonomously exchanges information with peers and determines optimal job distribution, eliminating the need for a powerful central server to make all routing decisions
3Adaptability or versatility
If print jobs are routed through a central server to multiple printing devices, then output management functions are enabled, but the solution is expensive and not practical for every print shop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive centralized output management software and hardware with inexpensive embedded controllers already present in modern printing devices. These embedded controllers provide sufficient processing capability for output management functions at a fraction of the cost of dedicated central management servers, making the solution economically viable for businesses of all sizes
Data Source
AI summary
A peer-to-peer network of printing devices is configured to share printing device information, such as job queue status, configuration information, and resource information for automated load balancing, capability matching, failover, and print splitting operations. A digital front end (DFE) of a printing device establishes connections with the DFEs of other printing devices to manage output within the peer-to-peer network in an automated manner. When a print job is received at a DFE for a printing device, it is evaluated to determine how to best manage the output for the print job.