Point-Based Printing System Resolving Material Consumption Costs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users on the reception side incur printing costs when printing content using their own printers, deterring them from printing advertisements or other desired materials due to concerns about material consumption costs.
Innovation Solution
A printing system where a server manages points for both transmission and reception users, transferring points from the transmission user to the reception user upon content printing, allowing the reception user to print without incurring printing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the reception user prints content using their own printer, then the content can be distributed and viewed, but the reception user incurs printing costs for material consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that manages point balances for both transmission and reception users. When content is printed by the reception user, the server automatically transfers points from the transmission user to the reception user, compensating for the printing material consumption. This mediator system enables content distribution while offsetting the substance loss through automated point management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the economic parameter of printing by introducing a point-based compensation system. Instead of the reception user directly bearing the cost of printing materials, the system transforms the cost structure by allowing point transfers from transmission to reception users, effectively changing the parameter of material consumption cost from a burden to a compensated expense.
2Loss of substance
If the reception user is concerned about printing costs, then material consumption is reduced, but content printing and dissemination is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as a mediator that resolves the conflict between material conservation and content dissemination. By automatically managing point transfers when printing occurs, the system removes the user's direct financial concern about material consumption, thereby enabling higher printing volumes without proportionally increasing net material loss, as transmission users bear the cost through their point balances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of increased material consumption from high printing volumes into a benefit by implementing a point compensation system. The transmission user's points are transferred to the reception user, turning the material consumption that would normally be a loss into a beneficial exchange that enables content dissemination while tracking and compensating for resource usage.
3Ease of operation
If points are transferred from transmission user to reception user upon printing, then reception user printing cost burden is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server serves as an intermediary that centralizes the complexity of point management, shielding individual users from system complexity. The transmission user simply sends content, and the reception user simply prints - the automated point transfer logic resides in the server intermediary, which handles the complex tracking of point balances, transfer conditions, and user accounts without requiring user intervention or understanding of the underlying complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A transmission apparatus transmits an e-mail having a content attached thereto to a mail address destination of a printer. A server having a function of a mail server acquires a thumbnail image of a content acquired from the received e-mail and printing setting information and transmits the thumbnail image and the printing setting information to a terminal. A receiver confirms details of the content and printing setting details on the terminal, and then transmits a printing request notification from the terminal to the server. The server transmits printing data converted from the content and causes the printer to print the content. After the printing data is transmitted, the server performs a process of giving points according to the printing of the content to a user of the reception apparatus.


