Portable Printing Computing Device for Legacy Printer Upgrades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers and multi-functional printing devices have slower upgrade cycles due to high initial costs and costly firmware upgrades, leading to older engines being retained despite being obsolete, and there is a lack of demand for newer features and technologies.
Innovation Solution
A portable printing computing device that connects to a network and includes a print job manager, raster image processing firmware, and a communication layer to process page description language print jobs, allowing for firmware upgrades and new features to be added to legacy printers, enabling compatibility with various printer models and formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If firmware upgrades are performed on legacy printers, then new features and technologies can be added, but the cost of firmware upgrades and technician visits is high
Solution Approach 1:
A portable computing device serves as an intermediary between the network and the legacy printer. This device contains the PDL interpreter and RIP software, allowing it to process print jobs locally and send only rendered images to the printer. This intermediary approach enables legacy printers to access new features without requiring expensive firmware upgrades on the printers themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the PDL interpretation and RIP functions from the legacy printer and places them in a separate portable computing device. This separation allows the printer to remain hardware-legacy while gaining access to modern printing capabilities through the external device, avoiding the need for expensive firmware upgrades on the printer itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If newer printer engines are released, then new features and technologies are available, but the initial high costs result in older engines being kept longer
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of replacing the entire printer hardware to access new features, the patent creates a virtual copy of modern printing capabilities through software (PDL interpreter and RIP) running on a portable device. This software copy provides newer features and technologies while avoiding the high initial cost of purchasing new printer engines.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a portable computing device with PDL interpreter and RIP software is used, then compatibility with various printer models and formats is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The portable computing device is designed to be universal, supporting multiple PDL formats (PostScript, PCL, PDF) and working with various printer models through a standardized interface. This multi-functionality achieves broad compatibility while consolidating complexity into a single portable device rather than requiring complex firmware in each printer.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing computing device connects to a printing device using a fast data transfer connector to enable additional functionality and capabilities not offered by the printing device. The printing computing device connects to a network to receive print jobs from external devices within the network. The printing computing device processes the print jobs according to rules such that print jobs are processed accordingly. The printing computing device also includes firmware not available on the printing device such that print jobs not supported by the printing device still may be processed. The printing computing device also includes an engine that determines whether an incoming print job is a PDL print job or a command to perform a function not available on the printing device.