Print Data Buffer Management for Network Disconnection Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional print systems face errors and prolonged processing times when network disconnections occur during print data transfer, as they often treat re-print jobs starting from intermediate pages as new jobs, leading to interruptions and increased total processing time.
Innovation Solution
The system detects network disconnections and adjusts the transfer buffer size to prevent errors by decreasing the data transfer rate, allowing for seamless reconnection and continuation of print jobs without starting from the first page, thereby maintaining print data integrity and reducing overall processing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the printer continues printing even after network disconnection is detected, then printing operation is maintained, but print data integrity deteriorates due to potential errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the printer periodically transmits status information to the information processing apparatus during printing. When network disconnection is detected, the apparatus receives this status feedback and determines the appropriate action (canceling or continuing printing) based on whether the disconnection occurred before or after a predetermined point in the print data transfer, thus maintaining both continuity and integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by transferring print data to a buffer memory in advance before network disconnection occurs. This buffer stores the print data up to a predetermined point, allowing the system to determine whether to continue printing from the buffer or restart, thereby preventing data integrity issues while maintaining printing continuity
2Reliability
If the print job is canceled upon network disconnection, then print data integrity is maintained, but productivity decreases due to potential re-printing from the beginning
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by transferring print data to a buffer memory in advance before network disconnection occurs. This buffer stores the print data up to a predetermined point, allowing the system to determine whether to continue printing from the buffer or restart, thereby preventing data integrity issues while maintaining printing continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the printer periodically transmits status information to the information processing apparatus during printing. When network disconnection is detected, the apparatus receives this status feedback and determines the appropriate action (canceling or continuing printing) based on whether the disconnection occurred before or after a predetermined point in the print data transfer, thus maintaining both continuity and integrity
3Productivity
If the transfer buffer size is increased to reduce re-printing, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases due to buffer management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the transfer buffer size based on network conditions and printing status. Rather than using a fixed large buffer that would increase complexity, the buffer size is changed as a parameter according to the actual situation (e.g., increasing buffer size when network is stable, decreasing it when disconnection is detected), thereby reducing re-printing without permanently increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer management system is made dynamic rather than static. The buffer size and management strategies are adjusted in real-time based on network connection status, printing progress, and detected conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize productivity without being burdened by complex fixed buffer management structures
Data Source
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AI summary
An information processing apparatus connectable to a server which manages print data, and a printer which prints based on the print data receives the print data from the server, and transfers the received print data to the printer by each first data size. When a disconnection between the server and the information processing apparatus is detected, the information processing apparatus transfers the print data to the printer by each second data size smaller than the first data size.