Print Control Device Preventing Unintended Email Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses with email print functions often produce unnecessary printed outputs due to the difficulty in determining whether the apparatus's address is included in the recipient list, leading to wasteful use of resources such as printing sheets and toner, especially when emails are forwarded or replied to without intended print instructions.
Innovation Solution
A print control device and method that includes a receiving part, an address extracting part, and an output controlling part to determine if multiple addresses are designated in an email, preventing the production of printed output if the apparatus's address is among them, and an email transmission device that automatically deletes the apparatus's address from recipient lists to avoid unintended printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the email print function automatically produces printed output when receiving emails with multiple recipient addresses, then the email print function can share information among multiple users, but unnecessary printed outputs are produced when replies or forwards are sent, leading to resource waste
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by proactively preventing the harmful effect of unnecessary printing before it occurs. The image forming apparatus analyzes the email content and recipient addresses, and when it detects a reply email (identified by subject line patterns or recipient patterns), it preemptively suppresses the print output. This prevents the waste of printing sheets and toner while maintaining the ability to print legitimate emails.
2Loss of substance
If the image forming apparatus monitors and analyzes email content to determine whether to produce printed output, then unnecessary printing can be prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring incoming emails and using the analysis results to control the printing operation. The image forming apparatus receives emails, analyzes subject lines and recipient addresses, and uses this feedback information to dynamically decide whether to suppress print output. This feedback mechanism enables intelligent printing control without requiring complex hardware modifications.
3Loss of substance
If the print control device suppresses printed output for emails with multiple recipients, then resource waste is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates as users cannot easily determine when printing will occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to users about the printing suppression decisions. The image forming apparatus can display notifications or messages indicating when an email has been suppressed from printing and the reason for suppression (e.g., detected as a reply email). This feedback maintains user awareness and control while enabling automatic suppression of unnecessary prints.
Data Source
AI summary
A print control device, comprises: a receiving part for receiving an email; an address extracting part for extracting an address designated as a recipient of the email received by the receiving part; and an output controlling part for controlling production of a printed output based on the email when the receiving part receives the email. The output controlling part does not produce the printed output based on the email received by the receiving part if the multiple addresses are extracted by the address extracting part.