Print Control Program Merging Local and External Jobs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprise applications in large organizations often have individual processes for data output, making it inconvenient for users to include print jobs from these systems in user-centric centralized print queue systems.
Innovation Solution
A print control program that maintains a local print queue, requests and merges lists of local and external print jobs, and sends a combined job list to the image forming device, allowing users to manage all print jobs in a single list.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If enterprise applications have individual processes for data output, then each application can control its own printing, but users cannot include these print jobs in centralized print queue systems
Solution Approach 1:
The print control program acts as an intermediary between enterprise applications and the centralized print queue system. It collects print job information from external systems via API requests and merges it with local print jobs, allowing users to access all print jobs through a single interface without modifying the external enterprise systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The print control program provides universal access to multiple print job sources (local applications and external enterprise systems) through a single centralized interface. Users can view and manage print jobs from various sources in one location, eliminating the need for separate access methods for each system.
2Ease of operation
If users access print jobs through multiple separate systems, then each system can maintain its own functionality, but users must perform multiple logins and manage multiple interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple print job sources and access interfaces into a single unified print queue system. Users authenticate once and access all print jobs (local and external) through one interface, eliminating the time-consuming process of multiple logins and separate system accesses.
3Device complexity
If external systems are integrated into the print queue system, then all print jobs can be viewed in one list, but the external systems would need to be modified
Solution Approach 1:
The print control program serves as a mediator that interfaces with external systems through standard API requests without requiring modifications to the external systems themselves. It collects job information from external sources and integrates it into the local print queue display, maintaining external system integrity while achieving integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer includes a processor and a memory containing a program executable by the processor. The computer is connected to a network, which is also connected to an image forming device and an external system configured to generate external print jobs. The code is configured to maintain a local print queue including local print jobs based on content generated by another computer program executed by the computer; receive a request for a job list from the image forming device; send a request for a list of the external print jobs to the external system; receive a list of the external print jobs from the external system; merge the list of the external print jobs with a list of the local print jobs in the local print queue to form a combined job list; and send the combined job list to the image forming apparatus.