Print Data Interoperability Across Multi-Server Offices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pull printing systems face difficulties in sharing print data across image forming apparatuses with different servers set up as reference destination servers, limiting interoperability and user flexibility in accessing print jobs across multiple offices.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system that includes a storage apparatus associating user identification with bibliographic information of output data, allowing multiple information processing apparatuses to receive, store, and transmit output data and corresponding bibliographic information across a network, enabling interoperability and access to print data stored on different site servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If print data is stored in a server associated with a specific image forming apparatus, then the print data can be securely accessed by users at that location, but users cannot access the same print data from image forming apparatuses at different locations with different servers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal server selection mechanism where image forming apparatuses can be associated with multiple servers, and users can select from multiple servers when registering or accessing print data. This allows the same print data to be accessible across different locations through different servers, resolving the contradiction between location-specific storage and cross-location accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server selection interface and management mechanism as an intermediary between the user and the servers. This intermediary allows users to choose which server to use for storing or accessing print data, enabling flexible cross-location access while maintaining the existing server infrastructure at each location.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple servers are used across different offices, then each office can maintain its own print data storage system, but interoperability between image forming apparatuses from different offices is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables image forming apparatuses to universally interact with multiple servers by allowing each apparatus to be associated with multiple servers and enabling users to select from these servers during print data registration and access operations. This universal compatibility improves interoperability while the automated server selection process maintains ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages server associations and selections, reducing the operational burden on users. The server selection interface and automated management mechanisms handle the complexity of multi-server interoperability in the background, allowing users to simply select from available servers without needing to understand the underlying server infrastructure.
3Reliability
If print data is stored locally on a single server, then data access is fast and reliable, but communication load increases when users need to access data from remote locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server selection mechanism that acts as an intermediary to route print data access requests through the most appropriate server. This allows the system to maintain local data storage for reliability while intelligently routing access requests to minimize communication load, such as directing local users to local servers and remote users to their nearest available server.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the server parameter (which server to use) based on the user's location and the stored associations between image forming apparatuses and servers. This parameter change allows the system to maintain reliable local access when possible while reducing communication load by routing remote access requests through appropriate intermediate servers.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing system includes a plurality of information processing apparatuses and a storage apparatus that stores user identification information of a user in association with identification information of at least one of the information processing apparatuses that stores bibliographic information of output data associated with the user. Each of the information processing apparatuses includes a receiving unit that receives output data to be output by a device; a storage unit that stores the received output data and corresponding bibliographic information in association with user identification information of a user; an information acquisition unit that acquires from the storage unit of the information processing apparatus that is associated with the user that is using the device in the storage apparatus, the corresponding bibliographic information associated with the user identification information of the user; and a first transmitting unit that transmits the acquired bibliographic information to the device.