Print Data Acquisition via Page-Unit Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for obtaining print data from a server in an image forming apparatus are inefficient, leading to unnecessary data retrieval and increased CPU load, as they often require multiple sessions without knowing the offset position of relevant data and fixed data sizes, resulting in unnecessary data spooling and complicated data management.
Innovation Solution
The system generates attribute information with positional data on individual pages, allowing the image forming apparatus to determine the number of network sessions based on attribute information retrieval time, data size, and restoration time, enabling efficient data retrieval only for the necessary pages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple network sessions are used to obtain PDL data in parallel, then the data obtainment speed increases, but the CPU load increases and unnecessary data is spooled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the PDL data obtainment process by dividing it into page-unit transactions. Instead of obtaining all PDL data at once or in fixed-size blocks, the system obtains data for individual pages that are actually needed for printing. This segmentation allows parallel obtainment using multiple sessions while precisely controlling which data is retrieved, preventing unnecessary data spooling and reducing CPU load from processing irrelevant data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by obtaining only the necessary portion of PDL data - specifically, data for pages that need to be printed next - rather than obtaining complete PDL data sets or fixed-size blocks. This partial obtainment strategy uses multiple parallel sessions efficiently while avoiding the excessive action of retrieving and processing unnecessary data, thereby reducing CPU load.
2Productivity
If multiple network sessions are used to obtain PDL data in parallel, then the data obtainment speed increases, but unnecessary data is spooled
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments data obtainment into page-level units rather than obtaining complete PDL data sets. Each network session retrieves data for specific pages that are actually needed for printing, allowing parallel obtainment while preventing unnecessary data from being spooled to storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and obtains only the necessary PDL data for pages that need to be printed next, leaving unnecessary data unobtained. This extraction approach uses multiple parallel sessions to efficiently retrieve only relevant data portions, avoiding the waste of spooling unnecessary data to storage.
3Loss of substance
If pages of PDL data are divided into individual data and obtained separately, then unnecessary data obtainment is avoided, but data management becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the image forming apparatus communicates with the server to obtain attribute information about PDL data, including page counts and data size. This feedback allows the system to dynamically determine how many network sessions to use and which specific page data to obtain, simplifying data management while avoiding unnecessary data retrieval.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts data management based on actual printing needs. Instead of using fixed data management approaches, the patent dynamically determines the number of parallel sessions, selects which pages to obtain based on current printing requirements, and manages data flow adaptively, reducing complexity while avoiding unnecessary data obtainment.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing system that is capable of efficiently obtaining print data to perform printing without obtaining unnecessary print data from a server on a network with useless timing and continuously spooling it. The server generates attribute information including positional information on individual pages of print data. An image forming apparatus obtains the attribute information from the server. The image forming apparatus determines the number of network sessions based on a time period it took to obtain the attribute information, a size of data on a page to be printed in print data to be obtained from the server, and a restoration time period required to combine and restore the obtained data on the page to be printed. The image forming apparatus obtains the data on the page to be printed using network sessions corresponding in number to the determined number of network sessions.