Print Command Deadline Handling for Reliable Billing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a print system where a print server transmits a print command to an image forming apparatus, if the printing process is not executed within a predetermined time, the print server may delete the command, leading to the inability to perform a billing process due to the lack of identification of the completed printing process.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus retains print commands with set deadlines, executes billing processes upon completion, and communicates with the print server to delete commands if not executed before the deadline, preventing printing after deadlines, and provides user notifications or deadline extensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the print server deletes the print command after a predetermined time period, then the print server can manage storage space, but the billing process cannot be executed if the printing process is completed after deletion
Solution Approach 1:
The print server executes the billing process before deleting the print command. By performing the billing process in advance of the deletion operation, the system ensures that billing can be completed even if the printing process is delayed, while still maintaining the ability to delete commands for storage management
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the timing of the billing process based on the print command status. The billing process is executed at an optimal time point that balances storage management requirements with billing reliability, rather than following a fixed sequence
2Adaptability or versatility
If the image forming apparatus executes the printing process after the print server deletes the command, then the apparatus can process delayed jobs, but the print server cannot identify the command for billing
Solution Approach 1:
The print server performs the billing process before deleting the print command, ensuring that the command is still present in the system when billing needs to occur. This preliminary action preserves command identification information for the duration needed to complete billing
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates and uses a copy of the print command for the billing process, allowing the original command to be deleted after billing while maintaining billing capability. The billing process operates on a replicated version of the command data
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a processor configured to: retain a print command having a print deadline set therefor and received from a user, execute a billing process related to a printing process when the printing process related to the print command is completed in the image forming apparatus that has acquired the print command, and be communicable with a print server that deletes the print command if the printing process related to the print command is not executed before the print deadline is reached; receive the print command from the print server and cause a memory to store the print command; and not execute the printing process related to the print command if an execution order for the print command is received after the print deadline for the print command received from the print server has passed.