Print Device Job Interruption Handling with Priority Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional document printing systems require significant user interaction and fail to efficiently manage job interruptions when a portable memory device is plugged into a printer, especially when a current print job has lower priority than a new job derived from the device.
Innovation Solution
A print device with a port, processing unit, and non-transitory medium configured to detect a portable memory device, suspend lower-priority print jobs, automatically execute higher-priority jobs, and resume the suspended jobs upon completion or interruption, while also determining the output tray and updating a print history.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the printer automatically processes print jobs from portable memory devices, then user interaction is minimized and convenience is improved, but system complexity increases due to automatic job detection, priority determination, and interruption handling
Solution Approach 1:
The printer system performs automatic job detection, priority determination, and interruption handling without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously managing the print queue, comparing priorities between active and new jobs, and executing appropriate actions (suspend/resume/switch jobs) based on predefined priority rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes predefined priority rules and criteria before print jobs are submitted. Priority levels are determined in advance based on job characteristics, and the system is pre-configured with the logic to handle interruptions, eliminating the need for real-time user decisions.
2Productivity
If the printer suspends lower-priority jobs to process higher-priority jobs from portable memory devices, then job processing efficiency is improved, but loss of time occurs due to job suspensions and resumptions
Solution Approach 1:
The print job priority system is dynamic rather than static. Job priorities can be adjusted based on the type of device submitting the job (e.g., portable memory device vs. network), and the system dynamically reevaluates and reorders the print queue when new jobs are detected, allowing flexible adaptation to changing priorities without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the print queue for new jobs from portable memory devices and automatically compares their priorities with active jobs. When a higher-priority job is detected, the system provides feedback by suspending lower-priority jobs and switching to the higher-priority job, then resumes the suspended job afterward, creating a closed-loop priority management system.
3Reliability
If the printer handles job interruptions automatically without user activation, then operational seamlessness is improved, but device complexity increases due to automatic detection and management mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The printer autonomously detects when a portable memory device is connected, identifies new print jobs, determines their priorities, and manages interruptions without user involvement. The system self-manages the entire workflow from detection to job suspension, execution, and resumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The printer is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple types of print submissions (network, portable memory device), automatically determine priorities based on submission source, manage job queues, and handle interruptions. This universal capability allows the system to adapt to different submission methods and priority scenarios using a unified automatic management approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A print device that has a port, a print engine, a processing device and a memory. The print device is configured to detect that a portable memory device has become communicatively connected to the port, retrieve a digital document file to be printed and a print instruction from the portable memory device, determine that a first print job is being performed in the print device, determine a priority for the first print job and a priority for a second print job derived from the digital document file, and determine that the priority of the first print job is lower than that of the second print job. The print device is also configured to suspend performance of the first print job, automatically perform the second print job based on the print instruction, detect that the second print job has been completed or interrupted, and automatically resume the first print job.