Print History Recording Feedback for Image Forming Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming devices lack the ability to effectively notify users about the recording status of print history on a server, which hampers usability and accurate billing in accounting systems.
Innovation Solution
An image forming device equipped with an image formation unit, a print history writing unit, and a writing information transmission unit that records and notifies users about the successful recording of print history on a connected server via a network, using protocols like CIFS for log writing and LPR for result transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image forming device records print history on a server without notifying the user, then the accounting system can function, but the user cannot confirm recording status leading to usability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The image forming device transmits writing result information back to the user terminal after recording print history on the server. This feedback mechanism allows users to confirm whether print history was successfully recorded, resolving the contradiction between maintaining accounting system reliability and improving user convenience through status notification.
2Ease of operation
If the image forming device transmits writing result information to the user terminal, then user convenience is improved, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The writing result information is extracted from the print history data and transmitted separately to the user terminal. This extraction allows the system to provide essential status information to users without transmitting the entire print history dataset, thereby improving user convenience while minimizing communication overhead and time loss.
3Measurement precision
If the image forming device records detailed print history on the server, then billing accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the recording system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary between the image forming device and the user terminal for storing and managing print history. This intermediary approach allows detailed print history to be recorded for accurate billing while keeping the image forming device itself relatively simple, as the complex storage and management functions are offloaded to the server.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming device, comprising: an image formation unit configured to form an image on a recording medium in accordance with a print command transmitted from an external device; a print history writing unit configured to record print history concerning image formation by the image formation unit in a server connected to the image forming device via a network; and a writing information transmission unit configured to transmit, to the external device, writing information including information indicating whether the print history writing unit has successfully recorded the print history in the server.