Print Job Information Generation via Automated Item Classification

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the printing industry, the process of generating job information for print orders is time-consuming, as it requires manual entry of numerous data items, and existing systems do not effectively address the classification and supplementation of data content, particularly considering organizational structures and unspecifiable items.

Innovation Solution

A print production system comprising an order-receiving server and a printing management server that classifies items into specifiable and unspecifiable categories, using an electronic operation manual to generate job information by determining the content of unspecifiable items according to guidelines, thereby automating the generation of job information and reducing manual input hours.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual entry of numerous data items is used to generate job information, then completeness of data can be ensured, but the number of man-hours required increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejob information generation speedVSAvoidman-hours for data entry

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically classifies items and determines content using the electronic operation manual and guidelines without requiring manual intervention for each data item. The automated classification process enables the system to self-generate job information, eliminating the need for manual data entry while maintaining data completeness through structured classification rules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of data entry is replaced by an automated information processing system. The system uses electronic operation manuals and classification rules to automatically extract and organize data, substituting human manual operations with automated computational processes that significantly reduce time consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If all items are classified as specifiable items requiring unique specification, then precision of job information is improved, but the complexity of the classification process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniqueness of item specificationVSAvoidclassification process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The classification process is segmented into two distinct categories: specifiable items that require unique specification and unspecifiable items that cannot be uniquely determined from the electronic operation manual. This segmentation simplifies the overall classification process by allowing different handling strategies for different types of items, reducing the complexity burden while maintaining precision where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different quality requirements are applied to different items based on their nature. Specifiable items receive unique and precise specification, while unspecifiable items are handled differently. This local differentiation of quality requirements optimizes the classification process by applying appropriate precision levels only where necessary, rather than uniformly across all items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If unspecifiable items are determined according to guidelines, then completeness of job information is improved, but the risk of incorrect determination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of job informationVSAvoidaccuracy of unspecifiable item determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Guidelines serve as an intermediary between the electronic operation manual and the final job information. These guidelines provide structured rules and reference information that help determine the content of unspecifiable items systematically, reducing arbitrary decision-making while maintaining information completeness through standardized determination processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9430174B2Print production system, print production method, non-transitory storage medium storing print production program, and printing management server

Publication Date: 2016.08.30 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

A print production system includes an order-receiving server and a printing management server. The order-receiving server transmits an electronic operation manual including ordering information to the printing management server. The printing management server classifies a plurality of items for identifying content of a print job to be carried out into specifiable items that can be specified uniquely according to the electronic operation manual, and unspecifiable items that cannot be specified uniquely according to the electronic operation manual. The printing management server also generates job information by determining content of one or more unspecifiable items according to guidelines, and stores the job information in association with a management identifier of the print job.