Print Job Feasibility Check for Reliable Output

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users often face difficulties in obtaining desired printed materials due to specification differences and consumable issues among image forming apparatuses, leading to incomplete or failed print jobs, even with pull printing functions.

Innovation Solution

A printing system that includes a registration portion for storing user and job identifiers, a determining portion to assess print job feasibility based on conditions, and a re-execution portion to retry the print job when conditions are met, ensuring successful execution on a suitable printer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If pull printing function is used to send print data to multiple image forming apparatuses, then user convenience is improved, but reliability of obtaining desired printed matter deteriorates due to specification differences and consumable issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidreliability of obtaining desired printed matter
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of print job feasibility by checking whether the target image forming apparatus can execute the print job according to specified conditions before actually executing the print job. This preliminary check includes verifying specification compatibility and consumable availability, allowing the system to identify suitable apparatuses in advance and avoid failed print executions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the image forming apparatus reports back to the server about its ability to execute the print job based on its current state, specifications, and consumable levels. This feedback loop enables the server to make informed decisions about job execution and to guide users to appropriate apparatuses that can reliably produce the desired output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If user instructs another image forming apparatus to perform printing after encountering issues, then printing can be completed, but user burden increases due to manual intervention required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting completionVSAvoiduser burden
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically determining which image forming apparatus can execute the print job without requiring manual user intervention. The server autonomously evaluates the feasibility of print jobs across multiple apparatuses, identifies suitable targets based on specifications and consumable status, and guides the user to the appropriate device, thereby reducing user burden while ensuring reliable printing completion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary between the user and multiple image forming apparatuses, managing the complexity of selecting the appropriate printing device. It receives print job information, evaluates compatibility with various apparatuses, and presents options to the user or automatically selects the best match, thereby mediating between the user's printing needs and the capabilities of available devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If print job is executed without preliminary feasibility check, then processing speed is improved, but manufacturing precision of print output deteriorates due to specification mismatches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidprint output quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of print job feasibility by checking whether the target image forming apparatus can execute the print job according to specified conditions before actually executing the print job. This preliminary check includes verifying specification compatibility and consumable availability, allowing the system to identify suitable apparatuses in advance and avoid failed print executions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9602680B2Printing system, server for distributing print job, method for resubmitting print job, and computer-readable storage medium for computer program
Publication Date: 2017.03.21 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • US9602680B2 patent drawing
  • US9602680B2 patent drawing
  • US9602680B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A printing system includes a registration portion configured to, when a print job to print an image onto a sheet of paper is executed after specified conditions are modified, store attribute data containing a user identifier and a job identifier into a storage portion, the user identifier being for identifying a user who has given a command to execute the print job, the job identifier being for identifying the print job; a determining portion configured to, when the user identifier is entered, determine whether or not the print job corresponding to the job identifier of the attribute data containing the user identifier can be executed in accordance with the conditions; and a re-execution portion configured to, when the determining portion determines that the print job can be executed in accordance with the conditions, execute the print job once again.