Print Job Reservation Control via Type Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing systems reserve all print jobs when reservation printing is active, leading to unnecessary reservation of jobs not intended for reservation printing, and users cannot designate certain print settings without a printer driver, limiting flexibility and user-friendliness.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a receiving unit, determination unit, and control unit that analyzes print job types and settings to determine whether to reserve or execute printing based on the job type or protocol, allowing for immediate printing of non-reserved jobs and reserving only those intended for reservation printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the printing apparatus reserves all print jobs when reservation printing is active, then all print jobs can be processed with user-selected settings, but print jobs not intended for reservation printing are unnecessarily reserved, reducing processing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments print jobs into two categories: first-type print jobs (from external devices without printer driver) and second-type print jobs (from printer driver). Different reservation processing rules are applied to each type, allowing efficient handling of non-reserved jobs while maintaining flexibility for reserved jobs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic reservation processing where the reservation behavior changes based on the print job type. The control unit automatically adjusts whether to reserve a print job by determining its type, enabling immediate processing of non-reserved jobs while reserving jobs that benefit from user setting selection.
2Ease of operation
If the printing apparatus requires user input through operation panel for all print jobs, then users can select print settings not accessible through external devices, but print jobs not requiring reservation are delayed, reducing overall processing speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments print job processing into two paths: immediate execution for second-type print jobs (from printer driver) and reserved execution for first-type print jobs (from external devices). This segmentation allows users to access operation panel settings when needed while avoiding unnecessary delays for jobs that don't require reservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit performs preliminary determination of print job type upon receiving a print job. Based on this preliminary action, the system decides whether to reserve the job or execute immediately, preventing unnecessary reservation delays for jobs that can be processed right away.
3Productivity
If the printing apparatus reserves only print jobs designated for reservation printing, then processing efficiency is improved, but print jobs from external devices without printer driver cannot be reserved, limiting user-friendliness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments print jobs by source type and applies different reservation policies: first-type print jobs (from external devices) are reserved to enable user setting selection, while second-type print jobs (from printer driver) are processed immediately. This segmentation maintains user-friendliness for external device jobs while preserving efficiency for driver-generated jobs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing qualities to different print job types. First-type print jobs receive reservation processing with full user setting accessibility, while second-type print jobs receive immediate processing. This local quality differentiation optimizes both user-friendliness and efficiency based on job characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus determines whether to execute reservation printing with respect to a print job according to a print job type or a protocol used to transfer the print job. Accordingly, even when the printing apparatus receives a print job that is not designated for the reservation printing, the printing apparatus can perform reservation printing or printing without reserving the print job depending on the print job.