Print Job Status Display Segmentation for Preview Confusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing print job status display systems can confuse users by immediately deleting the status information display screen when a print job is set for preview, leading to misunderstandings about the job's cancellation status, even though the job is still being processed.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that includes a status information display module, which determines whether a print job is to be output to a printing apparatus based on its settings and only displays the status information screen for jobs intended for output, avoiding display for jobs not output, such as those in preview mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the status information display screen is displayed for all print jobs in print-in-progress status, then the user is notified of job status, but the screen is immediately deleted for preview jobs causing user confusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of job status notificationVSAvoiduser understanding of job status
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the print job processing into two distinct paths: preview processing and actual printing processing. The status information display module is segmented to display status screens only for jobs requiring actual printing, while preview jobs are handled separately without displaying status screens, thus avoiding user confusion while maintaining accurate status notification for relevant jobs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the print job is deleted from the print queue during preview processing, then the preview can be executed, but the status information display screen is immediately deleted causing misunderstanding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreview processing efficiencyVSAvoiduser comprehension of job state
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by checking whether a print job requires actual printing output before the status information display module displays the status screen. This preliminary determination prevents the display of status screens for preview-only jobs, thereby avoiding user confusion about job cancellation while maintaining efficient preview processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the status information display screen is continuously monitored for print-in-progress jobs, then job status is tracked, but the screen disappears immediately for preview jobs causing confusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejob status monitoring accuracyVSAvoiduser awareness of job state
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamics by making the status information display adaptive to the job type. The status screen is dynamically displayed only for jobs that require actual printing, while preview jobs dynamically suppress the status screen display. This dynamic behavior maintains precise job status monitoring while preventing user confusion about job state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2336872B1Information processing apparatus and method
Publication Date: 2017.01.11 CANON KK
  • EP2336872B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2336872B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2336872B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing apparatus provided with display means includes status information display means (227) configured to display status information of a job present in a print queue (213) via the display means, acquisition means configured to acquire setting information of the job present in the print queue, and job determination means configured to determine, based on the setting information acquired by the acquisition means, whether the job is a job to be output to a printing apparatus. The status information display means (227) displays, without displaying status information of a job determined not to be output to the printing apparatus by the job determination means, status information of a job determined to be output to the printing apparatus by the job determination means via the display means.