Print Job Work Estimation via Page Repetition Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
In production printing, estimating the consumption of consumables like toner and ink accurately is challenging due to varying consumption rates per page, and existing methods require rasterizing the entire job, which is time-consuming and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that acquires a print job, calculates unit estimations for specific pages, detects repetition and periods, and uses this analysis to estimate the total job consumption, allowing for accurate estimation without rasterizing the entire document.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the entire job is rasterized to calculate consumption estimation, then the accuracy of consumption estimation is improved, but the processing time and computational resources increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the print job into multiple pages and processes each page individually to calculate consumption estimation. Instead of rasterizing the entire job at once, the system calculates unit estimation for each page, detects repetition patterns among pages, and uses these patterns to estimate total consumption. This segmentation approach maintains accuracy while significantly reducing processing time and computational resource requirements.
2Measurement precision
If the entire job is rasterized to calculate consumption estimation, then the accuracy of consumption estimation is improved, but the computational resources required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the print job into individual pages and processes each page separately to calculate unit estimation values. By detecting repetition patterns among these segmented pages, the system can estimate total consumption without rasterizing and processing the entire job, thereby reducing computational resource usage while maintaining estimation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs partial action by calculating consumption estimation for only a representative subset of pages (those that form the repetition pattern) rather than processing every single page in the job. This partial processing approach provides sufficient accuracy for consumption estimation while significantly reducing the computational resources required.
3Ease of operation
If unit estimation is calculated for each page without detecting repetition, then the simplicity of the process is maintained, but the accuracy of total job estimation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by calculating unit estimation for each page and storing these values before detecting repetition patterns. This preliminary calculation of unit estimations allows the system to later identify repetitive page patterns and use them to accurately estimate total job consumption, combining simple per-page processing with sophisticated pattern recognition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback by detecting repetition patterns among page unit estimations and using this detected information to refine the total job estimation. The system feeds back the repetition detection results to adjust the estimation calculation, improving accuracy while maintaining the simplicity of individual page processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an information processing apparatus that accurately estimates printing jobs. A data acquisition unit acquires a job for estimation. A unit estimation unit calculates an estimation of the work for each specific unit of the job acquired by the data acquisition unit. An estimation analysis unit detects repetition and a period of the repetition from the estimation of the work for the specific unit at the time calculated by the unit estimation unit. The entire estimation unit estimates an estimation of the work of the entire job based on the repetition and the period detected by the estimation analysis unit. The estimation presentation unit presents the estimation of the work calculated by the entire estimation unit.