Print Management Server Local Relay for Network Load Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing systems that interface with cloud servers for printing documents within local area networks (LANs) incur increased network communication load as data is transmitted externally and back, doubling the communication route and potentially leading to network congestion and information leakage risks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a print management server outside the LAN and a communication relay device within the LAN to determine if the print target file is locally stored, and if so, instructing the relay device to generate and transmit print job data directly to the print output device, thereby reducing external data transmission and maintaining communication within the LAN.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the cloud server always acquires print target data and generates print job data, then print services can be provided through external servers, but network communication load increases because data passes through external routes twice

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint service availabilityVSAvoidnetwork communication load

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system determines whether print target data is stored inside or outside the LAN and applies different processing approaches: for inside-LAN storage, the relay device generates print job data locally without external transmission, while for outside-LAN storage, the cloud server performs the generation. This local quality differentiation reduces unnecessary external communication while maintaining service versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

A relay device is introduced as an intermediary component within the LAN that receives generation commands from the cloud server, acquires print target data from local storage, generates print job data, and transmits it to the print output device. This intermediary enables local processing while maintaining compatibility with external print management services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If print target data is transmitted from inside the LAN to the cloud server and back, then external print management is enabled, but data security risk increases due to multiple external transmissions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexternal print managementVSAvoidinformation leakage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system differentiates between inside-LAN and outside-LAN data storage scenarios and applies appropriate security measures: for inside-LAN storage, data remains within the secure local network and the relay device performs generation locally; for outside-LAN storage, the cloud server performs generation. This approach minimizes external data transmission and associated security risks while maintaining external management capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The relay device acts as a secure intermediary that handles print job data generation within the LAN boundary, preventing sensitive print target data from being transmitted externally. It receives only generation commands and print settings from the cloud server, not the actual print data, thereby maintaining data security while enabling external management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Extent of automation

If the cloud server generates print job data for all print targets, then centralized print management is achieved, but communication time increases due to repeated external data transmission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentralized print managementVSAvoidcommunication time

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system identifies inside-LAN storage locations and routes these print jobs through the local relay device for generation, bypassing external communication for the actual print data. This local processing significantly reduces communication time compared to always using the cloud server, while the cloud server maintains centralized management for outside-LAN resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The relay device is pre-configured within the LAN with the capability to generate print job data locally. When print target data is detected to be stored inside the LAN, the system immediately routes the generation command to the relay device, avoiding the time-consuming external transmission and generation process that would otherwise be required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10474402B2Printing system, print management server, communication relay device, and recording medium

Publication Date: 2019.11.12 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

A print management server provided outside a predetermined LAN includes a receiver, a processor, and a transmitter. The receiver receives a print output instruction from a communication terminal of a user, the print output instruction being issued to a print output device provided inside the predetermined LAN and being an instruction to print out a print target file. The processor determines whether the print target file is present inside the predetermined LAN. When it is determined that the print target file is present inside the predetermined LAN, the transmitter transmits a generation command to a communication relay device inside the predetermined LAN, the generation command being a command to generate print job data on the basis of the print target file acquired by the communication relay device and a print setting instruction.