Print Quality Compliance Verification via Automated Data Comparison

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Solution Overview

Problem

In commercial printing, inconsistencies often occur between quality requirements specified in the PRX format and the actual print data, leading to inadequate reflection of customer quality standards, particularly with changes in print data during proofreading where corresponding objects or position information may be missed or altered.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that interprets quality requirement data, analyzes print data, and compares the two, displaying a warning screen if an object specified in the quality requirement data is not present in the print data, allowing operators to select whether to stop or continue the print job and potentially rewrite PRX position information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If quality requirement data is manually processed and compared with print data, then inconsistency detection capability is improved, but operation time and manual labor increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality condition complianceVSAvoidoperation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical comparison operations with an automated information processing system that uses a processor to automatically interpret quality requirement data, analyze print data, and detect inconsistencies. This substitution eliminates manual labor while maintaining detection capability, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically performing the comparison function between quality requirements and print data without requiring operator intervention. The processor autonomously executes the interpretation, analysis, and inconsistency detection, allowing the system to serve itself rather than relying on manual operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automated comparison between quality requirement data and print data is implemented, then operation time is reduced, but detection precision may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidinconsistency detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual comparison operations with an automated information processing system that uses a processor to interpret quality requirement data, analyze print data, and detect inconsistencies. This substitution eliminates manual labor while maintaining detection capability, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback by displaying inconsistency information to operators, enabling them to review and verify automated detection results. This feedback mechanism ensures that automated processing maintains high detection accuracy by allowing human oversight when needed, thus preserving measurement precision while achieving high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If detailed analysis of print data is performed to ensure quality compliance, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprint quality complianceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the quality assurance process into distinct functional modules: a quality requirement data interpretation unit, a print data analysis unit, and an inconsistency detection unit. This segmentation allows each module to perform a specific function, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining comprehensive analysis capability for high manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The information processing apparatus performs multiple functions including interpretation, analysis, comparison, and display within a single integrated system. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by consolidating what could be separate systems into one universal platform that handles the entire quality compliance verification process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Measurement precision

If manual verification of quality conditions is performed, then detection precision is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality check accuracyVSAvoidprocessing throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual verification operations with an automated information processing system that uses a processor to interpret quality requirement data, analyze print data, and detect inconsistencies. This substitution eliminates manual labor while maintaining detection capability, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables continuous automated verification of quality conditions without interruption by manual operations. The processor continuously interprets quality requirements, analyzes print data, and detects inconsistencies in an uninterrupted workflow, maintaining high productivity while ensuring accurate quality checks through automated consistent processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11657246B2Information processing apparatus, control method of the same, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.05.23 CANON KK
  • US11657246B2 patent drawing
  • US11657246B2 patent drawing
  • US11657246B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An information processing apparatus interprets quality requirement data of a print job received externally, analyzes print data of the print job, and compares an interpretation result of the quality requirement data and an analysis result of the print data. As a result of the comparison, in a case where an object, which is comprised in a print image, corresponding to the quality requirement data of the print job and the print data are inconsistent, a warning screen is displayed.