Print Queue Scheduling for Proof Job Bottlenecks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current printing systems experience reduced productivity due to the inefficiency in scheduling and printing of proof print jobs, which leads to unnecessary delays between proofing and actual printing.
Innovation Solution
The control unit in the printing system checks the proof print job setting and schedules a proof print job before the corresponding print job, allowing it to be printed ahead of time, enabling ample time for quality checking and immediate printing upon approval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the proof print job is scheduled at the end of the print job queue, then the actual print job can be printed after proofing, but this causes a superfluously large time delay and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by scheduling and printing the proof print job before the corresponding actual print job in the print queue. This allows the proof to be completed and approved in advance, so that when the actual print job reaches the head of the queue, it can be printed immediately without waiting for proofing, thereby eliminating the superfluously large time delay and increasing productivity while maintaining quality assurance
2Measurement precision
If the printing system stops to print and wait for proofing completion, then the proof can be checked thoroughly, but this causes printing interruption and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the proofing action preliminarily by scheduling the proof print job ahead of the actual print job. This allows quality checking to be performed in advance during normal printing operations, rather than stopping the printing system to wait for proofing completion. The actual print job can then proceed immediately upon approval, maintaining both quality control and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by allowing the printing system to operate continuously without stopping. The proof print job is integrated into the normal print queue flow, enabling the system to maintain continuous printing operations while still performing quality checks on proof jobs before actual production printing begins
3Loss of time
If the proof print job is printed immediately when submitted, then quality checking can begin early, but this may interrupt the normal print job queue processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary action by automatically scheduling the proof print job at a predetermined position before the corresponding actual print job in the queue. This eliminates the need for complex manual queue management while ensuring the proof is printed early enough for timely quality checking, and the actual print job follows automatically upon approval without interrupting normal queue processing
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a printing system comprising a print job receiving section permitting a user to submit a print job to the printing system, the print job comprising a plurality of print job settings comprising a proof print job setting indicating whether or not the print job needs to be proofed before printing, a control unit for controlling a print job queue for print jobs submitted to the printing system and scheduled to be printed, a user interface configured to display the print job queue, wherein the user interface is configured to display a digital user operable item for a print job in the print job queue, the print job having a proof print job setting indicating that the print job needs to be proofed before printing, and wherein the control unit is configured to schedule a proof print job corresponding to the print job in the print job queue before the print job upon activation of the digital user operable item, and to print the proof print job according to the print job queue.