Print Relay Apparatus Automatic Failover for Printing Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing print systems lack a comprehensive solution for handling printing errors caused by communication failures or processing errors in the server, particularly when a printing apparatus malfunctions or is unavailable.
Innovation Solution
A print relay apparatus that receives print request information from a user terminal, transmits a print job to a first print system, and upon detecting a printing failure, retransmits a second print job to a second print system, which can act as a proxy to perform printing using the original apparatus's identification information, thereby ensuring continued printing operations and avoiding repetitive failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a print job is transmitted to a single print system, then the printing process is simple, but the system reliability deteriorates when communication failure or processing error occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a standby print system in advance before any printing error occurs. When a printing failure is detected in the first print system, the print relay apparatus automatically switches to the second print system without requiring user intervention or system reconfiguration, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by preparing redundancy beforehand
Solution Approach 2:
The print relay apparatus acts as an intermediary between the user terminal and multiple print systems. It receives print jobs, monitors their execution status, and automatically redirects failed jobs to alternative print systems. This intermediary layer shields users from system complexity while maintaining high reliability through automatic failover
2Reliability
If print job retransmission is implemented for failed printing, then the printing reliability improves, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains standby print systems and pre-configured failover mechanisms before printing errors occur. When a failure is detected, the print relay apparatus immediately redirects the job to the second print system without requiring retry loops, status checking, or user confirmation, thereby minimizing time loss while ensuring reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system skips the traditional error handling steps (retry, user notification, manual intervention) and directly rushes the print job to the alternative print system upon detecting failure. This approach reduces processing time by eliminating unnecessary intermediate steps while maintaining reliable printing through automatic failover
Data Source
AI summary
A print request information receiving unit receives an e-mail requesting printing by a first print server from a user terminal. A print job transmission unit transmits a first print job based on a content of request in the e-mail to a first print server. A job result receiving unit receives job result information indicating a result of the first print job. In the case where the job result information received by the job result receiving unit indicates that printing by the first print job has failed, a print job retransmission unit transmits a second print job based on the content of request in the e-mail to a second print server.