Multifunctional Device Print Scan Job Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multifunctional devices (MFDs) require separate job instructions for printing and scanning operations, leading to inefficiencies and user inconvenience, as there is no correlation between print and scan jobs, making it difficult to track activities and requiring users to provide multiple settings manually.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that integrates print and scan operations by creating a single job for both tasks, allowing users to select print and scan settings in a combined request, which is processed by a multifunctional device after printing and scanning, with authentication and output destination settings applied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate job instructions are provided for printing and scanning operations, then the multifunctional device can process each operation independently, but the user must provide multiple settings manually and tracking of document activities becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate print and scan job instructions into a single integrated job instruction. When a user initiates a print operation, the system automatically creates an associated scan job linked to the same job identifier, eliminating the need for users to manually create separate scan instructions and settings. This merging approach reduces user input requirements while maintaining organized job management through the shared identifier system.
2Loss of information
If separate job instructions are used for print and scan operations, then the device can process operations independently, but correlation between print and scan jobs is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the completion status of a print job automatically triggers the creation of a linked scan job. The job identifier serves as a feedback loop connecting the two operations, ensuring that when a user prints a document, the corresponding scan operation is automatically associated and tracked with the same identifier, preventing loss of document activity information.
3Productivity
If users provide individual print and scan instructions at separate instances, then each operation can be configured independently, but the process becomes time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically creating the scan job instruction at the moment the print operation is initiated. Instead of waiting for the user to separately provide scan instructions after printing, the system pre-establishes the linked scan job with the same job identifier, thereby eliminating the time users would otherwise spend providing separate instructions and improving overall document processing speed.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure discloses methods and systems for integrating print and scan of a document at a multifunctional device. The multifunctional device receives a request to print and scan the document from a user device and creates a single job corresponding to the request to print and scan. The single job is assigned an identifier. The single job is executed partially by printing the document and is placed on hold until a manual scan request is received. The manual scan request for the document is received when a user selects the identifier of the single job displayed on a user interface of the multifunctional device. The processing of the single job is resumed by scanning the document by applying one or more predefined scan settings specified by the user using the user device. The scanned document is sent to an output destination indicated in the predefined scan settings.