Print Server Exception Handling via Identifier Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printing systems with multiple print servers, network failures and application-level exceptions lead to reduced system availability, as existing monitoring techniques fail to promptly detect and address application-level exceptions, causing inconvenience to users.
Innovation Solution
A printing system that includes a distribution apparatus, multiple print servers, and an image forming apparatus, where each print server adds an identifier to the print job, and the image forming apparatus determines exception events based on this identifier, allowing the distribution apparatus to exclude faulty servers from subsequent print job distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple print servers are used to distribute print data, then processing load is reduced and system throughput is improved, but system availability deteriorates when network failures or application-level exceptions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The image forming apparatus feeds back information about exception events to the distribution apparatus, which then adjusts print job distribution accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to respond to failures and maintain availability while preserving the benefits of multi-server processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the distribution parameters dynamically based on the operational status of print servers. When a server experiences an exception event, the distribution apparatus modifies its load distribution strategy to exclude the faulty server, thereby maintaining system availability without sacrificing processing efficiency.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If conventional monitoring techniques are used to detect network failures, then specification of failure causes is accelerated, but application-level exception events are not detected promptly
Solution Approach 1:
The print servers monitor their own operational status and self-report exception events to the image forming apparatus. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate monitoring systems and enables prompt detection of application-level exceptions, reducing response time while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If a print server with exception events continues to process print jobs, then user convenience is maintained, but system reliability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution apparatus acts as an intermediary between user terminals and print servers. It receives print jobs from users and intelligently routes them to healthy print servers, shielding users from server failures while maintaining system reliability. This intermediary function preserves user convenience without compromising system stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing system includes a distribution apparatus, print servers, and an image forming apparatus. Upon each reception of print data, the distribution apparatus distributes the print data to one print server, the print server creates a print job from the print data and transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus executes the print job. Each print server includes an identifier addition unit adding identifier of the print server to a created print job, the image forming apparatus includes an exception event determination unit, upon reception of a print job from one print server, determining whether exception event has occurred in the print server based on identifier added to the print job, and the distribution apparatus includes an exclusion unit, when exception event has occurred in one print server, excluding the print server from candidates for distribution destination of a subsequent print job.