Distributed Print Server Grouping for Job Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial printing systems face inefficiencies in processing large numbers of print jobs due to limited throughput and capabilities of single print servers, leading to reduced grouping effectiveness and processing efficiency, especially when jobs require specific apparatuses with different capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An industrial printing system with multiple print servers performing distributed processing, each equipped with a storage unit for capability information, a group setting unit to designate capable apparatuses, a job collection unit to match jobs with appropriate groups, and a processing management unit to transmit jobs for processing, enabling flexible peer-to-peer processing without a management server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single print server processes all jobs sequentially, then processing simplicity is maintained, but throughput and productivity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the printing system into multiple print servers, each capable of independently processing jobs. Each print server is segmented with specific capability information about its processing abilities (rasterizing, printing, post-processing), allowing jobs to be distributed across multiple processing nodes rather than handled sequentially by a single server, thereby increasing overall throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic job distribution where the management server dynamically assigns jobs to print servers based on current capability matching and processing requirements. The system adapts to different job types and server capabilities in real-time, allowing flexible resource allocation that maximizes productivity while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated management.
2Productivity
If jobs are distributed to multiple print servers, then processing efficiency improves, but job matching complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where print servers report their capability information to the management server, and the management server uses this feedback to make intelligent job assignment decisions. The system continuously monitors server capabilities and adjusts job distribution accordingly, reducing matching complexity through automated information exchange and decision-making algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a management server as an intermediary between jobs and print servers. This intermediary handles the complex task of matching jobs with appropriate print servers based on capability information, shielding individual components from the complexity of direct peer-to-peer matching while optimizing overall system efficiency through centralized intelligent routing.
3Ease of operation
If capability information is stored centrally, then coordination is simplified, but system adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each print server universally capable with stored capability information about multiple processing functions (rasterizing, printing, post-processing). Each server can potentially perform multiple types of processing, and the management server matches jobs based on these universal capabilities, maintaining coordination simplicity while enhancing system flexibility through multi-functional nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having print servers pre-store their capability information before job arrival. This advance preparation allows the management server to quickly match incoming jobs with suitable servers without complex real-time negotiations, simplifying coordination while maintaining adaptability through pre-configured capability profiles that can handle diverse job types.
4Loss of time
If jobs are transferred to the next MFP in sequence, then waiting time is reduced, but processing flexibility for different job types decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different print servers to have different specialized capabilities (some better at rasterizing, others at printing, others at post-processing). Instead of a uniform sequential transfer, jobs are routed to specific servers based on their local quality characteristics and the job's specific requirements, reducing waiting time through optimized routing while maintaining processing flexibility through capability-based matching.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an industrial printing system that efficiently performs peer-to-peer distributed processing of production printing by grouping. The storage unit stores capability information indicating capabilities of processability in rasterizing process, printing process, and post-processing process. The group setting unit sets a group that designates an apparatus capable of processing the job based on the capability information stored in the storage unit. The job collection unit collects the job corresponding to the group set by the group setting unit by determining from processing requirement of the job. The processing management unit transmits the job collected by the job collection unit to the apparatus designated in the group and requests processing thereof.