Print Server GUI for Error-Interrupted Job Resumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printer interfaces are inefficient in allowing users to resume and reprint jobs interrupted by errors, particularly due to limitations in automatically detecting the number of pages printed and requiring manual intervention to specify page ranges and copy counts.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface (GUI) with a dialog screen that enables users to specify a page range and number of additional copies to be re-printed upon occurrence of an unrecoverable error, allowing for streamlined reprinting of remaining pages and copies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the system provides automatic resume functionality for print jobs, then the ease of operation is improved, but the system cannot accurately detect the number of pages printed leading to incomplete job resumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (page tracking system) between the print job execution and the resume functionality. This intermediary tracks the actual number of pages printed through dedicated counters and status flags, providing accurate information to the resume function without requiring the resume function itself to perform complex detection.
2Measurement precision
If the system requires manual specification of page ranges and copy counts for reprinting, then the measurement precision of reprint parameters is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple dialog screen invocations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary tracking of printed pages and prepares reprint parameters in advance. When an error occurs, the system has already collected the necessary information (page count, job status) and can present a single dialog with pre-calculated reprint parameters, eliminating the need for users to manually specify these values through multiple interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions (error detection, page counting, reprint parameter calculation, and user interaction) into a single integrated dialog screen. This merging allows the user to specify both page ranges and copy counts in one interaction rather than requiring separate dialog invocations for each parameter.
3Reliability
If the system provides comprehensive error handling for network communication problems, then the reliability is improved, but the ability to automatically resume jobs deteriorates due to lack of awareness of pages printed
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the print connector continuously reports status information (including pages printed and job completion state) back to the printing system. This feedback loop enables the system to maintain accurate knowledge of job progress even during network communication problems, allowing for informed automatic resume decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
A print server includes a graphical user interface (GUI) having a dialog screen to enable the user to specify a page range of a current copy and a number of additional copies of a print job to be re-printed upon occurrence of an unrecoverable error during printing of the print job.