Print Server Logical Printer Configuration Profile Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In cloud printing services, it is challenging to provide an appropriate configuration profile that accurately represents the capabilities of multiple physical printers associated with a single logical printer, as existing techniques fail to determine which printer will execute the print job, leading to difficulties in ensuring appropriate print settings and capabilities are used.
Innovation Solution
A print server system that includes an obtaining unit to designate a configuration profile for a logical printer associated with multiple printing apparatuses, a providing unit to supply this profile to information processing apparatuses, and a transmitting unit to direct print jobs to the appropriate physical printer, ensuring that users receive an appropriate configuration profile and print jobs are transmitted to the correct printer based on designated capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a general printer driver is used for multiple physical printers with different capabilities, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision of the configuration profile deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the configuration profile into model-specific portions and printer-specific portions. The model-specific portion contains common settings for a printer model series, while the printer-specific portion contains capabilities unique to each individual printer. This segmentation allows a single general printer driver to support multiple physical printers with different capabilities by dynamically selecting appropriate configuration portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal configuration profile structure that can serve multiple printer models and individual printers. The model-specific configuration profile acts as a template that can be adapted to various printers within a model series, providing multi-functionality without requiring separate drivers for each printer variant.
2Ease of operation
If multiple physical printers are associated with one logical printer, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision of printer capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a print server as an intermediary between the information processing apparatus and multiple physical printers. The print server receives print jobs destined for the logical printer, determines the appropriate physical printer based on job requirements and printer capabilities, and routes the job accordingly. This intermediary resolves the conflict by maintaining ease of operation through the logical printer interface while ensuring precise capability matching through server-side determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic capability detection and routing. The system dynamically determines which physical printer to use based on the specific print job requirements and the real-time capabilities of available printers. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to different printing scenarios while maintaining a consistent logical printer interface for users.
Data Source
AI summary
A print server includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain, from a manager of the print server, designation of a configuration profile that indicates a capability of one logical printer associated with a plurality of printing apparatuses, a providing unit configured to provide an information processing apparatus with a configuration profile designated by the manager, a receiving unit configured to receive a print job to the logical printer from the information processing apparatus, and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the print job to one of the plurality of printing apparatuses.