Print Server Queue Routing for Vendor-Specific Print Settings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printing apparatuses that do not support extended print settings, such as those from different vendors, fail to apply user-defined settings when receiving print jobs via cloud print services, leading to incomplete or improperly executed print jobs.
Innovation Solution
A print server and printer system that manages logical and comprehensive logical printers, allowing print jobs with vendor information to be stored, moved, and executed only when matching vendor information is detected, ensuring compatibility and proper execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a print job with extended print settings is sent to a printing apparatus that does not support the extended settings, then the print job can be received and processed, but the extended print settings cannot be applied and printing quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a print server as an intermediary between the client terminal and the printing apparatus. The print server receives print jobs with extended print settings, stores them in a print queue, and manages the transmission to compatible printing apparatuses. This intermediary role allows the system to maintain compatibility across different vendors while ensuring that extended settings are only applied where supported, thus preserving printing quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If the print server automatically moves print jobs to compatible printing apparatuses, then printing quality is maintained, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The printing apparatus performs self-identification by including its vendor information in the response to the print server. The print server automatically compares this vendor information with the vendor information in the print job to determine compatibility. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex manual configuration or intervention, allowing the system to automatically route print jobs to compatible apparatuses while maintaining manageable system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the print server stores all print jobs in a centralized print queue, then job management is simplified, but the response time for printing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The print server performs preliminary actions by pre-storing print jobs with their associated vendor information in the print queue before actual printing is requested. When a printing apparatus becomes available or is selected, the server can quickly retrieve the appropriate job from the pre-organized queue and transmit it, reducing the response time. The preliminary organization of jobs by vendor information enables efficient matching and retrieval.
Data Source
AI summary
A print server manages a logical printer associated with a printing apparatus and a comprehensive logical printer associated with the logical printer, receives a print job with vendor information added from an information processing apparatus and stores the print job in a print queue of the comprehensive logical printer, receives an instruction to move the print job stored in the print queue to the printing apparatus, and in a case where the instruction is received, move the print job to a logical printer associated with the printing apparatus, and when there is an error response for reception of the print job from the printing apparatus, moves the print job to the comprehensive logical printer.