Print Server URL and One-Time Key for Email Job Settings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing systems that transmit print jobs via email face challenges in allowing users to easily perform print settings, especially when the printing apparatus lacks a touch panel or has no print setting function, leading to limitations in configuring settings like color mode and duplex printing.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves receiving an email with print data, generating a one-time key and a URL for accessing a print setting screen, and transmitting these to the user, enabling them to set print conditions through a web browser, even if the printing apparatus has restricted input capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a print job is transmitted via email to a printing apparatus with limited operation panel capabilities (no touch panel or no print setting function), then the printing apparatus can receive and print the job, but the user cannot easily perform print setting operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a web server as an intermediary between the user and the printing apparatus. The web server provides a web-based print setting screen that the user can access via a web browser, eliminating the need for complex operation panels on the printing apparatus itself. The web server receives print setting information from the user's terminal and transmits it to the printing apparatus, enabling print settings to be performed even on apparatuses with limited input capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If a PDL file is required to be generated on the user client terminal side for print setting, then print setting can be performed, but the client terminal is required to have a function of generating a PDL file which increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the PDL file generation function from the client terminal and relocates it to the web server. The web server generates the PDL file based on print setting information received from the user's terminal, eliminating the requirement for the client terminal to have PDL file generation capabilities. This reduces the complexity of the client terminal while enabling print setting operations.
Data Source
AI summary
In response to receiving an e-mail of a print job from a client terminal, a print server generates a job code and a print setting URL for the print job and returns the generated job code and print setting URL to the client terminal. Further, when the print setting URL is accessed, a print setting screen is provided to the client terminal. Accordingly, it is possible to easily perform print setting on the print job transmitted via an e-mail and then perform printing.