Print Setting Conflict Control for Driverless IPP Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing technologies face challenges in efficiently transmitting prohibition information from a printing apparatus to an information processing apparatus, leading to large data sizes and delays in displaying print screens, especially in IPP printing over wireless LANs, due to the need for dynamic generation of print settings and prohibition information without individual printer drivers.

Innovation Solution

A mechanism is implemented in the printing apparatus to limit and reduce the transmission of prohibition information by generating a prohibition condition list based on user-defined levels, focusing on main print settings and vendor-specific settings, thereby reducing data size and ensuring appropriate prohibition processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all prohibition information is transmitted from the printing apparatus to the information processing apparatus, then the prohibition process is complete and accurate, but the data size becomes large causing delays in display

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprohibition process accuracyVSAvoidprint screen display delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The prohibition information is segmented into two categories: prohibition conditions (rules for determining prohibited settings) and prohibition items (specific prohibited settings). Only prohibition conditions are transmitted to the information processing apparatus, while prohibition items are determined locally by the printing apparatus. This segmentation reduces transmitted data size while maintaining complete prohibition functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and transmits only the essential prohibition conditions (the rules) to the information processing apparatus, leaving out the prohibition items (specific settings) from transmission. The printing apparatus retains and applies the complete prohibition information locally, performing the final prohibition determination based on the transmitted conditions and its own prohibition items database.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If individual printer drivers are used in each information processing apparatus, then print settings and prohibition information are optimized for each printer, but a large amount of information must be held in each apparatus

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprint setting optimizationVSAvoidinformation storage requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The printing apparatus serves multiple functions: it acts as both the source of prohibition information and the final authority for prohibition determination. By centralizing the complete prohibition information in the printing apparatus while transmitting only the necessary conditions to various information processing apparatuses, the system achieves universal compatibility without requiring each client to store complete prohibition data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The prohibition conditions transmitted to the information processing apparatus act as an intermediary representation of the complete prohibition information. These conditions serve as a compact summary that enables the client to pre-filter settings while the printing apparatus remains the ultimate mediator that makes the final prohibition determination based on its complete prohibition items database.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If prohibition information is transmitted over wireless LAN, then mobile device printing is enabled, but data transmission delays occur due to large data size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobile device printing capabilityVSAvoiddata transmission speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the essential prohibition conditions from the complete prohibition information for transmission over wireless LAN. By removing redundant prohibition items and transmitting only the minimal necessary data (prohibition conditions), the transmission data size is dramatically reduced, enabling fast wireless communication while maintaining mobile device printing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If a print driver with complete prohibition information is used, then all prohibited combinations are accurately limited, but the data size and processing load on the client increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprohibition information completenessVSAvoidclient processing load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The prohibition information is segmented into prohibition conditions (transmitted to client) and prohibition items (retained on server). This segmentation divides the processing load: the client handles lightweight condition checking while the server handles the complex prohibition determination, reducing client device complexity without sacrificing prohibition completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3633502B1Printing apparatus, control method therefor, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 CANON KK
  • EP3633502B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3633502B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3633502B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A printing apparatus of the present invention comprises notify means for notifying an information processing apparatus of information indicating a combination of print settings that conflict with each other, reception means for receiving print settings set in the information processing apparatus while avoiding the combination indicated by the information, and determination means for determining whether the received print settings include settings that conflict with each other, based on information which is different from the notified information and indicates another combination of print settings that conflict with each other, and wherein the notify means notifies the information processing apparatus of a result of the determination.