Print Job Spooler Billing Code Input and Queue Prioritization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing print management systems face issues with users not being able to input additional information, such as billing codes, in a timely manner, leading to job cancellations and inefficiencies, especially when the system requires users to remain logged in and jobs are queued, causing processing stagnation and potential system halts due to resource limitations.

Innovation Solution

A printing control apparatus that stores and manages print jobs, allowing users to set billing codes after job generation, with a display unit to list jobs and a setting unit to select and input billing codes, enabling input even after job creation, and prioritizing jobs with input billing codes for processing, while allowing automatic deletion of jobs without inputted information to prevent queue stagnation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If an information input dialog is displayed after a job is sent to the image processing apparatus, then users can input additional information such as billing codes, but users may log off before the dialog is displayed causing job cancellation and processing delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebilling code inputVSAvoidjob processing delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by displaying the information input dialog box immediately when the job is received by the spooler, before the user has a chance to log off. This ensures that users can input billing codes and other information during the spooling phase, preventing job cancellation due to user logout and avoiding processing delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If the spooler waits for information input before sending the job, then billing codes can be collected, but subsequent jobs cannot be processed and the system becomes stagnant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebilling code collectionVSAvoidjob processing throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the job processing into two independent phases: spooling phase and printing phase. During the spooling phase, the spooler collects billing codes and stores jobs in the spool area without waiting for user input. During the printing phase, the image processing apparatus retrieves jobs and prompts users for information. This segmentation allows subsequent jobs to be processed continuously while billing information is collected asynchronously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the image processing apparatus pauses the leading job to perform the next job in the queue, then resource availability can be managed, but system storage capacity is exceeded and system halt occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource managementVSAvoidsystem storage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the job queue management function from the image processing apparatus and relocates it to the spooler on the information processing apparatus. The spooler stores all jobs in its spool area and manages the queue, while the image processing apparatus simply retrieves jobs as resources become available. This extraction prevents the image processing apparatus from exceeding its storage capacity while maintaining reliable resource management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Loss of information

If users remain logged in to input billing codes, then information can be collected accurately, but user convenience is reduced and system availability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebilling code accuracyVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by collecting billing codes during the spooling phase, which occurs automatically when the job is received. Users can input information during this phase or later when prompted by the image processing apparatus, eliminating the need to remain logged in continuously. This ensures accurate information collection while maintaining user convenience and system availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8264720B2Printing control apparatus and printing control method that can prompt a user to set additional information which is effective later as a part of a print log

Publication Date: 2012.09.11 CANON KK

AI summary

A printing control apparatus to store print data in a storage area from a print application and to send the print data to a print apparatus. The printing control apparatus includes a control unit to send, when a billing code is set in a first received print data, the print data to the print apparatus and to control, when no billing code is set in the first received print data, an order of the print data so that subsequent data is sent before (or instead of) the first received print data, a display control unit to display a list of the print data received from the print application, and a setting unit to select one or more print data from the list of the print data displayed by the display control unit to set a billing code according to input by a user. Related methods are also disclosed.