Printer Auto-Matching Print Jobs to Mounted Tape Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers face inefficiencies when receiving printing jobs with attributes, such as tape width, that do not match the actual attributes of the print-receiving medium, leading to user burdens in replacing media and re-transmitting jobs.
Innovation Solution
A printer with a feeder, printing head, communicating device, and processor that detects the accepting conditions of the print-receiving medium and searches for operation terminals with matching printing jobs, allowing it to receive and produce the job without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the printer displays an error when the printing job attributes do not match the print-receiving medium attributes, then the printing quality and reliability are ensured, but the user burden increases requiring media replacement and job re-transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The printer automatically detects the attributes of the mounted print-receiving medium, searches for compatible printing jobs stored in operation terminals, and initiates transmission without user intervention. This self-service mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining attribute matching reliability while eliminating the need for users to manually replace media or re-transmit jobs.
Solution Approach 2:
The printer provides feedback to operation terminals about the detected medium attributes and compatibility status of stored printing jobs. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically identify and transmit compatible jobs, ensuring printing quality while reducing user burden through automated decision-making based on attribute matching information.
2Productivity
If the printer continuously communicates with operation terminals to check for printing jobs, then the availability and responsiveness are improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous communication, the printer performs attribute detection and job searching periodically or event-driven (e.g., when medium is mounted or print command is received). This periodic action maintains system responsiveness and availability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The printer autonomously detects medium attributes and searches for compatible jobs only when needed (event-driven approach), rather than maintaining constant communication connections. This self-service mechanism achieves high responsiveness when required while minimizing energy consumption during idle periods.
3Device complexity
If the printer requires user intervention to replace media and re-transmit jobs, then the system complexity is reduced, but the loss of time increases due to manual operations
Solution Approach 1:
The printer automatically detects medium attributes, searches for compatible printing jobs in connected operation terminals, and initiates transmission without requiring user intervention for media replacement or job re-transmission. This self-service capability eliminates time-consuming manual operations while the underlying attribute matching logic maintains manageable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary attribute detection and job compatibility checking automatically before printing is required. This preliminary action prepares the system in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual media replacement and job re-transmission when printing is actually needed.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure discloses a printer including a first memory that stores computer-executable instructions that cause the printer to perform a terminal searching process, a job receiving process, and a coordination control process. In the terminal searching process, it is searched whether any of the operation terminals retains the printing job conforming to an accepting condition or not, by performing the mutually-recognized communication triggered by reception of a signal of an action-starting operation in a starting operation accepting process. In the job receiving process, in the case that some of the operation terminals retain the printing job conforming to the accepting condition, the printing job from the operation terminal is received. In the coordination control process, the printing head and the feeder are controlled in coordination with each other in the manner that the printed matter in accordance with print data in the printing job is produced.