Printer Color Management Controller Grouping by Paper Type

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing color correction management systems for image output devices fail to effectively manage color consistency across multiple printers, especially when current paper information is not available, leading to inconsistent color outputs.

Innovation Solution

A controller that acquires paper type information from multiple image output devices, groups them based on current-fed-paper-type information if available, or designated/user-selected paper types, and displays the managed devices, ensuring consistent color correction across all devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the management system acquires current-fed-paper-type information from image output devices, then color consistency and grouping accuracy are improved, but system complexity and data management burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor consistencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring and storing paper type information in advance from multiple image output devices. This pre-acquired information is then used for grouping devices and managing color correction states, eliminating the need for real-time paper detection and reducing operational complexity during actual printing tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The management system acts as an intermediary between multiple image output devices and the user. It centralizes the acquisition, storage, and management of paper type information, shielding individual devices from direct user interaction with complex paper management protocols while maintaining accurate color consistency across all devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the system manages image output devices without current-fed-paper-type information, then system simplicity is maintained, but color correction accuracy and device grouping reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidcolor correction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring and storing paper type information in advance from multiple image output devices. This pre-acquired information is then used for grouping devices and managing color correction states, eliminating the need for real-time paper detection and reducing operational complexity during actual printing tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Image output devices autonomously provide their paper type information to the management system during initialization or configuration. This self-service approach allows devices to contribute their own operational parameters without requiring external intervention, maintaining system simplicity while ensuring accurate color correction management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If paper type information is not acquired from image output devices, then data management burden is reduced, but ability to ensure consistent color outputs across multiple printers deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata management burdenVSAvoidcolor consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring and storing paper type information in advance from multiple image output devices. This pre-acquired information is then used for grouping devices and managing color correction states, eliminating the need for real-time paper detection and reducing operational complexity during actual printing tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The management system establishes a feedback loop where paper type information acquired from image output devices is used to adjust color correction parameters and grouping configurations. This feedback mechanism ensures that color consistency is continuously optimized based on actual device and paper characteristics while maintaining manageable data through structured storage and processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9917986B2Controllers, control method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium

Publication Date: 2018.03.13 CANON KK

AI summary

A controller includes an acquisition unit that acquires paper type information from each of a plurality of image output devices managed in a management system, a grouping unit that performs grouping of a plurality of managed image output devices based on paper information acquired by the acquisition unit, and a display controller that displays the managed image output devices having undergone the grouping performed by the grouping unit on a display unit. If the acquisition unit acquires current-fed-paper-type information, the grouping unit performs the grouping based on the current-fed-paper-type information. If the acquisition unit does not acquire the current-fed-paper-type information, the grouping unit performs the grouping based on calibration-executable paper type information included in the paper type information acquired by the acquisition unit.