Printer Controller Cancellation Logic for Image Printing Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming systems, receiving multiple preparation commands and job data units in quick succession can lead to confusion, resulting in incorrect cancellation of job data units when a user attempts to cancel an operation, complicating the processing flow between the image forming apparatus and information processing apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
An image printing apparatus with a communication interface, user interface, and controller that receives preliminary data to initiate a warm-up action, waits to accept cancellation commands until job data is received, and then correctly cancels the associated print job based on user input, ensuring accurate cancellation of the intended job data unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the image forming apparatus accepts cancellation commands during the period from receipt of preparation command to receipt of job data, then the user can cancel the operation early, but the job data units may be confused and the wrong job data unit may be canceled
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions (warm-up operations) in response to the preparation command before the job data is received. The cancellation command is accepted only after job data receipt, ensuring that the cancellation target is clearly identified. This preliminary action phase is separated from the cancellation acceptance phase to avoid confusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation period is segmented into distinct phases: (1) preparation command receipt and warm-up execution phase where cancellation is not accepted, and (2) job data receipt phase where cancellation is accepted. This segmentation prevents confusion about which job data unit should be canceled.
2Reliability
If the preparation command is associated with the image data to enable correct cancellation, then the cancellation accuracy is improved, but the processing flow becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The cancellation acceptance function is extracted from the preparation command processing phase and placed in the job data receipt phase. This extraction simplifies the processing flow by eliminating the need for complex association tracking during the warm-up period, while still ensuring accurate cancellation targeting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system completes preliminary actions (warm-up) before accepting cancellation commands. This timing arrangement simplifies the processing flow by ensuring that when cancellation is accepted, the system state is clear and unambiguous, eliminating the need for complex association tracking.
3Reliability
If the image forming apparatus waits for job data receipt before accepting cancellation commands, then the cancellation accuracy is improved, but the response time to user cancellation requests is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary warm-up actions during the period between preparation command receipt and job data receipt. By accepting cancellation only after job data receipt, the system ensures accurate targeting while the warm-up operations proceed uninterrupted, minimizing overall time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
An image printing apparatus including a communication interface, a printer, a user interface including an operation panel, a controller configured to control the printer and the user interface is provided. The controller is configured to receive preliminary data sent from an information processing apparatus through the communication interface; control the printer to perform a warm-up action; receive job data including image data through the communication interface; control the user interface to perform a receipt-notification and control the printer to start printing based on the image data; during a period from the receipt of the preliminary data until start of receiving the job data, withhold from accepting a cancellation command sent in response to user entering a cancellation operation; and after the start of receiving the job data, accept the cancellation command and cancel printing of the image based on the job data associated with to the entered cancellation command.