Printer Conversion Server Offloads Data Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers face high process loads when obtaining and converting print data, especially when they need to interpret and convert print data formats, leading to inefficiencies and increased data communication times.
Innovation Solution
A printer system that uses a notification server and a conversion server, where the printer receives a print notification, transmits a conversion instruction to the conversion server with target location information, allowing the conversion server to obtain and convert the print data, reducing the printer's process load and data communication requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the printer obtains and converts print data itself, then the printing function can be performed, but the process load on the printer increases
Solution Approach 1:
A conversion server is introduced as an intermediary between the notification server and the printer. The conversion server receives print data from the notification server, converts it to a format suitable for the printer, and then transmits the converted data to the printer. This mediator handles the complex data conversion task externally, reducing the processing burden on the printer while maintaining printing functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the printer converts print data formats, then compatibility with different printers is achieved, but data communication time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conversion server performs data format conversion in advance, before the printer needs to process the data. By pre-converting the print data into the appropriate format and transmitting it to the printer, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming format conversion at the printer end, thereby reducing overall data communication time while maintaining format compatibility.
3Ease of operation
If the printer handles data conversion, then self-sufficiency is maintained, but processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The conversion server acts as an intermediary that handles data conversion tasks externally. This allows the printer to maintain operational simplicity by receiving pre-converted data, while the complex conversion process is performed by the dedicated conversion server, thereby preserving printing speed without sacrificing ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes: a receiving unit for receiving a first print notification from a notification server; a transmitting unit for transmitting a first conversion instruction including a first target location information representing a location for specifying the target print data to a conversion server when the first print notification is received from the notification server, wherein the first conversion instruction is for controlling the conversion server to obtain the target print data using the first target location information and to convert the target print data; a print data obtaining unit for obtaining converted print data having a format that can be interpreted by the printer from the conversion server when the conversion server generates the converted print data in accordance with the first conversion instruction; and a print control unit for controlling a print performing unit to perform printing in accordance with the converted print data.