Printer Data Integration via Mediator Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to integrate data from two separately managed sets of printers, one under a printer management system and another under a wider range management system, to provide a unified view for users.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a print management system and an environment management system, where data from both types of printers is periodically read and stored, allowing for a common view to be displayed to the user through a portal unit, with the environment management system retrieving data from the print management system and displaying it in a unified format.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If data from two separately managed printer systems is integrated into a unified view, then management efficiency and user convenience are improved, but system complexity and integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an integration device as an intermediary component that bridges the printer management system and the environment management system. This mediator handles data retrieval, transformation, and unification, allowing both systems to coexist while providing a unified view without requiring deep integration between them. The integration device acts as a buffer that manages the complexity internally while presenting a simple interface to users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: the printer management system, the environment management system, and the integration device. Each module operates independently with well-defined interfaces, allowing them to be developed, maintained, and scaled separately. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by avoiding tight coupling between components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If printers without management functions are included in the unified view, then comprehensive monitoring coverage is improved, but data retrieval and integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integration device is designed with universal data retrieval capabilities that can handle both printers with management functions and those without. It implements multiple data access methods including direct retrieval from printers with management functions and indirect retrieval through the printer management system for printers without such functions. This multi-functional approach allows comprehensive monitoring coverage while adapting to different printer types.
Solution Approach 2:
For printers without management functions, the integration device uses the printer management system as an intermediary to retrieve data. Instead of attempting direct access to printers that lack management capabilities, the system routes data retrieval through the existing printer management infrastructure, which already has the necessary access mechanisms in place.
3Reliability
If real-time monitoring of all printers is implemented, then data freshness and responsiveness are improved, but data retrieval time and system resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integration device implements periodic data retrieval at predetermined time intervals rather than continuous real-time monitoring. This approach balances data freshness with system efficiency by updating printer status information at regular intervals, ensuring that the unified view reflects current conditions without requiring constant data polling that would consume excessive system resources.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing system including: a print management system that includes a first type of printer, and a printer management client device that periodically reads data about first type of printer from the first type of printer; and an environment management system that includes an integration device that periodically retrieves the data about the first type of printer from the printer management system, a data storage unit that receives the data about the first type of printer from the integration device, and a second type of printer that provides data about the second type of printer to the data storage unit, wherein the second type of printer has a management function that is configured to provide the data about the second type of printer to the data storage unit in the environment management system, and the first type of printer does not have the management function.