Printer Error Detection via Emulator Page Count Comparison
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in reliably detecting and identifying the cause of erroneous printing, such as garbled characters, which can lead to incorrect output.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus and system that includes a processor and communication device capable of analyzing printable data using an emulator to generate rendering data, sorting image forming apparatuses into groups based on the number of pages, and determining whether the primary apparatus belongs to the group with the largest number of image forming apparatuses, allowing for the identification of potential erroneous printing and acquisition of setting values from external apparatuses to resolve issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image forming apparatus uses existing error detection methods, then it can detect some printing errors, but the detection reliability is insufficient and cannot reliably identify the cause of erroneous printing such as garbled characters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the image forming apparatus using an emulator that replicates the PDL analysis and rendering functions. This emulator runs on a different device (information processing apparatus) and produces rendering data that can be compared with the actual apparatus output. By copying the critical processing functions to a separate system, the patent enables reliable error detection through comparison without requiring modifications to the original apparatus, thus resolving the contradiction between detection reliability and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces rendering data as an intermediary element between the printable data and the final printed output. The emulator generates rendering data that serves as a reference standard, which is then compared with the actual rendering results from the image forming apparatus. This intermediary rendering data enables precise error identification by providing a benchmark for comparison, thereby improving both detection reliability and measurement precision simultaneously.
2Reliability
If the system compares rendering data from multiple apparatuses to improve error detection accuracy, then detection reliability increases, but the system complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a selective comparison approach where rendering data is generated and compared only when necessary (when printing errors are suspected or when verification is needed). The system does not continuously compare all printing operations, but rather applies the comparison mechanism selectively based on error conditions or user requests. This partial action approach maintains high detection reliability when needed while avoiding the complexity and processing overhead of continuous comparison for all operations.
3Reliability
If the system generates rendering data using an emulator to detect errors, then error detection capability improves, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary rendering data generation using the emulator before actual printing occurs. By creating the reference rendering data in advance (prior to the printing operation), the system can quickly compare actual output against this pre-prepared standard without requiring time-consuming real-time emulation during the printing process itself. This preliminary action approach maintains high error detection capability while minimizing the time loss during actual printing operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a processor that analyzes printable data to generate rendering data, renders the rendering data to generate image data, and acquires the number of pages of the image data, supplies the printable data to one or more external image forming apparatuses, and acquires, from each external image forming apparatuses, the number of pages of image data generated by the corresponding external image forming apparatus by analyzing the printable data to generate rendering data and rendering the generated rendering data, sorts the information processing apparatus itself and the one or more external image forming apparatuses into one or more groups of the same number of pages, and determines whether or not the information processing apparatus itself belongs to a group having the largest number of image forming apparatuses, and outputs the generated image data where the information processing apparatus itself belongs to the group.