Printer Error Recovery via External Image Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers in shared offices and public places without a hard-disk device face issues with resuming printing after errors, leading to unnecessary page wastage and increased user fees due to the need to restart from the initial page each time an error occurs.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with a processor that transitions to a standby state upon detecting an error, receives image data to identify the correct page for resuming printing, and retransmits print data from that page, preventing repeated page errors and unnecessary printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a printer without a hard-disk device resumes printing after an error, then printing can be continued, but printing must restart from the initial page causing sheet waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of an error detection unit, image acquisition unit, and image storage unit. When an error occurs, the system captures an image of the printed page at the error location and stores it externally (in the host computer or on the printed output itself). This intermediary image storage mechanism allows the printer to resume printing from the correct page without needing internal hard-disk storage, thereby preventing sheet waste while maintaining printing resumption capability.
2Reliability
If print data is stored in the printer's hard-disk device for error recovery, then printing can resume from the correct page, but security concerns arise in shared offices and public places
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the print data storage function from the printer itself and relocates it to the host computer or external storage medium. The printer only retains minimal buffering capacity sufficient for current page printing. When an error occurs, the system uses the externally stored image of the error page (captured by the image acquisition unit) to determine the resumption point, eliminating the need for the printer to store sensitive print data internally and thus resolving the security concern while maintaining printing resumption accuracy.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If printing restarts from the initial page after each error, then security is maintained by not storing data, but unnecessary pages are printed increasing user fees
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the error detection unit monitors printing status, and upon detecting an error, the image acquisition unit captures an image of the error page. This image is fed back to the host computer or stored externally, providing the system with information about the error location. The feedback enables intelligent resumption decision-making, allowing the printer to skip already-successfully-printed pages and resume only from the necessary page, thereby preventing unnecessary printing and reducing user fees while maintaining security by not storing data in the printer.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a processor. The processor is configured to transition to a standby state upon detecting occurrence of an error on a printer that is a destination of transmission of print data. The standby state is for receiving image data for identifying a page from which printing is to be resumed. The processor is also configured to recognize an image of the image data connected with the printer when the image data is received and identify the page from which the printing is to be resumed. The processor is also configured to retransmit, to the printer, print data for one or more pages starting from the identified page.