Printer Event Subscription via Inverted Push Notifications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for real-time event notification from web-connected printers to cloud servers are not scalable and lack security, particularly when dealing with increasing numbers of registered printing devices, and often require polling which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a subscription-based event notification system where printing devices advertise events over a secure connection, allowing cloud servers to control subscriptions and receive notifications in real-time, bypassing firewall restrictions through secure connections like XMPP.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cloud servers poll printing devices for event updates, then event information can be obtained, but the system becomes non-scalable with increasing numbers of printing devices
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the cloud server actively polling each printing device for events (traditional approach), the printing device is inverted to become the active party that pushes event notifications to the cloud server. This is achieved through an event subscription mechanism where the printing device monitors for events and automatically sends notifications when events occur, eliminating the need for continuous polling and improving scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing device performs self-service by autonomously monitoring its own event state and initiating notifications to the cloud server when events occur. The device manages its own event reporting without requiring external polling requests, thereby reducing the computational burden on the cloud server and enabling the system to scale efficiently with increasing device counts.
2Speed
If printing devices send events over the Internet, then real-time notifications are achieved, but firewall restrictions block the communications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an event subscription mechanism as an intermediary layer between the printing device and the cloud server. This mechanism includes an event subscription packet sent from the cloud server to the printing device, and an event notification packet sent back, creating a standardized communication protocol that works through firewall restrictions while maintaining real-time notification capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple printing devices are registered with the cloud server, then service coverage increases, but the polling solution becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The communication paradigm is inverted from server-initiated polling to device-initiated notification. Each printing device independently monitors for events and pushes notifications to the cloud server only when relevant events occur. This approach maintains high adaptability for registering multiple devices while dramatically improving efficiency by eliminating redundant polling requests to all devices.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous or frequent periodic polling of all devices, the system transitions to event-triggered periodic action where notifications are sent only when specific events occur at the printing devices. This reduces the overall communication load and improves efficiency while maintaining comprehensive coverage across multiple registered devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing device is registered at a cloud server and a secure connection is established with the printing device. A subscription packet is sent to the printing device. The subscription packet specifics at least one event to be reported by the printing device. A notification that indicates an occurrence of the at least one event is received from the printing device.