Printer Activation via IoT Error Detection and Power Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In environments with multiple printers, high-frequency use printers often run out of toner or paper, becoming unusable, while low-frequency use printers are frequently turned off for power saving, leading to increased print job execution times due to the need to power them on and transition out of sleep mode.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize an IoT module to detect errors in high-frequency use printers and activate low-frequency use printers by physically switching on their power supply, allowing for immediate print job execution by selecting and powering on a suitable alternative printer based on criteria such as specification and location similarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a printer with low frequency of use is turned off for power saving, then energy consumption is reduced, but the time required to execute a print job increases due to needing to power on and transition from sleep mode
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively monitoring the status of high-frequency use printers and automatically activating alternative low-frequency use printers before they are needed. When a printer is predicted to fail or run out of consumables, the system pre-activates a standby printer, so that when the failure actually occurs, the alternative printer is already ready to immediately execute print jobs without requiring power-on or sleep mode transitions.
2Productivity
If a high frequency of use printer is used, then print job execution speed is maintained, but the printer may run out of toner or paper becoming unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors consumable levels and printer status in advance, and when a high-frequency use printer is predicted to fail or run out of resources, it proactively activates an alternative printer before the failure occurs. This preliminary activation ensures seamless failover and maintains both productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operational status parameter of alternative printers from 'off' or 'sleep mode' to 'active' based on predicted failures of primary printers. This parameter change allows the system to switch from a static power-saving configuration to a dynamic configuration that maintains printer availability while managing energy consumption.
3Ease of operation
If a printer transitions from sleep mode to ready mode, then printing capability is restored, but the time required for mode transition increases execution time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the mode transition from sleep mode to ready mode in advance, before it is actually needed. By monitoring usage patterns and predicting when a printer will be needed, the system proactively transitions alternative printers to ready mode beforehand, eliminating the delay that would otherwise occur at the moment of actual printing need.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the time required to execute a print job by ensuring that a functional printer is available for use immediately, mitigating the issues of consumable depletion and power-saving modes in low-use printers.
Implementation Method 1
an IoT module 5 to detect errors in a plurality of printers 1
Implementation Method 2
the administrative server 2 transmits an activation instruction to activate a printer 1
Implementation Method 3
The physical switch 53 comes into physical contact with a power supply switch 15, to displace the power supply switch 15, and thereby turns on the power of the printer 1
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing a print operation includes receiving a print request to perform a print operation on a first printer and identifying an error with respect to the first printer. In response to the error, a second printer is selected, which is currently powered OFF, to perform the print request, based on one or more criteria. The printer request is transmitted to the second printer. The second printer includes a network interface that receives the print request and, responsive thereto, causes the second printer to be powered ON to perform the print operation.