Printer Material Shortage Estimation via Planned Actual Quantity Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers often experience interruptions due to insufficient printing materials prepared in advance, especially when executing printing processes according to a predetermined schedule, as it is challenging to accurately determine the required quantity of materials needed for the plan.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that acquires plan information, derives planned quantity information, and estimates actual quantity information to notify users of any shortages, enabling timely preparation and reduction of printing process interruptions by controlling the notification of estimated quantity information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If printing materials are prepared in advance based on printer information only, then the printing process can be executed according to the plan, but the accuracy of determining required material quantity is insufficient leading to interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by comparing the planned material quantity (derived from print job information) with the actual material quantity (detected from printer status) to calculate and notify the estimated shortage quantity, enabling continuous adjustment and prevention of printing interruptions
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary estimation of material shortage quantity before the printing process begins by analyzing the plan information and current printer status, allowing users to prepare additional materials in advance and prevent interruptions
2Reliability
If printing materials are prepared in excess to prevent interruptions, then printing process continuity is improved, but the workload for sheet preparation and transportation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates and notifies the estimated shortage quantity in advance, enabling users to prepare only the necessary amount of materials beforehand, thus avoiding excessive preparation work and associated time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically monitors material usage and calculates shortage quantities without requiring manual tracking, reducing the time and effort needed for material management while ensuring continuous printing operation
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to: acquire plan information indicating a plan for a printing process to be executed by a printer in a predetermined processing time; derive planned quantity information on a basis of the plan information, the planned quantity information indicating a printing target quantity in executing the printing process according to the plan; acquire actual quantity information indicating a printing target quantity of a printing target placed in the printer, the printing target quantity allowing the printing process to be executed; on a basis of the planned quantity information and the actual quantity information, estimate estimated quantity information indicating a printing target quantity for implementing the plan; and perform control to make a notification of the estimated quantity information.