Printer Memory Buffering for User Presence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printer technologies face delays in outputting printed sheets when print data consists of multiple pages, as they often require user presence for each page to be printed, leading to inefficiencies in processing and output.
Innovation Solution
A printer system that sequentially generates and stores partial print data for multiple pages in memory, confirming user presence only when necessary to initiate printing, allowing for rapid supply of print data to the print execution unit once the user is present, thereby reducing delays and improving output efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the printer waits to confirm user presence before generating each page's print data, then security is improved, but printing speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The printer performs preliminary actions of generating and storing partial print data in memory before the user is present. The control device sequentially converts original data to generate partial print data for multiple pages and stores it in memory, so that when the user arrives, printing can immediately commence without waiting for user confirmation for each page, thus resolving the contradiction between security and printing speed
Solution Approach 2:
The print data is segmented into multiple partial print data corresponding to different pages. The control device generates and stores these segmented partial print data in memory separately, allowing selective printing based on user presence confirmation, thereby maintaining security while enabling rapid output when needed
2Speed
If the printer generates all partial print data in advance, then printing speed is improved, but memory usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The printer performs partial action by generating and storing only a limited number of partial print data (e.g., 10 pages worth) in memory at a time, rather than generating all print data for the entire document. This partial generation approach enables fast printing for the stored pages while controlling memory consumption, resolving the contradiction between printing speed and memory usage
Data Source
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AI summary
A printer includes: a generation unit sequentially converting each of partial original data of a plurality of pages included in original data designated as a print target by a specific user into each of partial print data in a memory; a supply unit sequentially supplying each of the partial print data to a print execution unit; and a confirmation unit, whenever the partial print data of one page is generated, confirming whether the specific user is present around the printer. When it is not confirmed that the specific user is present around the printer when first partial print data of one page is generated, the supply unit does not supply the first partial print data to the print execution unit, and the generation unit starts to generate second partial print data of another page in the memory.