Printer User Info Extraction from JDF and PDL Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies face difficulties in adding user information to printed materials when print data is generated using job definition format (JDF), as user information indicating the user logging in the external apparatus is not included, making it challenging to identify who printed the material.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a receiving unit to receive print data and a printing unit that adds user information described in the received print data or setting information to the sheet, ensuring user information is printed alongside the image, either by acquiring user information from page description language (PDL) data or job definition format (JDF) data, depending on the data type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If user information is added to print data generated in accordance with PDL, then user information can be acquired and printed, but user information cannot be acquired when print data is generated in accordance with JDF
Solution Approach 1:
The printing apparatus is designed to handle multiple print data formats (PDL and JDF) and extract user information from both formats. The system includes a user information extraction unit that can process different data structures and a setting information acquisition unit that obtains user information from the printing apparatus itself when print data lacks user information, ensuring universal compatibility across formats while maintaining the ability to print user information consistently
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (setting information stored in the printing apparatus) that bridges the gap when user information is missing from JDF print data. The system checks whether user information is included in the received print data, and if not, acquires user information from setting information in the printing apparatus, acting as a mediator to ensure user information is always available for printing regardless of the input format
2Productivity
If printing is executed without adding user information when it is not included in print data, then printing can proceed, but it becomes very difficult to identify who has printed the printed material
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary checks to determine whether user information is included in the received print data before executing printing. If user information is not included, the system preliminarily acquires user information from setting information in the printing apparatus before printing, ensuring that user identification information is prepared in advance and printed alongside the image, thus preventing information loss while maintaining printing productivity
3Loss of information
If the printing apparatus requires user authentication for copy jobs, then user information can be obtained through authentication, but this approach cannot be used when users do not operate the printing apparatus for print jobs from external apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically acquiring user information from setting information stored in the printing apparatus when print data from external apparatus does not contain user information. This eliminates the need for user authentication or operation at the printing apparatus, allowing the system to automatically obtain and print user information without requiring user presence or interaction
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus comprising a printing unit configured to print an image, and a controlling unit including a processor and a memory storing a program which executed by the processor, the controlling being configured to act as a receiving unit configured to receive print data generated by an external apparatus, and a causing unit configured to cause the printing unit to print user information described in the received print data on a sheet together with an image of the print data, and configured to cause the printing unit to print user information described in setting information received by the receiving unit together with the received print data on a sheet together with an image of the print data.