Printing Apparatus Controller Timing Execution Reports Before Power Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

In MDM systems, printing apparatuses face challenges in transmitting execution completion reports to external mediation apparatuses after power supply-off operations, as the power loss prevents report transmission.

Innovation Solution

The printing apparatus is configured to determine if an instruction involves a power supply-off operation and transmit an execution completion report either at the time of processing completion or at a predetermined timing before the operation, ensuring the report is sent before power loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the printing apparatus transmits the execution completion report after power supply-off operation, then the report transmission timing is optimized for normal operations, but the report cannot be transmitted when power is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexecution completion report transmission reliabilityVSAvoidreport transmission timing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controller determines whether the instructed processing involves a power supply-off operation and, if so, transmits the execution completion report at a predetermined timing before the power supply-off is executed. This preliminary action ensures the report is sent while power is still available, preventing loss of transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the report transmission timing based on the type of processing instructed. For processing involving power supply-off, the report is transmitted before power loss; for other processing, the report is transmitted upon completion. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between timely reporting and reliable transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If the printing apparatus executes power supply-off operation, then energy consumption is reduced, but the ability to transmit data is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidexecution completion report

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The controller transmits the execution completion report at a predetermined timing before the power supply-off operation is executed. This ensures that the information about processing completion is communicated to the external mediation apparatus before power is lost, preventing information loss while still allowing the apparatus to power down and reduce energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the printing apparatus transmits execution completion report upon processing completion, then accurate reporting is achieved, but power loss may prevent transmission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereport timing accuracyVSAvoidreport transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically determines the report transmission timing based on the processing type. When the instructed processing involves power supply-off, the report is transmitted at a predetermined timing before power loss. For other processing, the report is transmitted upon completion. This dynamic approach maintains timing accuracy while ensuring transmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

For processing involving power supply-off, the controller transmits the execution completion report before the power supply-off is executed. This preliminary transmission ensures that the report is sent while the apparatus still has power, combining accurate reporting with reliable transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11360722B2Printing apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A printing apparatus including: a printing unit; and a controller configured to: receive a processing execution instruction for executing a predetermined processing from an external mediation apparatus; determine whether the received processing execution instruction is a first instruction that does not involve a power supply-off operation; and transmit an execution completion report to the external mediation apparatus such that: in a case where the determining determines that the processing execution instruction is the first instruction, the execution completion report is transmitted to the external mediation apparatus at a time when execution of processing instructed by the first instruction is completed; and in a case where the determining does not determine that the processing execution instruction is the first instruction, the execution completion report is transmitted to the external mediation apparatus at a predetermined timing which is before execution of processing instructed by the processing execution instruction is completed.