Printing Apparatus TCP/IP Connection Control for Spool Exhaustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printing systems, when the printing operation is stopped due to errors like out-of-paper or paper jam, the free area in the data spool can be exhausted, leading to incomplete transmission of print data and subsequent disconnection of communication, which prevents normal cancellation of print jobs and can result in abnormal print outputs.
Innovation Solution
The printing apparatus is designed to control the connection with the host PC based on settings, allowing for either disconnection or maintenance of the connection when print data reception is stopped due to errors. This is achieved by transmitting an RST packet to proactively disconnect the TCP/IP connection when a predetermined time has elapsed and the reset response flag is set, or by maintaining the connection if the flag is not set.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the printing operation is stopped due to errors (out-of-paper, paper jam), then the printing process is interrupted, but the free area in the data spool is exhausted and communication connection is disconnected, making it impossible to resume printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the connection maintenance period adjustable and adaptable. The system dynamically determines how long to maintain the connection based on whether print data transmission was complete or interrupted, allowing flexible response to different error scenarios while preserving the ability to resume printing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively maintaining the communication connection for a specified period after printing stops due to errors. This preliminary maintenance prevents complete disconnection, ensuring the communication channel remains open for potential resumption of the printing process
2Productivity
If the communication connection is disconnected after printing stops due to errors, then resource cleanup is achieved, but print job cancellation becomes impossible and abnormal print output occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the connection maintenance duration based on the printing state. When printing stops due to errors, the connection is maintained for a predetermined period rather than being immediately disconnected, allowing sufficient time for print job cancellation operations while still enabling resource cleanup after the period expires
3Quantity of substance
If the free area in the data spool is exhausted, then data storage capacity is maximized utilized, but print data transmission stops halfway and communication disconnection occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by maintaining the communication connection for a predetermined period after printing stops due to spool exhaustion. This ensures the communication channel remains open even when the data spool is full, allowing for potential resumption of print data transmission and preventing premature disconnection
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A printing apparatus (100) establishes a connection with an external apparatus (101, 102) in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol, receives, and temporarily stores in a spool area, print data transmitted from the external apparatus via the connection, and performs a printing process based on print data stored in the spool area. The printing apparatus controls whether or not to disconnect the connection with the external apparatus from the printing apparatus side, in accordance with a setting preliminarily made by a user operation, in a case where reception of print data from the external apparatus is stopped halfway through and a predetermined time has elapsed in a state where the reception remains stopped.