Printing Control Apparatus for Dynamic Cost Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing systems fail to effectively manage and enforce user-specific printing limitations, leading to increased costs due to excessive or inappropriate printing, as they often impose one-sided limitations that conflict with user desires, resulting in either unnecessary cost or restricted functionality.
Innovation Solution
A flexible printing system that includes a print controlling apparatus and method, which uses printing limitation information to identify and decide on compatible settings, allowing settings within user authority while determining and addressing inconsistencies, and enabling printing settings outside authority if inconsistent, thereby allowing relieving printing to accommodate user needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If printing limitation is imposed on users to reduce costs, then cost control is improved, but user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts printing settings based on user authority levels and document types. Instead of static limitations, the printing control apparatus evaluates each print request against stored authority information and automatically modifies settings (such as duplex printing, color printing, or paper size) to resolve conflicts between cost control requirements and user needs, making the limitation system flexible rather than rigid
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes printing parameters (duplex setting, color mode, paper type) based on user authority and document characteristics. When a conflict is detected between imposed limitations and user settings, the system modifies specific parameters to find a compatible solution that satisfies both cost control requirements and user printing needs
2Loss of energy
If printing settings are forcibly rounded to limitation system settings, then cost control is improved, but printing quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically evaluates whether to apply limitation settings or user settings based on real-time assessment of user authority and document requirements. Instead of forcibly rounding all settings to limitation values, the system adaptively selects the appropriate settings that maintain printing quality while controlling costs
3Loss of energy
If printing is stopped to prevent unauthorized printing, then cost control is improved, but functionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines whether to allow or reject print requests by evaluating user authority against limitation settings. Instead of a static stop-all-approach, the system selectively permits printing when user needs are legitimate and compatible with cost control goals, while blocking only those requests that violate authority limitations
Solution Approach 2:
The printing control apparatus acts as an intermediary between the user printing request and the printing apparatus. It mediates by evaluating the request against stored authority information and automatically resolving conflicts between limitation requirements and user needs, allowing legitimate printing while preventing unauthorized usage
Data Source
AI summary
A print controlling method in a print controlling apparatus for controlling printing processing by using printing limitation information indicating printing limitation, including an obtaining step of obtaining printing limitation information; an identifying step of identifying printing setting set to the printing data; a deciding step of deciding the printing setting by which the printing setting is within the printing authority information by using the printing setting identified at the identifying step and the printing authority information; a determining step of determining whether the printing setting decided by the deciding unit is inconsistent with the other setting set to the printing data; and an executing unit for allowing the printing setting for the printing data outside the range of the printing authority information if it is determined as inconsistent at the determining step, is disclosed.