Printing Control System for Event Image Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In events like weddings, the large number of images transmitted from multifunctional portable terminals to printers can lead to long waiting times for participants to receive their printed images, as existing systems lack efficient management of image printing and prioritization.
Innovation Solution
A printing control system that generates printing commands for printers, excluding images based on creation date, number of images, and available printer usage, with features like printable-period and printable-number settings, frequency-in-use information management, and priority determination units to manage and prioritize image printing efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If all images transmitted from multifunctional portable terminals are printed sequentially, then complete printing service is provided to all participants, but waiting time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the printing task by dividing images into different priority groups (high priority and low priority). The printing control system processes high priority images first, then low priority images, allowing participants to receive their printed images much sooner rather than waiting for all images from all participants to be processed sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic priority assignment where the printing order is not fixed but adjusts based on real-time conditions. The printing management unit determines priority dynamically based on factors such as image creation time, participant activity, and current printer status, optimizing the printing sequence to minimize overall waiting time.
2Productivity
If the printer processes all received images without restriction, then complete printing service is provided, but printer efficiency is reduced due to excessive load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates high priority images from the total batch of received images. The printing control system identifies and extracts images that require immediate printing (such as recently taken photos or images from active participants) and processes them separately from lower priority images, reducing the immediate processing load on the printer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of image selection by introducing priority levels and filtering criteria. Instead of processing all images uniformly, the system applies parameter-based filtering (creation time, participant activity status, image count limits) to determine which images should be printed immediately, optimizing printer workload.
3Productivity
If images outside the printable period or exceeding printable number are included, then all participant images are printed, but printer resource waste occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary filtering of images before they are sent to the printer. The printing management unit checks image creation dates against the printable period, verifies participant activity status, and limits the number of images per participant in advance. This preliminary action prevents unnecessary images from entering the printing queue, reducing waste and simplifying control.
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide a printing control system capable of efficiently utilizing a printer installed in an event hall or the like. A printing control system 10 includes a printing management unit 24 capable of generating a printing command for causing a printer 40 to print an image received from a multifunctional portable terminal 50. The printing management unit 24 is configured to exclude, when a creation date and time of the received image is out of a predetermined printable period, the received image from an item to be printed, or to exclude, when the number of received images is out of a predetermined printable number, at least a part of the received images, which exceeds the printable number, from an item to be printed.