Printing Control Terminal Resource Saving Mode Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users find it inconvenient to determine if an image forming apparatus is operating in resource saving mode, as they must navigate through menus or web pages, and multiple users may unknowingly receive printouts with resource saving options applied.
Innovation Solution
A printing control terminal device with an input unit, communication interface, display unit, and controller that receives information about the resource saving mode from the image forming apparatus, displays this information, and generates printing data accordingly, allowing users to easily identify and set the mode through a user interface window.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the image forming apparatus operates in resource saving mode to reduce consumable usage, then paper and toner consumption is reduced, but users cannot easily identify the mode status and may unknowingly receive printouts with resource saving options applied
Solution Approach 1:
The printing control terminal device receives information from the image forming apparatus about whether it is operating in resource saving mode, and displays this information to the user through a user interface window. This feedback mechanism allows users to be aware of the current printing mode status without manually navigating through menus or web pages, thus resolving the contradiction between resource saving and user awareness.
2Loss of substance
If users must manually navigate through properties menus or web pages to identify the resource saving mode, then the image forming apparatus can operate in resource saving mode to save resources, but user convenience is reduced due to complex navigation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The printing control terminal device acts as an intermediary between the user and the image forming apparatus. It receives mode status information from the image forming apparatus and presents it to the user through a simplified user interface window, eliminating the need for users to manually navigate through complex properties menus or web pages to check the printing mode.
3Ease of operation
If the printing control terminal device displays resource saving mode information through a user interface window, then user convenience is improved, but additional display and communication components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The printing control terminal device integrates multiple functions: it generates printing data, communicates with the image forming apparatus to receive mode status information, and displays this information to the user. By combining these functions in a single device, the patent avoids the need for separate dedicated display devices, thus improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing control terminal device including an input unit to receive a printing order to request a printing operation for a printing work, a communication interface unit to receive information regarding a resource saving mode from an image forming apparatus, a display unit to display information regarding the received resource saving mode, a printer driver unit to generate printing data for the printing work, and a controller to control the communication interface unit to transmit the generated printing data to the image forming apparatus.