Peer Printing Device Fleet Ability Score Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current printing devices operate independently, limiting their ability to collaborate and provide increased capabilities at reduced costs, despite being part of fleets tailored to meet specific enterprise needs.
Innovation Solution
A system where multiple printing devices calculate an ability score based on their capacity to meet printing specifications, allowing users to select the most suitable device for a print job, which can include estimating turnaround time and accounting for various print options, ensuring the 'best' result is chosen with a guarantee that no better offer will arrive later.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If printing devices operate as independent units, then device simplicity is maintained, but collaboration capability and productivity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent printing devices into a collaborative fleet where devices share information about their capabilities, current workload, and availability. This allows the system to function as a unified resource pool while maintaining individual device independence, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and collaboration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component that manages print job distribution across the fleet. This intermediary receives print requests, evaluates device ability scores, and routes jobs to appropriate devices, enabling collaboration without requiring complex direct communication between all device pairs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple printing devices collaborate and calculate ability scores, then user choice and optimization are improved, but system complexity and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each printing device autonomously calculates its own ability score based on its current state and capabilities, without requiring centralized management or complex inter-device communication. This self-service approach enables adaptability while minimizing system complexity by distributing the computational burden to individual devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses ability scores as dynamic parameters that change based on device state (workload, availability, capabilities). These parameter changes allow the system to adapt to varying conditions without requiring complex structural changes, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
3Measurement precision
If printing devices provide detailed ability scores including turnaround time estimates, then user decision quality is improved, but calculation complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a two-stage bidding process where devices first provide quick preliminary ability scores for rapid user evaluation, then offer more detailed accurate estimates if the user requests further information. This partial action approach provides sufficient precision for most decisions without the full time cost of detailed calculations, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
At least two printing devices receive a print job from a user that has printing data and printing specifications. Each of the printing devices calculates an ability score based on each printing device's ability to meet each of the printing specifications. The printing devices each output their ability score to the user. The printing devices then receive an indication as to which printing device is the selected print device, and instructions to print the print job are thus sent from the user to the selected print device. Then, the selected print device prints the print job on tangible media to produce a tangible output.