Printing System Queue-Based Pre-Print Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing systems unnecessarily consume ink and power by performing pre-printing operations even when a printing operation is not executed, due to auto-wakeup commands being sent to printers regardless of actual printing intent.
Innovation Solution
A printing system and medium that determine whether to initiate a pre-printing operation based on the presence of information in a queue area, only instructing the printer to perform pre-printing when no data is stored, and generating print data only when printing is intended, thus optimizing resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the computer transmits auto-wakeup command to the printer regardless of printing intent, then the printer performs pre-printing operation to ensure quality, but ink and electric power are wastefully consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system checks the queue area status before transmitting the auto-wakeup command. The computer monitors whether print data is actually present in the queue area, and only triggers the pre-printing operation when the queue is empty, thereby preventing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining printing quality when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs a preliminary check of the queue area contents before initiating the pre-printing operation. By checking whether print data exists in the queue area in advance, the system avoids unnecessary pre-printing operations and their associated energy consumption, while still ensuring quality pre-printing occurs when actually needed
2Manufacturing precision
If the computer transmits auto-wakeup command to the printer regardless of printing intent, then the printer performs pre-printing operation to ensure quality, but ink is wastefully consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the queue area status to control the transmission of auto-wakeup commands. By monitoring whether print data is present in the queue area, the system only triggers pre-printing operations when necessary, thereby preventing wasteful ink consumption while maintaining printing quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs a preliminary verification of the queue area contents before initiating pre-printing. This advance check ensures that pre-printing operations are only performed when print data is actually scheduled, preventing unnecessary ink consumption while preserving printing quality
3Loss of energy
If the computer checks queue area status before transmitting auto-wakeup command, then unnecessary pre-printing operations are prevented, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The operating system leverages its existing queue area management functionality to determine when to transmit auto-wakeup commands. By using the queue area status that the OS already tracks for print job management, the system avoids adding complex external monitoring mechanisms, thereby reducing overall system complexity while preventing unnecessary pre-printing operations
Data Source
AI summary
A printing system includes a printer and an information processing device that includes a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions, the instructions being configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to, when there is not information stored in a queue area of the memory, determine to instruct the printer to start a pre-printing operation based on preparation instruction information. When there is information stored in the queue area, determine not to instruct the printer to start the pre-printing operation. In response to determining to instruct the printer to start the pre-printing operation, store the preparation instruction information into the queue area, and in response to determining to instruct the printer to start the pre-printing operation and storing the preparation instruction information into the queue area, generate print data based on specified contents data, and store print instruction information into the queue area.