Pull Printing Server Failure Handling via Port Information Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional network printing environments, when a pull printing server is unavailable due to maintenance or network issues, users cannot print jobs as the information device is limited to transmitting print jobs only to the pull printing server, requiring manual intervention or pre-installed device drivers, which is inconvenient and requires additional hardware.
Innovation Solution
A pull printing system where information devices acquire and store port information from the pull printing server, allowing them to automatically switch the transmission destination of print jobs to connected image forming apparatuses if the server is unavailable, enabling seamless printing without the need for new hardware or manual port changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the information device transmits print jobs only to the pull printing server, then the printing system can be simplified and centralized management can be achieved, but the system reliability deteriorates when the server is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The information device stores port information of image forming apparatuses in advance before the pull printing server becomes unavailable. When the server is down, the device can immediately switch to direct transmission using the pre-stored port information, eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring continuous printing capability.
2Reliability
If the user manually changes the printer port when the pull printing server is down, then the user can print directly to image forming apparatuses, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to manual intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The information device automatically detects when the pull printing server is unavailable and autonomously switches the printer port to a directly connected image forming apparatus using the pre-stored port information. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for user intervention in port configuration, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring printing availability.
3Reliability
If a device driver dedicated for image forming apparatus is installed in advance, then direct printing is enabled, but the device complexity increases and additional hardware requirements arise
Solution Approach 1:
The information device uses a universal device driver that can handle both pull printing server communication and direct image forming apparatus communication. The device stores port information of multiple apparatuses and automatically selects the appropriate destination, eliminating the need for dedicated device drivers and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining printing availability.
Data Source
AI summary
In a pull printing system, a plurality of information devices configured to create print jobs individually, a pull printing server, and a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to one another via a network. Each of the information devices acquires, from the pull printing server, port information used for communication with the image forming apparatuses, stores the port information therein. If the pull printing server can perform communication with the subject information device at a time point when the port information is stored and onward, each of the information devices sends a print job created after the time point to the pull printing server. Otherwise, each of the information devices sends the print job to any one of the image forming apparatuses based on the port information.