Push Notification Server for Printer Data Queue Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In scenarios involving large amounts of print data or successive print processing, existing systems face challenges in efficiently managing queued print data and detecting print completion in printers, leading to restricted operability on information processing devices like smartphones.

Innovation Solution

A communication system that includes a smartphone, printer, and push notification server, where the smartphone can receive push notifications indicating print completion or errors, allowing it to queue and send print data to the printer without maintaining the print application in an active state, enabling seamless multitasking and efficient data handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the print application maintains active state to detect print completion, then print completion detection is reliable, but device operability is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint completion detection reliabilityVSAvoiddevice operability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A push notification server is introduced as an intermediary between the printer and the information processing device. The server receives print completion status from the printer and sends notifications to the device, eliminating the need for the print application to remain active for detection while maintaining reliable communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the printer sends completion status information through the push notification server back to the information processing device. This allows the device to know when printing is complete without continuously monitoring the print process, resolving the contradiction between detection reliability and operational freedom.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Quantity of substance

If print data is queued in the information processing device, then large amounts of print data can be handled, but data management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint data volumeVSAvoiddata management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing print data in the information processing device before printing occurs. The queued print data is prepared in advance and automatically transmitted to the printer when the print task is initiated, simplifying data management for large volumes of print data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous capability to queue and manage print data without interruption. The information processing device can continuously accumulate print data in a standardized queue format, ensuring seamless data management regardless of data volume while maintaining simple, predictable operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If the print application remains active to send queued print data, then data transmission is reliable, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic push notifications from the server to trigger data transmission. The information processing device wakes up periodically to check for notifications and transmits queued data only when necessary, maintaining transmission reliability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous active monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9948821B2Non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing computer-readable instructions for causing information processing device to execute communication processing with push notification server and printer

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An information processing device may accept an input of a first print instruction. The information processing device may send first print data to a printer in response to accepting the input of the first print instruction. The information processing device may store second print data in the memory in a print stand-by state. The information processing device may receive a push notification from the push notification server. The push notification may include first information that is related to first print processing using the first print data and outputted from the printer. The information processing device may send the second print data to the printer in response to receiving the first information.