Relay Server Push Printing Settings Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing configurations for using an external server to instruct a printing apparatus are limited in ensuring proper print settings and security, particularly in cases where user input does not align with the printer's capabilities, leading to potential security issues and inefficient printing processes.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a relay server that performs change processing for push printing settings to align them with the printer's capabilities and displays notification for pull printing settings that do not meet the printer's conditions, ensuring secure and efficient printing operations without user intervention for push printing and allowing user adjustment for pull printing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the server automatically changes print settings for push printing to match printer capabilities, then printing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting reliabilityVSAvoidserver processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs preliminary validation of print settings against printer capabilities before initiating the printing process. By checking compatibility in advance and automatically adjusting settings, the server ensures reliable printing without requiring user intervention or complex real-time processing during print execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service printing by automatically matching print settings with printer capabilities. The server independently handles setting adjustments based on predefined printer specifications, eliminating the need for manual user configuration and reducing operational complexity while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the server transmits setting display information for pull printing without changing settings, then user control is improved, but printing reliability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser controlVSAvoidprinting reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The server provides feedback to users by transmitting setting display information that shows the current print settings and their compatibility with printer capabilities. This allows users to review and understand the settings before printing, maintaining user control while ensuring reliability through informed decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the server performs change processing for print settings, then adaptability to printer capabilities is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesettings adaptabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs setting adjustments in advance, before the actual printing process begins. By pre-validating and pre-adjusting print settings against printer capabilities, the system achieves high adaptability without adding delays during critical print execution phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The server uses lightweight, predefined setting adjustment rules and templates that can be quickly applied and discarded. These simple, pre-configured adjustment patterns enable rapid setting modification without complex processing, maintaining both adaptability and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Productivity

If push printing is performed without user operation after job transmission, then productivity is improved, but security risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting efficiencyVSAvoidsecurity risks

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs preliminary security validation by checking printer capabilities and validating print settings before initiating push printing. This pre-verification process ensures that only authorized and compatible print jobs are executed automatically, maintaining high productivity while mitigating security risks through advance security checks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12014098B2Server, control method, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2024.06.18 CANON KK

AI summary

A predetermined server provides a performance unit configured to perform, in a case where a print job for push printing is transmitted from the terminal apparatus, push printing processing to cause the printing apparatus to perform the push printing based on the print job for the push printing and a setting detail of a print setting for the push printing, without a user operation on the printing apparatus after the print job for the push printing is transmitted from the terminal apparatus.