Remote Printing System Bibliographic Data Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing systems face delays and inefficiencies when managing print data and bibliographic information, particularly when a cloud server is used, as it can take time to acquire print data compared to a local server, leading to prolonged periods between user instruction and actual printing.

Innovation Solution

A remote printing system is implemented with a first and second printing apparatus within an intranet and a cloud server connected to the Internet, where the cloud server manages bibliographic information, allowing the first printing apparatus to acquire a list of print data and send identification information, and the second printing apparatus to send bibliographic information and print requests, optimizing print data management and reducing downtime.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a cloud server is used to manage bibliographic information, then the manageable limit of bibliographic information is extended, but the time to acquire print data increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanageable limit of bibliographic informationVSAvoidtime to acquire print data

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments bibliographic information management from print data management. The cloud server manages only bibliographic information (metadata, job lists), while local printing apparatuses store and provide actual print data. This segmentation allows the cloud to handle large volumes of bibliographic data without impacting print data retrieval speed, as print data remains locally available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism where the cloud server acts as a mediator for bibliographic information queries, while local printing apparatuses serve as intermediaries for actual print data retrieval. When a print job is requested, the system first queries the cloud server for bibliographic information to identify the target printing apparatus, then directly retrieves print data from that apparatus without routing through the cloud server, thus maintaining fast local access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If print data is managed on a local server, then the time to acquire print data is reduced, but the manageable limit of bibliographic information is constrained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime from user instruction to print completionVSAvoidmanageable limit of bibliographic information

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a single-dimension local storage model to a multi-dimensional distributed architecture. Bibliographic information is stored centrally in the cloud (one dimension), while print data is distributed across multiple local printing apparatuses (another dimension). This dimensional separation allows the system to maintain fast local access for print operations while extending bibliographic information capacity across the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If remote printing is implemented through a cloud server, then printing capability is extended to remote locations, but the response time from user instruction to print completion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote printing capabilityVSAvoidresponse time from user instruction to print completion

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-storing print data locally at printing apparatuses before remote access is needed. When a user initiates a remote print job, the system first identifies the target printing apparatus through cloud-based bibliographic information, then directly retrieves already-available print data from that apparatus's local storage, bypassing the need to transfer large print data files through the cloud and achieving fast remote printing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11262961B2Printing system and control method for performing user authentication

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 CANON KK

AI summary

First and second printing apparatus are in an intranet and a bibliography server connected to the Internet. The bibliography server being configured to manage bibliographic information of print data. The first printing apparatus acquire a list of print data from the bibliography server, when an instruction to print out print data included in the list is received from a user with an operating unit of the first printing apparatus, sends identification information for identifying the print data to the second printing apparatus and when a print request is received, prints out print data included in the received print request. The second printing apparatus sends bibliographic information of print data received from an external apparatus to the bibliography server; and sends a print request containing the print data identified by the identification information to the first printing apparatus.