Reserved Print Job Page Limit Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses fail to complete reserved print jobs within the specified limit of print pages due to time differences between job reception and execution, leading to interference from other print jobs.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus implements a system to count and manage the number of print pages before executing reserved print jobs, ensuring that the limit is not exceeded by prioritizing the completion of reserved jobs based on specified start times and departmental page limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the image forming apparatus performs another print job during the period from reception of a reserved print job until execution thereof, then the productivity is improved by processing jobs in between, but the reliability deteriorates because the reserved print job may no longer be completed within the limit to the number of print pages
Solution Approach 1:
The count of print pages for the reserved print job is performed in advance at the time of reception, before any other print jobs are executed. This preliminary counting determines the available page quota for the reserved job, ensuring that subsequent job processing will not exceed this pre-established limit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors and counts the number of print pages consumed by other print jobs executed during the reservation period. This feedback mechanism tracks the remaining page quota for the reserved print job, enabling real-time control to ensure the reserved job can still be completed within its allocated page limit.
2Reliability
If the image forming apparatus holds the reserved print job until the specified start time, then the reliability of meeting the specified start time is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to idle time during which no other jobs can be processed
Solution Approach 1:
The print job management is segmented into distinct phases: a holding phase from job reception until the specified start time, and an execution phase at the specified start time. During the holding phase, the system maintains the reserved job in memory without processing, while accepting and processing other non-reserved jobs, thereby utilizing device resources efficiently without compromising the reserved job's start time guarantee.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions the reserved print job from a held state to an execution state at the specified start time. Before the start time, the device operates in a mode that prioritizes processing other jobs while maintaining the reserved job in readiness. At the start time, the system dynamically switches to execute the reserved job, ensuring both productivity during idle periods and reliability for scheduled jobs.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes at least one memory that stores instructions, and at least one processor to execute the instructions to set a limit of a number of print pages, and receive a print job from an external apparatus. In a case where the received print job is a reserved print job for which a print setting has been made to wait for printing until a print start time specified by a user, a first counter indicating a reserved number of print pages based on the received reserved print job before starting execution of the received reserved print job is updated, and a second counter relating to an upper limit of a number of print pages in accordance with execution of printing based on the received print job is updated. In a case where a new print job is received in a state where a sum of the first counter and the second counter has reached the set limit of the number of print pages, a user is notified of a predetermined error.