Server Communication System for Reliable Printer Data Transmission

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Printers may fail to receive print data from servers due to errors, leading to failed re-establishment of HTTP connections, which can result in incomplete or failed print jobs.

Innovation Solution

A communication system comprising two servers that exchange error information and state change notifications to manage printer states, allowing the server to send data only when the printer is in a non-error state, using XMPP and HTTP sessions for server-push communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the printer re-establishes the HTTP connection regardless of server state, then the printer can attempt to receive print data, but the re-establishment may fail due to server status, resulting in failed print jobs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint job completionVSAvoidconnection re-establishment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs preliminary actions by notifying the printer of its state (online/offline/error) before the printer attempts to receive print data. The server sends state notification information to the printer, allowing the printer to know in advance whether the server is ready to receive data, thus avoiding failed re-establishment attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by having the server continuously monitor its own state and communicate this state to the printer. The printer receives state notification information from the server and adjusts its behavior accordingly, creating a feedback loop that prevents failed connection attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the server sends print data without verifying printer state, then data transmission can proceed quickly, but the printer may be in an error state and unable to process the data, leading to failed print jobs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission speedVSAvoidprint job completion

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs a preliminary check of the printer's state before sending print data. The server receives state notification information from the printer indicating whether the printer is in an error state or ready state, and only transmits data when the printer is ready, preventing failed print jobs while maintaining efficient transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The printer provides feedback about its operational state to the server through state notification information. The server uses this feedback to determine whether to send print data, ensuring that data transmission only occurs when the printer is capable of processing it, thus maintaining both speed and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the printer continuously attempts to receive data without state verification, then the printer can be proactive in data reception, but unnecessary connection attempts are made when the server is offline or in error state, wasting resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata reception initiativeVSAvoidconnection attempt resources

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The printer receives preliminary information about the server's state through state notification information before attempting to establish connections or receive data. This allows the printer to avoid unnecessary connection attempts when the server is offline or in an error state, conserving energy and resources while maintaining proactive data reception capability when appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The server provides feedback about its operational state to the printer, enabling the printer to make informed decisions about whether to initiate data reception. This feedback mechanism prevents wasted resources on unnecessary connection attempts while preserving the printer's ability to proactively receive data when the server is ready.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11467787B2Communication system, first server, second server, non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing computer-readable instructions for first server and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing computer-readable instructions for second server

Publication Date: 2022.10.11 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A first server may receive error information from a communication device at a predetermined timing, send error receipt information to a second server. The second server may send destination information to the first server, the destination information indicating a destination in the second server to which the first server is to send a changing signal in response to the state of the communication device being changed from the error state to a non-error state. The first server may send the changing signal to the second server by using the destination information. The second server may identify from a memory first data to be sent to the communication device, send first relation information related to the identified first data to the first server. The first server may send to the communication device first instruction information corresponding to the first relation information.