Server Resolution Table for Pull-Print Rasterization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image forming apparatuses take significant time to obtain data from a server and form an image due to the need to create rasterized data from intermediate data, which can be time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A server apparatus with a resolution table that stores image forming apparatuses of different resolutions and information processing abilities, allowing for the selection of the most suitable apparatus to create intermediate data independent of resolution, which is then converted into rasterized data by the selected apparatus, enabling immediate supply of rasterized data upon receiving a pull-print request.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the image forming apparatus creates rasterized data from intermediate data obtained from the server, then the data can be adapted to different resolutions, but the time required for image formation increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The server apparatus performs preliminary actions by pre-creating and storing rasterized data in advance, before the actual printing operation is needed. This allows the image forming apparatus to simply retrieve pre-processed data rather than performing time-consuming real-time conversion, thus reducing the time required for image formation while maintaining resolution adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The server apparatus acts as an intermediary that performs the complex task of converting intermediate data to rasterized data. By centralizing this conversion process at the server level and caching the results, the system eliminates the need for each image forming apparatus to perform its own conversion, thereby reducing local processing time while maintaining the ability to handle different resolutions.
2Productivity
If the server apparatus stores and supplies rasterized data for multiple resolutions, then the pull-printing speed increases, but the storage requirements and data management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server apparatus applies local quality by organizing stored data according to specific resolution categories. Instead of storing all possible data formats uniformly, the system creates separate storage areas for different resolutions (e.g., 600 dpi, 1200 dpi), allowing efficient retrieval and management. This structured approach maintains high pull-printing speeds while simplifying data management through clear resolution-based organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system manages complexity by changing the parameter of data organization from a flat structure to a resolution-based hierarchical structure. The resolution table serves as an index that maps printing jobs to appropriate pre-processed data, enabling fast lookup operations. This parameter change in data organization allows the system to handle multiple resolutions efficiently without proportionally increasing management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A server apparatus includes: a storage device configured to store a resolution table, the resolution table being configured to record a plurality of image forming apparatuses having different resolutions, the resolutions of the image forming apparatuses respectively, and information processing abilities of the image forming apparatuses respectively, in association with each other; and a processor configured to operate as a printable data obtaining unit, an intermediate data creating unit, an image forming apparatus selecting unit, an intermediate data supplying unit, a rasterized data obtaining unit, a pull-print receiving unit, a resolution determining unit, and a pull-print data supplying unit.