Server Resolution Table for Pull-Print Rasterization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in obtaining and processing data for image formation, leading to longer processing times due to the need to generate rasterized data based on intermediate data from a server device, which is time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A server device with a resolution table that stores multiple image forming apparatuses and their resolutions, allowing it to generate intermediate data independent of resolution, supply this data to various apparatuses, and obtain rasterized data based on those resolutions, enabling faster pull-print operations by pre-generating and caching rasterized data for each apparatus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the image forming apparatus generates rasterized data from intermediate data obtained from the server device, then the apparatus can form images with different resolutions, but the image formation time increases due to the time-consuming rasterization process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresolution adaptabilityVSAvoidimage formation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The server device performs preliminary actions by generating and storing rasterized data for multiple resolutions in advance. When an image forming apparatus requests data, the server directly supplies the pre-generated rasterized data matching the apparatus's resolution, eliminating the need for real-time rasterization at the apparatus side.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The server device acts as an intermediary between the terminal device and the image forming apparatus. It receives printable data, generates intermediate data, creates multiple resolution versions, and supplies the appropriate rasterized data to the apparatus, mediating the resolution adaptation process centrally rather than at the apparatus level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the server device supplies intermediate data to multiple image forming apparatuses with different resolutions, then the system supports diverse apparatuses, but each apparatus must perform time-consuming rasterization processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapparatus compatibilityVSAvoiddata processing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The server device creates copies of the intermediate data in multiple resolutions (rasterized data for different DPIs) and stores them. Instead of making each apparatus generate its own rasterized data, the server provides pre-copied rasterized versions tailored to each apparatus's resolution requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Loss of time

If the server device pre-generates and caches rasterized data for multiple resolutions, then the pull-print speed increases, but the server device requires more storage capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata preparation timeVSAvoidserver storage volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The server device optimizes storage by maintaining rasterized data with specific resolutions that correspond to the actual resolutions of registered image forming apparatuses. Instead of storing all possible resolutions, it stores only the resolutions locally relevant to the connected apparatuses, reducing unnecessary storage consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10133521B2Server device, recording medium, and information processing system

Publication Date: 2018.11.20 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A server device obtains printable data from a terminal device; generates intermediate data on a basis of the printable data; supplies the intermediate data to the plurality of image forming apparatuses recorded in the resolution table; obtains a plurality of rasterized data depending on the different resolutions, the plurality of rasterized data being generated on a basis of the intermediate data by the plurality of image forming apparatuses; accepts a pull-print request from a pull-print image forming apparatus and obtains a pull-print resolution, the pull-print image forming apparatus being an image forming apparatus that executes pull-print, the pull-print resolution being a resolution of the pull-print image forming apparatus; determines whether a resolution same as the pull-print resolution is recorded in the resolution table or not; and supplies rasterized data to the pull-print image forming apparatus, the rasterized data depending on the resolution the same as the pull-print resolution.