Agent Bridge for Wi-Fi Client Printer Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile Wi-Fi devices, such as smartphones and tablets, are unable to directly access and print to non-Wi-Fi capable printers and those on private enterprise networks due to limitations in current network printing solutions, requiring indirect methods like emailing documents or using VPN connections.
Innovation Solution
An agent device acts as a bridge between Wi-Fi client devices and private enterprise networks, using mDNS and IPP protocols to discover and print to network printers, making them accessible as if they were on a common Wi-Fi network, without requiring additional printer capabilities or configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mobile Wi-Fi devices use standard Wi-Fi printing capabilities, then they can print to Wi-Fi enabled printers on the same network, but they cannot access printers on private enterprise networks or non-Wi-Fi printers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an agent device as an intermediary component that sits between the mobile Wi-Fi client and the enterprise network printers. This agent device receives print jobs from Wi-Fi clients and forwards them to the appropriate printers on the enterprise network, enabling connectivity without requiring the printers themselves to have Wi-Fi capabilities or the clients to have direct network access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the printing functionality by separating the client device, the agent device, and the printer into distinct components. The agent device acts as an independent segment that handles the complexity of network communication, allowing the client and printer to remain simple while achieving complex interoperability.
2Ease of operation
If enterprises use private network printing solutions, then they can maintain security and centralized control, but mobile devices outside the network cannot access printers
Solution Approach 1:
The agent device serves as a secure gateway that mediates between external Wi-Fi clients and the internal enterprise network. It receives print requests from clients, authenticates them appropriately, and forwards only authorized print jobs to the network printers, thus maintaining security while enabling convenient access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the agent device communicates with both the client and the enterprise network to verify permissions and status. This ensures that only authorized devices can access printers while providing real-time feedback on print job status and network availability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If printers are made Wi-Fi capable and enabled for direct client access, then mobile devices can print directly, but existing printer fleets cannot be accessed and vendor-specific configurations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The agent device is designed as a universal solution that works with multiple printer types, protocols, and enterprise networks without requiring specific printer configurations. It handles protocol translation and communication variations, making the system universally compatible across different vendors and network architectures.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of modifying the original printers to add Wi-Fi capabilities, the system creates a virtual representation or copy of the printer interface through the agent device. This allows Wi-Fi clients to interact with a simplified virtual printer interface while the actual physical printers remain unchanged on the enterprise network.
Data Source
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AI summary
In an embodiment, a processor-readable medium stores code representing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to receive a printer discovery request from a Wi-Fi client. The instructions further cause the processor to forward the printer discovery request and an agent identification to an enterprise network server, and receive from the enterprise network server, a list of printers associated with the agent identification. The instructions also cause the processor to expose the list of printers to the Wi-Fi client.