Beacon-Based Terminal Warning System for Multi-Apparatus Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In environments with multiple apparatuses, users face challenges in accurately identifying the target apparatus for tasks like printing, leading to misunderstandings and incorrect movements, as existing methods rely solely on distance calculations from beacon signals without providing clear guidance.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses a terminal device to perform warning notification processing by determining the user's movement based on both the distance to the target apparatus and another apparatus, adjusting notifications based on distance changes and thresholds to accurately guide the user to the correct apparatus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If distance calculation based on beacon signal is used to guide user to target apparatus, then user navigation is enabled, but user may mistakenly move to wrong apparatus in multi-apparatus environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser navigationVSAvoidapparatus identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors distance changes between the terminal device and both the target apparatus and other apparatuses, providing real-time feedback through warning notifications when the user approaches a wrong apparatus, thereby enabling corrective action before mistaken interaction occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary warning notification mechanism that mediates between the user and the apparatuses, providing an additional layer of verification by comparing distance relationships with multiple apparatuses to confirm the user is approaching the correct target

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If warning notification processing is performed to prevent wrong apparatus selection, then reliability of apparatus identification is improved, but user experience may be degraded by false warnings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapparatus identification accuracyVSAvoiduser experience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The warning notification system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on real-time distance relationships, activating warnings only when the terminal device approaches another apparatus while moving away from the target apparatus, and canceling warnings when the user correctly approaches the target or moves away from the wrong apparatus

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary verification by monitoring distance changes to both the target apparatus and other apparatuses before issuing a warning notification, ensuring that warnings are only generated when there is genuine risk of wrong apparatus selection, thereby avoiding false alarms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively assists users in moving to the correct apparatus by providing timely and accurate warning notifications, reducing errors and improving user navigation in multi-apparatus environments.

Implementation Method 1

a first distance between the terminal device and the target apparatus determined based on a received radio wave strength of a beacon signal received from the target apparatus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadio wave propagation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3478021B1Non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for recording program, terminal device, warning system, and warning notification method
Publication Date: 2020.05.13 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3478021B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3478021B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3478021B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A program causes a terminal device to function as a communication unit that receives a beacon signal and the processing unit. After an event to cause the communication unit to transmit a job to a target apparatus (electronic apparatus) occurs, or after a predetermined operation is performed by the terminal device in response to receiving a status from the target apparatus, in a case where it is determined that a user moves to an apparatus (non-target apparatus) different from the target apparatus, based on the received radio wave strength of the beacon signal from the target apparatus, the processing unit performs warning notification processing.