Building Map Device Location Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Locating a printing device in an unfamiliar office building is challenging due to difficulties in determining the device's floor and physical location, as well as its characteristics and capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that use processing circuitry to determine a device's location within a building, display a map showing the layout of the building with the physical location of devices, and provide information and images of selected devices to aid in identification and selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a person relies on knowing the device name and floor number, then they can identify the device information, but they still cannot quickly locate the physical position of the device in an unfamiliar building
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the device location information from a one-dimensional address (floor number) into a two-dimensional visual map representation. The map display shows the building layout with device positions marked on specific floors, allowing users to visually locate devices spatially rather than just knowing floor numbers, thereby solving the problem of quick physical location identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the building's physical layout through an electronic map display. This digital representation replicates the actual floor plans and device positions, enabling users to view and navigate the building structure virtually before physically locating devices, thus reducing time to find devices in unfamiliar buildings.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a person needs to determine device characteristics and capabilities, then they can select appropriate devices, but they must spend considerable time gathering this information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple device information elements (device name, floor location, physical position, characteristics, and capabilities) into a single integrated map display interface. When users interact with device markers on the map, they can access comprehensive device information simultaneously, eliminating the need to separately search for each piece of information and significantly reducing the time required to assess device suitability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-organizes and displays all relevant device information (characteristics, capabilities, location) in the map interface before users need to make selection decisions. Device markers on the map contain or provide access to complete device profiles, allowing users to evaluate device suitability immediately during the location process without additional time-consuming information gathering steps.
3Quantity of substance
If the building layout is complex with multiple floors and devices, then more devices can be accommodated, but locating specific devices becomes increasingly difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the building information into discrete, manageable components: the building is divided into multiple floors, each floor is represented as a separate map layer, and devices are individual markers on these layers. This segmentation allows users to navigate through floors systematically and locate specific devices among many without being overwhelmed by the overall complexity, making it easier to manage and search through large numbers of devices across multiple floors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a vertical dimension to the map display by representing multiple floors in a three-dimensional or multi-layered view. Users can navigate between floors and view device positions across different levels, transforming the complex multi-floor layout into an organized spatial representation that accommodates many devices while maintaining ease of location through visual navigation.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, method, and computer-readable storage medium including determining a location of the computer within a building, displaying, based on the location of the computer determined by the determining, a map illustrating a layout of a portion of the building, the map indicating a physical location of each of a plurality of devices within the portion of the building, and displaying, in response to a selection of a device of the plurality of devices, information of the device and an image of the device.