Cloud Printer Registration for Network-Separated Wi-Fi Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers and clients like PCs or smartphones face connectivity issues when network separators are enabled, preventing direct communication and hindering functions such as printing, even when connected to the same Wi-Fi access point.
Innovation Solution
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that enables connection setting processing to link a communication apparatus to an access point, acquires registration information, and registers the apparatus in an external server, allowing discovery and use via the server even in network separator-enabled environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a network separator function is enabled in the access point to prevent communication between devices, then security is improved, but direct communication between the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud server as an intermediary to enable communication between the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus when direct communication is blocked by network separators. The server acts as a mediator that receives data from one device and forwards it to the other, bypassing the network separator restriction while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions communication from a direct local network path to an external cloud server path, effectively changing the communication dimension. Instead of attempting to communicate directly across the network separator boundary, devices communicate through an external server located in a different network dimension, allowing communication to occur despite the separator being enabled.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the information processing apparatus searches for the communication apparatus via the access point, then device discovery is enabled, but the search fails when network separators are enabled
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud server serves as an intermediary for device discovery. Instead of the information processing apparatus directly searching for the communication apparatus via the access point (which fails with network separators enabled), the system uses the server to facilitate discovery by exchanging device information through the external server platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary registration of the communication apparatus with the cloud server before the information processing apparatus attempts to discover it. This preliminary action stores device information on the server, enabling subsequent discovery operations to succeed by querying the server rather than performing direct network searches that would be blocked.
3Ease of operation
If registration information is transmitted through the cloud server, then communication is enabled in network separator environments, but additional transmission steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud server acts as an intermediary that simplifies the overall communication setup process. Although it adds a transmission step through the server, it eliminates the need for complex direct peer-to-peer connection negotiations and device discovery procedures that would fail in network separator environments. The server handles the complexity of establishing communication paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud server provides a universal communication platform that works across different network configurations, including both environments with and without network separators. This multi-functional approach allows the same registration and communication mechanism to operate universally, simplifying the user experience despite the additional transmission step through the server.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus executes connection setting processing for connecting a communication apparatus to an access point outside the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus; acquires registration information for registering the communication apparatus in an external server; searches for the communication apparatus via the external access point after executing the connection setting processing; and transmits, in a case where the communication apparatus is not discovered as a result of the search, the acquired registration information to the server.