Display Control Device Invariant Variable Image Data Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Point-of-sale systems with high-speed communication capabilities for displaying large amounts of data, such as advertisements and two-dimensional codes, increase manufacturing costs due to the need for complex electronic circuits and communication lines.

Innovation Solution

A display control device that uses a combination of a terminal, a printing apparatus, and a display control device with a data receiver, variable image data generator, storage, buffer, and display controller to generate and display variable and invariant image data, reducing the need for high-speed data transmission by storing invariant image data and generating variable image data on the fly, allowing for efficient display of large data images without increasing manufacturing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high-speed communication lines and complex electronic circuits are used to transmit large amounts of data to the display, then the display can show large data images (such as advertisements and two-dimensional codes) in real time, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission speedVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The image data is segmented into two distinct parts: invariant image data (stored in storage unit 33) and variable image data (generated in real-time). This segmentation allows the system to store only the static portions of images once, while generating only the dynamic portions that need frequent updates, thereby reducing the total data transmission requirements and enabling cost-effective display of large data images

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invariant image data is prepared and stored in advance in the storage unit 33 of the display control device. This preliminary action eliminates the need to transmit this data repeatedly, reducing the real-time data transmission burden and allowing the use of simpler, lower-cost communication infrastructure while still achieving real-time display capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If invariant image data and variable image data are stored separately, then the data transmission requirement is reduced and manufacturing cost is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to separate storage and generation mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission volumeVSAvoidstorage and generation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display control device merges the storage of invariant image data in its internal storage unit 33 with the generation of variable image data from the printing apparatus. This integration allows the system to efficiently combine pre-stored static data with dynamically generated data without requiring separate complex systems, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reduced data transmission requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3667657B1Display control device and display control method
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 SEIKO INSTR INC
  • EP3667657B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3667657B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3667657B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A display control device (30) includes: a storage (33) configured to store invariant image data serving as a source of displaying an invariant portion of a display image to be displayed on a display (40); a data receiver (31) configured to receive format designation data for designating a format of the display image and original data for generating variable image data serving as a source of displaying a variable portion of the display image; a variable image data generator (32) configured to generate the variable image data from the original data; a buffer (35) configured to store the invariant image data and the variable image data; an image data storage (34) configured to select the invariant image data from the storage (33) based on the format designation data to store the invariant image data in the buffer (35), and store, in the buffer (35), the variable image data generated by the variable image data generator (32); and a display controller (36) configured to execute display processing for causing the display (40) to display the display image based on the invariant image data stored in the buffer (35) and the variable image data stored in the buffer (35).