Email-Based Content Delivery for Printers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Publishing entities face difficulties in making controlled mass distributions of printable content to internet-connected printers without prior knowledge of the printers' email addresses and the requirement of creating printer applications specific to the content, which is time-consuming and expensive, especially for small or one-time distributions.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allows publishing entities to share a personal identification number (PIN) or access code with multiple printer users through traditional mediums, enabling automated retrieval of content by users, and providing the flexibility to generate unique access codes for each instance of content, eliminating the need for printer applications specific to the content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If publishing entities create printer applications specific to the content and host them on a platform, then content distribution control is improved, but the time and cost required for application creation and compliance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent distribution controlVSAvoidapplication creation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the content delivery mechanism from the printer application layer and places it directly at the email/communication layer. Instead of requiring a full printer application to be created, hosted, and maintained, the system delivers content directly via email to the printer's email address, eliminating the intermediate application creation step while maintaining controlled distribution through access codes and registration mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal content delivery system that works across multiple printers and content types without requiring separate applications for each. The email-based delivery mechanism serves as a universal interface that can distribute any printable content to any registered printer, replacing the need for multiple specific printer applications with a single multi-functional system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If publishing entities create printer applications specific to the content and host them on a platform, then content distribution control is improved, but the complexity of the distribution system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent distribution controlVSAvoiddistribution system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional content delivery model by instead of having the printer initiate content retrieval through a hosted application, the system allows the printer to receive content passively via email. This inversion simplifies the system architecture by eliminating the need for complex application hosting platforms and reverse-lookup mechanisms, while maintaining control through the email-based access code verification system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Quantity of substance

If publishing entities use conventional email distribution methods, then distribution reach is improved, but the ability to control and track content distribution deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistribution reachVSAvoiddistribution control

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by requiring printers to register and receive unique email addresses before content distribution. This pre-registration step enables the system to control and track all subsequent content deliveries to specific printers, maintaining distribution control while achieving broad reach through the email infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms through the email system, where each content delivery generates tracking information that returns to the publishing entity. This feedback loop provides visibility into distribution reach and effectiveness while maintaining control through the registered printer email address system and access code verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8896857B2Content receipt via email addresses

Publication Date: 2014.11.25 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

In one embodiment, first content is received, via an email address from which printable content is received from a plurality of computing devices, from a network-connected computing device. The first content is stored. An access code is sent to the publisher device. The code is received from a network-connected printer. The code is compared to a database or registry that associates the access code with the first content. The first content is caused to be rendered. The rendered first content is sent to the printer for printing.