Embroidery Data Apparatus Size Verification and Output Restriction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In embroidery data providing systems, users often face the issue of embroidery patterns downloaded from servers being larger than the sewing machine's embroidery frame, necessitating recreation of the data to fit the machine's capabilities.

Innovation Solution

An embroidery data providing apparatus and system that include devices for acquiring model information, size determination, and restriction mechanisms to ensure that embroidery data output is compatible with the sewing machine's capabilities, preventing the download of patterns that exceed the machine's embroiderable size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If embroidery data is provided without size verification, then users can download any pattern they want, but the pattern size may exceed the sewing machine's embroidery frame capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepattern selection flexibilityVSAvoidcompatibility guarantee

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary size verification of embroidery patterns before allowing download. The server checks whether the pattern size fits within the sewing machine's embroidery frame capacity using the size determination device, and only permits download if compatibility is confirmed. This prevents the problem of incompatible patterns being downloaded in the first place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to users about pattern compatibility. When a user attempts to download a pattern, the server verifies the size compatibility and either permits the download or provides appropriate feedback indicating incompatibility. This feedback mechanism guides users to select only compatible patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system verifies pattern size before download, then compatibility is ensured, but additional processing steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility guaranteeVSAvoidsystem processing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sewing machine automatically provides its model information and embroiderable size specifications to the server. The server uses this information to automatically verify pattern compatibility without requiring manual user input or complex user-side processing. The system serves itself by having the machine provide its own capability data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The server implements a universal size determination process that works with any sewing machine model. By storing model information and embroiderable sizes in association in the identification information storage device, the system creates a universal verification mechanism that adapts to different machine types without requiring model-specific processing logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If users can download oversized patterns, then more design options are available, but the data cannot be used on the sewing machine

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign option varietyVSAvoidusability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary filtering of design options based on machine compatibility. Before presenting download options to users, the server verifies which patterns are compatible with the user's sewing machine. This ensures that only usable design options are made available, eliminating the need for users to deal with incompatible patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of allowing all downloads and then filtering out incompatible ones, the system inverts the approach by filtering first and then allowing only compatible downloads. The restriction device prevents download of incompatible patterns, ensuring that all available design options are actually usable on the user's machine.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS8276531B2Embroidery data providing apparatus, computer-readable medium storing embroidery data providing program, and embroidery data providing system

Publication Date: 2012.10.02 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An embroidery data providing apparatus includes a model information acquisition device that acquires model information, a size storage device that stores the model information and at least one embroiderable size in association with one another, a size acquisition device that acquires the at least one embroiderable size that corresponds to the acquired model information, a pattern information acquisition device that acquires target pattern information relating to a target pattern, an embroidery data output device that outputs as output data at least one of embroidery data of the target pattern and data for generating the embroidery data, a size determination device that determines whether the target pattern will fit within the acquired at least one embroiderable size, and a restriction device that, in a case where it is determined that the target pattern will not fit, restricts at least one of outputting of the output data and pre-output processing.