Image Code Network Connection for MFPs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network systems face challenges in securely and efficiently providing connection information for portable terminals to access networks and communicate with apparatuses like multifunction peripherals (MFPs) without exposing sensitive information, particularly due to issues with duplicate identification codes and IP address uniqueness.
Innovation Solution
A network system where a server generates and transmits connection information, including network connection details and apparatus IP addresses, as an image code that can be decoded by portable terminals to establish secure connections with MFPs, ensuring unique IP addresses and preventing security degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If connection information is displayed in human readable manner on the apparatus display, then ease of operation is improved, but security is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/display-based information presentation system with an optical recognition system. Instead of displaying connection information as readable text on the apparatus display, the system generates an image code (barcode/QR code) that is optically captured by the portable terminal's camera. This substitution resolves the contradiction by eliminating the security risk of public display while maintaining ease of operation through automated optical recognition and data extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element (image code/barcode) between the apparatus and the portable terminal. This intermediary carries the connection information in an encoded visual format that can be captured and decoded by the terminal's camera and processing system. The intermediary resolves the contradiction by enabling secure information transfer without requiring the information to be displayed in readable form on the apparatus display.
2Device complexity
If identification code is generated locally by the apparatus, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability is degraded due to potential duplicate codes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that centrally manages identification code generation. The server receives requests from multiple apparatuses, generates unique identification codes, and distributes them accordingly. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by ensuring code uniqueness (improving reliability) while keeping the apparatus itself simple (maintaining low device complexity), as the code generation burden is transferred to the server.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal code generation system where a single server performs the identification code generation function for multiple apparatuses. This universal approach ensures that all apparatuses receive unique codes from a centralized source, eliminating the risk of duplicates while avoiding the need for each individual apparatus to have complex code generation capabilities.
3Device complexity
If multiple apparatuses generate identification codes independently, then device complexity is reduced, but harmful factors increase due to code duplication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that centralizes the identification code generation process. The server receives requests from multiple apparatuses, generates unique codes sequentially or based on apparatus identifiers, and distributes them to requesting apparatuses. This intermediary mechanism eliminates code duplication (removing harmful factors) while keeping individual apparatuses simple (maintaining low device complexity).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where apparatuses send requests to the server for identification codes, and the server responds with unique codes. This request-response feedback loop ensures that each apparatus receives a unique code from the centralized system, preventing duplication while maintaining simplicity at the apparatus level.
Data Source
AI summary
A network system includes a server and an apparatus connected to the server via a network. The server includes a connection information generation part configured to generate connection information including network connection information for a portable terminal connecting to the network and apparatus connection information including the IP address of the apparatus, and a connection information transmission part configured to transmit the connection information to the apparatus. The apparatus includes an image code display part configured to display an image code into which the connection information is converted, a request reception part configured to receive a job request specifying the IP address of the apparatus and transmitted from the portable terminal having decoded the image code and connected to the network using the network connection information, and a job execution part configured to execute a job based on the job request.