Image Forming Wireless Control for Carrier-Sensing Bypass

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in wireless communication due to the need for carrier sensing, which can prolong data transmission times and reduce overall communication efficiency, especially when operating in both infrastructure and peer-to-peer modes.

Innovation Solution

The image forming apparatus is configured to enable simultaneous operation in both infrastructure and peer-to-peer modes, with the ability to transmit trigger frames indicating the necessity of carrier sensing, allowing direct data transmission without carrier sensing when appropriate, thereby optimizing channel allocation and reducing unnecessary delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If carrier sensing is executed before data transmission in wireless communication, then collision avoidance is improved, but transmission time increases and communication efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidtransmission time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the carrier sensing requirement from the data transmission process by introducing trigger frames that indicate whether carrier sensing should be executed. This allows the system to selectively remove the carrier sensing step from the transmission sequence when the transmission environment is already known to be safe, thereby reducing transmission time while maintaining collision avoidance where necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The access point performs preliminary channel assessment and communicates this information to slave stations through trigger frames before data transmission begins. By determining in advance whether carrier sensing is needed and communicating this decision to slave stations, the system avoids unnecessary carrier sensing delays while ensuring collision avoidance when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If trigger frames indicating carrier sensing execution are transmitted, then communication control flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication control flexibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trigger frame structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it schedules uplink transmissions, indicates whether carrier sensing should be executed, and manages resource allocation. By consolidating these control functions into a single frame type, the patent achieves high communication control flexibility without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20260029972A1Image forming apparatus, method, and medium

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 CANON KK

AI summary

In a case where an image forming apparatus operates as a master station determining a communication channel used in wireless communication, the image forming apparatus transmits a second trigger frame that includes information indicating inexecution of carrier sensing and complies with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, to a slave station apparatus connected to the master station.