Image Forming Apparatus Position Acquisition via External Terminal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses without GPS functions face difficulties in acquiring position information, limiting their ability to determine their location and communicate effectively with external terminals.
Innovation Solution
An image forming system that includes an external terminal with a position information detection and transmission capability, and an image forming apparatus with a communication part to receive and process terminal position information, allowing the acquisition of apparatus position information through a weighted average of multiple terminal positions received via different communication modes, including proximity communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an image forming apparatus uses a GPS function to acquire position information, then position information can be acquired directly, but the apparatus becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external terminal as an intermediary that possesses the GPS function. This external terminal acquires position information and transmits it to the image forming apparatus, allowing the apparatus to obtain position information without needing to incorporate a GPS receiver itself, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a functional copy of the position information acquisition capability by having the external terminal perform the GPS measurement and transmit the results to the image forming apparatus. This allows the apparatus to access position information through data copying rather than direct measurement, eliminating the need for onboard GPS hardware
2Device complexity
If an image forming apparatus has no GPS function, then device complexity is reduced, but the apparatus cannot acquire position information
Solution Approach 1:
The external terminal serves as a mediator that bridges the gap between GPS satellite signals and the image forming apparatus. It receives position information from GPS and transmits it to the apparatus via communication protocols, enabling the apparatus to access position information without direct GPS functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/GPS hardware system with an information transmission system. Instead of using physical GPS receivers and antennas in the apparatus, it substitutes a communication-based information exchange mechanism where position data is transmitted electronically from the external terminal
3Device complexity
If the apparatus uses a single terminal position information, then processing is simple, but position accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple terminal position information data points to calculate a comprehensive apparatus position. By combining position information from multiple terminals that have communicated with the apparatus, it achieves higher position accuracy through data aggregation and averaging, overcoming the limitations of single-source position data
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming system comprises an external terminal and an image forming apparatus. The external terminal has a position information detection part for detecting terminal position information which is position information of the external terminal and a transmitting part capable of transmitting the terminal position information. The image forming apparatus has a communication part for receiving the terminal position information which is position information of the external terminal from the external terminal and an acquisition part for acquiring apparatus position information which is position information of the image forming apparatus on the basis of the terminal position information.