Image Forming Apparatus Selective Wireless Data Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently transmitting image data to multiple mobile terminals over short-range wireless communication, particularly in scenarios where only specific users with a relationship should receive the data, while excluding unauthorized terminals, which can lead to inconvenience and potential information leakage.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus acquires identification information from multiple mobile terminals within its communication area, displays this information, allows users to select specific terminals, and transmits image data only to the selected devices via short-range wireless communication, ensuring secure and targeted data distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the image forming apparatus transmits image data to all mobile terminals in the communication area, then the data distribution is simplified, but unauthorized access and information leakage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary selection mechanism where the image forming apparatus acts as a mediator between the image data and mobile terminals. It acquires identification information from multiple terminals, presents them for selection, and only transmits data to the selected terminal. This intermediary step prevents unauthorized access while maintaining simplified data distribution operations.
2Reliability
If the image forming apparatus manually configures Wi-Fi connection with mobile terminals, then connection security is maintained, but the connection process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the image forming apparatus proactively acquire identification information from multiple mobile terminals in advance, before the actual image data transmission is needed. This pre-acquisition eliminates the need for manual Wi-Fi configuration during the transmission process, reducing connection setup time while maintaining security through subsequent selection and confirmation steps.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the image forming apparatus acquires and displays identification information from multiple mobile terminals, then selective data transmission is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary identification information from mobile terminals (such as terminal identifiers or contact information) rather than managing complete terminal configurations or establishing full Wi-Fi connections during the selection process. This extraction approach enables selective data transmission functionality while minimizing the increase in device complexity by focusing only on essential identification data.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit that generates image data from an image on an original document, a short-range wireless communication unit that performs communication via short-range wireless communication, an acquisition unit that acquires identification information from a plurality of mobile terminals within a communication area, a display unit that displays a plurality of pieces of identification information, an operation input unit that accepts selection of a plurality of pieces of identification information, which is at least some of the pieces of identification information, in accordance with operation by an operator and that specifies a selection group including a plurality of mobile terminals indicated by the selected plurality of pieces of identification information, and a transceiving unit that transmits image data only to the plurality of mobile terminals included in the selection group via the wireless communication unit.