Communication Device IP-FAX Notification and PSTN Fallback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication devices fail to notify users when they cannot perform communication, particularly in the context of FAX communication, where G3-FAX is prone to errors and IP-FAX is less susceptible, but lacks user notification mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A communication device with a configuration that includes a display unit, operation unit, scan and print units, PSTN and IPFAX functions, and a controller unit that determines the availability of IPFAX settings and network connections, providing user notifications when IPFAX transmission is not possible and allowing fallback to PSTN communication if necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the communication device supports multiple communication schemes (G3-FAX and IP-FAX), then the adaptability and versatility are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The FAX device is designed to support multiple communication schemes (G3-FAX and IP-FAX) within a single device architecture. The controller unit automatically selects between these schemes based on network availability and communication requirements, allowing the device to function universally across different network environments without requiring separate dedicated devices for each protocol.
2Ease of operation
If the communication device automatically selects communication schemes, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of information regarding communication status worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit provides real-time feedback to the user about the selected communication scheme and its status. When IP-FAX is selected but the network is unavailable, the display shows this status information to the user. This feedback mechanism ensures that automatic scheme selection does not result in information loss, as users are kept informed about the actual communication state and any failures occur.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A communication device (10) may execute first type of determination process based on a first type of determination standard, and execute a second type of determination process based on a second type of determination standard. The communication device (10) may perform communication in accordance with a first communication scheme, if determined in the first and second types of determination process that the communication device (10) can perform communication. The communication device (10) may perform communication in accordance with a second communication scheme, if determined in the first type of determination process that the communication device (10) can not perform communication. The communication device (10) may notify a user of specific information, if determined in the second type of determination process that the communication device (10) can not perform communication, and may not notify the user, if determined in the first type of determination process that the communication device (10) can not perform communication.