Intermediary Digitizing Device for Legacy Printers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digitizing and dematerialization systems cannot directly produce digital documents from traditional printing systems, such as cash registers or Point of Sale devices, without an initial paper document, and they do not support various printing protocols like PCL, IPP, or ESC/POS.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that include a data generation and transmission device, a document digitizing device, and a remote server, allowing data from printing devices to be processed into digital documents, which can then be shared with receiving and displaying devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If traditional printing systems (cash registers, Point of Sale devices) are used to produce documents, then documents can be generated using standard printing protocols (PCL, IPP, ESC/POS), but documents must be printed on paper causing environmental impact and paper consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaper consumptionVSAvoidcompatibility with printing protocols

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary device that sits between traditional printing systems and the final output. This intermediary captures data from printers using standard protocols (PCL, IPP, ESC/POS) and redirects it to digital output devices, thereby mediating between the legacy printing infrastructure and the digital document production goal without requiring changes to the original printing systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed to support multiple printing protocols (PCL, IPP, ESC/POS) simultaneously, making it universally compatible with various types of printing devices. This multi-functionality allows the same system to intercept and redirect document data from diverse sources including cash registers, Point of Sale devices, and other traditional printers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Extent of automation

If dematerialization systems are used to digitize documents, then paper documents can be replicated in digital format, but an initial paper document must be available for scanning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedigital document productionVSAvoidprocess simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by intercepting document data at the source (printing system) before any paper output occurs. By capturing the data in digital form at the moment of document generation and immediately routing it to digital output devices, the system eliminates the need for subsequent scanning or digitization steps that would require manual handling of paper documents

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If existing digitizing systems are used, then digital documents can be produced, but they cannot accept data from traditional printing systems using various printing protocols

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting protocol compatibilityVSAvoiddocument digitization reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4571618A1System and method for digitizing documents otherwise intended for paper printing

Publication Date: 2025.06.18 NAZARENO PIROZZI NICOLA

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AI summary

A system for the digitizing of documents otherwise intended for the paper printing including a data (D) generation and transmission device (10) related to the document intended for the paper printing and a remote server (30) is being described. The system (100) furthermore including a documents digitizing device (40), being in communication with the data generation and transmission device (10) and with the remote server (30), and one documents receiving and displaying device (20) being in communication with the documents digitizing device (40). The documents digitizing device (40) including an electronic control unit (41) configured to control the documents digitizing device (40) so to receive the data (D) generated by the data generation and transmission device (10), to send data (D) received from the remote server (30), to receive from the remote server (30) a digitized document (Rd), generated by the remote server (30) upon processing of the data received from the documents digitizing device (40) and to share the digitized document (Rd) received with the documents receiving and displaying device (20). Furthermore, a digitizing device (40) for documents otherwise intended for the paper printing is being described, for the use in the above-defined digitizing system (100), and a method for the digitizing of documents otherwise intended for the paper printing being conducted using the above-defined digitizing system (100).