Multifunction Peripheral Notification via External Audio Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses, such as multifunction peripherals, fail to reliably notify users of completed jobs or errors due to distance or absence, as voice messages are not effectively targeted to specific users, leading to unnoticed notifications.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with an output device, a controller, and a communicator that communicates with an external server and output devices, which determines the content and user position to specify the appropriate output device for notification, ensuring messages are delivered to the correct user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If voice messages are output from the multifunction peripheral, then information can be notified to users, but the user may not notice the notification when the user is at a distance or not present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a speaker device as an intermediary to transmit voice messages from the multifunction peripheral to the user. The speaker device is positioned at a location where the user is present, acting as a mediator to deliver information notifications effectively, thereby resolving the contradiction between notification reliability and user awareness.
2Reliability
If notification is made to a specific user at a predetermined location, then information can be delivered to the target user, but the notification fails when the target user is not present at the notification destination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation by determining whether to notify a specific user or all users based on real-time detection of user presence and message content. The system adjusts its notification strategy dynamically - notifying the specific user when present, and notifying all users when the specific user is absent, thereby maintaining both delivery accuracy and adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all users are notified of the voice message, then information can be delivered to multiple users, but the notification does not target the specific user who needs the information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating notification strategies based on user presence and message content. When a specific user is present, the system provides targeted notification to that specific user. When the specific user is absent, the system notifies all users. This localized differentiation ensures both targeting accuracy and appropriate coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, provided is an information notification system in which a multifunction peripheral including an audio device is associated with external audio devices so that the user of the multifunction peripheral is notified of a message. The information notification system is featured by including a message determiner which determines the contents of the message, a user position detector which detects a position of the user, an output device specifying section which specifies, based on a result of determination by the message determiner and a result of detection by the user position detector, the audio device which outputs the message, and a controller which performs control so that the message is notified from the specified audio device. As the audio device for outputting the message is specified according to the contents of the message, the message is notified from the specified audio device.