MFP Mobile UI Offloading via Wireless Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-function peripherals (MFPs) face challenges in user interface (UI) visibility and operability due to increasing settings options, making it difficult to maintain user expectations with traditional small-sized UIs, and existing solutions like using mobile terminals as UIs may not fully address these issues.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system that includes an MFP with a wireless communication interface and a controller, which transmits UI information and addresses to a mobile device to display a text input field, allowing users to input settings through the mobile device, enhancing operability and visibility by leveraging both the MFP and mobile terminal interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a small-sized UI is provided to the MFP to suppress manufacturing cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but user interface visibility and operability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile terminal as an intermediary device between the user and the MFP. The mobile terminal displays UI information and receives user operations, which are then transmitted to the MFP via wireless communication. This mediator approach allows the MFP to maintain a simple, low-cost UI while providing comprehensive settings and improved operability through the mobile terminal's larger display and input capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of settings options is increased to improve functionality, then function diversification is achieved, but UI complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the UI functionality between the MFP and the mobile terminal. The MFP handles core image processing functions, while the mobile terminal handles complex settings and configuration options. This segmentation allows numerous settings options to be organized and displayed across the mobile terminal's interface without overwhelming the MFP's physical UI, maintaining function diversification while managing UI complexity.
3Ease of operation
If a mobile terminal is used as the UI to improve operability and visibility, then user interface visibility and operability are improved, but communication complexity and memory usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a copying mechanism where UI information is transmitted from the MFP to the mobile terminal in a standardized format. The mobile terminal receives and displays this copied UI data, and user operations are copied back to the MFP for execution. This copying approach simplifies communication by using standardized data formats rather than complex proprietary protocols, reducing communication complexity while maintaining improved operability and visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus is provided with a user interface, a wireless communication interface and a controller. The controller is configured to perform transmitting UI information via the wireless communication interface to a mobile device, the UI information being configured to cause the mobile device to display a first text input field, and transmitting a first address via the wireless communication interface to the mobile device, the first address being an address to obtain candidates of input text.