Mobile Terminal Print Application Auto-Install via NFC

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of mobile terminals face difficulties in finding and using printers that match their intended printing needs, as existing technologies do not allow for seamless switching between different printer types, such as electrophotographic and dye sublimation printers, leading to incorrect application selection and failed print processing.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method and apparatus that enables the mobile terminal to detect and install the appropriate print application corresponding to the selected printer via NFC tags, allowing for automatic or user-initiated installation of the necessary print application for print processing, thereby facilitating the connection and printing with the correct printer type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a user selects a printer from search results, then the user can initiate print processing, but if the corresponding print application is not installed, the user cannot perform printing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of printer selection and print initiationVSAvoidreliability of print processing completion
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically detecting whether the corresponding print application is installed before print processing, and if not, it prompts the user to install it. This prevents the situation where print processing cannot be completed due to missing applications, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability of print processing completion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple printer types are available in the network, then users have more printing options, but users may mistakenly select the wrong application and fail to find the correct printer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevariety of printer optionsVSAvoidease of finding correct printer
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback by displaying information about the selected printer type and confirming whether the correct application will be used. This feedback mechanism helps users verify their selection and understand which printer type they are connecting to, preventing mistaken selection among multiple printer types while maintaining adaptability to various printing needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If users manually search for printers by application type, then they can find specific printer types, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision in finding specific printer typeVSAvoidtime for printer search and selection
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting the printer type from the selected printer's information and determining the appropriate print application. This eliminates the need for users to manually search for printers by application type, maintaining precision in finding specific printer types while significantly reducing the time and complexity of the search process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3070593B1Information processing apparatus and method of controlling the same, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 CANON KK
  • EP3070593B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3070593B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3070593B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An information processing apparatus on which a print application is installable, and a method of controlling the same. A search for printers is performed, and if a printer selected by a user from among a plurality of printers found by the search does not correspond to a print application that has performed the search, a determination is made as to whether or not another print application corresponding to the printer selected by the user has been installed to the information processing apparatus. If it is determined that the other print application has not been installed to the information processing apparatus, the user is prompted to install the other print application to the information processing apparatus.