Mobile Device Print Server Queuing and Broadcasting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users of mobile devices often lack access to a printer when acquiring digital content, leading to delayed printing or reliance on cloud storage, which adds extra steps and requires additional devices.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device with a user interface, processor, and communication interfaces that allows users to queue digital content for printing, advertise the print queue, and transmit content to nearby printers, eliminating the need for cloud storage and simplifying the printing process by directly connecting with available printing devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cloud storage is used to store digital content when no printer is available, then the content can be stored, but extra steps and additional devices are required
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device itself serves as an intermediary print server, mediating between the user's digital content and nearby printers. Instead of requiring cloud storage as an intermediary, the device uses its own processing power and communication interfaces to queue and manage print jobs locally, eliminating the need for remote cloud infrastructure while maintaining content availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device performs self-service by acting as its own print server. It queues digital content locally, automatically detects nearby printers through broadcasting and listening, and manages the printing process without requiring external cloud services or additional dedicated devices. The device serves itself as the intermediary between content and printer.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cloud storage is used to access digital content for printing, then content can be stored, but extra steps and additional devices are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the print server functionality from external cloud infrastructure and places it directly on the mobile device. By taking out the intermediary cloud storage step and implementing local queuing and printer discovery, the system reduces operational complexity while maintaining content accessibility through the device's local storage and processing capabilities.
3Productivity
If a printer is not immediately available, then digital content cannot be printed, but the user may want to print the content
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device performs preliminary actions by queuing digital content for printing in advance when a printer is not available. The content is prepared and stored in the print queue with associated printing parameters, so that when a printer becomes available or is detected nearby, the printing can proceed immediately without delay. This preliminary queuing action eliminates waiting time.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing process maintains continuity through local queuing. Instead of interrupting the workflow while waiting for printer availability, the device continuously manages the print queue, automatically detecting printers through broadcasting and listening. This continuous operation ensures that printing proceeds as soon as a printer is available, maximizing productivity without loss of time.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device has a user interface, a processor, a storage, a network communication interface, a local communication interface, instructions stored in the storage that, when executed by the processor, allow the device to receive and store digital content through one of the communication interfaces, identify the digital content for queueing for printing, based upon an input received through the user interface, queueing the digital content for printing with associated printing parameters, and broadcasting a request for a printer.