Mobile Terminal Automates Image Device Selection via Operation ID

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of mobile terminals face increased complexity in selecting and connecting appropriate image processing devices due to the diversification of image processing devices and subordinate programs, leading to a burdensome process for users.

Innovation Solution

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium with instructions that enable a mobile terminal to receive user operations, determine if designated device information is stored, search for compatible image processing devices, store device information, and transmit instructions to execute specific image processing operations, allowing users to select and start subordinate programs without pre-selecting devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users manually select and connect appropriate image processing devices before starting subordinate programs, then device compatibility is ensured, but user burden and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoiduser burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically searching for and storing information about available image processing devices and their supported operations in advance. When a subordinate program is started, the system retrieves pre-stored device information and automatically matches compatible devices, eliminating the need for users to manually select devices before program execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically performing device selection and compatibility matching without user intervention. The control unit automatically searches for devices, retrieves their capability information, determines compatibility with the subordinate program, and establishes connections, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring user management of device selections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system supports diversification of image processing devices and subordinate programs, then functionality and versatility improve, but operational complexity and user burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidoperational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements universality by creating a unified control mechanism that can manage multiple types of image processing devices and subordinate programs through a common interface. The control unit universally handles device discovery, information retrieval, compatibility determination, and connection establishment for various devices (printers, scanners, copiers) and programs, abstracting away the complexity of individual device-specific operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary between subordinate programs and image processing devices. It mediates the interaction by automatically managing device selection, compatibility matching, and connection establishment, thereby shielding users from the complexity of device diversification while maintaining full functionality support for multiple device types and programs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If automatic device search and selection is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but system response time and processing duration increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser burdenVSAvoidprocessing duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by conducting device searches and storing device capability information in advance, before subordinate programs are executed. The control unit searches for available image processing devices, retrieves their supported operations information, and stores this data in memory beforehand, so that when a program is started, the system can quickly retrieve and match compatible devices without performing time-consuming searches at runtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11489976B2Mobile terminal stores program to select appropriate image processing device to execute one of plurality of image processing operations by designating an operation ID identifying a designatable operation

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a first instruction-set of computer-readable instructions for a terminal device. The first instruction-set causes, when executed by the controller, the mobile terminal to receive a user operation to designate a designated second instruction-set through the input interface, and determine whether the memory stores designated device information including an operation ID identifying a designatable operation. When the designated device information is not stored in a memory, the mobile terminal searches for an image processing device capable of executing the designatable operation, receives a user operation to designate the designated device, stores designated device information in the memory, starts the designated program, obtains the operation ID of the designatable operation from the designated program, and transmits first instruction information to the designated device. The first instruction information is information causing the image processing device to execute the designatable operation identified by the operation ID as obtained.