Mobile Terminal Positional Data Setup for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inconvenience in setting positional information for image forming apparatuses, as they need to use GPS-equipped devices to input latitude/longitude data, and incorporating a GPS module into the apparatus is costly and impractical due to the static nature of these devices, while existing solutions require a positional information management server, increasing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with a display unit, acquisition unit, and transmission unit that allows users to set and transmit positional information directly to the image forming apparatus using methods like barcode scanning, mDNS, or NFC, eliminating the need for a server and GPS installation, thereby simplifying the process and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a GPS module is incorporated into the image forming apparatus to automatically set positional information, then the ease of operation is improved, but the cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the GPS functionality from the image forming apparatus and places it in the mobile terminal instead. The image forming apparatus simply receives positional information from the mobile terminal via network communication, eliminating the need for GPS hardware in the image forming apparatus while maintaining automatic position setting functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile terminal serves as an intermediary device that performs the GPS positioning function and then transfers the positional information to the image forming apparatus. This intermediary approach allows the image forming apparatus to benefit from automatic position setting without incorporating GPS hardware itself.
2Ease of operation
If a positional information management server is deployed to acquire current position from mobile terminals, then the ease of operation is improved, but the cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the centralized server component from the system architecture. Instead of using a server to manage positional information, the mobile terminal directly communicates with the image forming apparatus to set positional information, eliminating the need for server infrastructure and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile terminal performs the positional information setting operation directly without requiring server mediation. The user's mobile device autonomously acquires position data and transmits it to the image forming apparatus, making the system self-sufficient without external server support.
3Device complexity
If positional information is set manually by the user through UI panel, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the positional information acquisition action preliminarily in the mobile terminal before the user needs to set it in the image forming apparatus. The mobile terminal automatically acquires position data via GPS in the background, and the user simply needs to transmit this pre-acquired information to the image forming apparatus, combining automation with operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
The information processing apparatus receives a screen for setting positional information about an image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus and displays the screen, acquires positional information about the information processing apparatus in response to the selection of settings for the positional information via the screen by a user, and transmits the acquired positional information about the information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus. In this manner, the positional information about the information processing apparatus is set as the positional information about the image forming apparatus.