Mobile Terminal User Identification for Printed Documents
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-user image forming systems, such as printers, identifying the user who outputted a printed document is challenging due to the disruption caused by attaching user names, which are lengthy and not meaningless, thereby breaking the style of the printed matter.
Innovation Solution
An image forming system that includes a printing device and a printed matter history managing unit to associate document images with user names, and a mobile terminal apparatus with an imaging device and user identifying unit to extract and display the user name corresponding to a printed matter image, using communication devices to match the printed matter image with stored document images and their associated user names.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a user name is attached to a document image to identify the user, then user identification is achieved, but the style of the printed matter is broken
Solution Approach 1:
The user name information is extracted from the printed matter and stored separately in a printed matter history database. The mobile terminal captures an image of the printed matter and queries the server to retrieve the user name from the history data, then displays it on the terminal screen. This separates the identification function from the printed matter itself, preserving the original style while achieving user identification.
Solution Approach 2:
A server acts as an intermediary between the mobile terminal and the printed matter history. The terminal captures an image of the printed matter, sends it to the server for matching against stored history data, and receives the corresponding user name in return. This intermediary system enables user identification without modifying the printed matter.
2Adaptability or versatility
If printed matters of multiple users are outputted onto a tray, then multi-user functionality is achieved, but the printed matters become mingled and difficult to identify
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback by capturing an image of the printed matter on the tray, comparing it with stored printed matter history data, and displaying the identified user name back on the mobile terminal. This feedback loop enables users to identify whose printed matter is on the tray without physically examining each document.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual process of visually inspecting printed matters to identify users is replaced with an automated image recognition system. The mobile terminal's imaging device captures the printed matter, the server processes the image matching, and the result is displayed electronically, substituting mechanical visual inspection with automated optical and computational systems.
Data Source
AI summary
In a mobile terminal apparatus, a user identifying unit (a) extracts a printed matter image of a printed matter in a photo image taken by an imaging device, (b) transmits to an image forming apparatus a user inquiry with the printed matter image, (c) receives a response to the user inquiry from the image forming apparatus, and (d) displays the photo image on a display device and displays the user name indicated by the response so as to accompany the printed matter image in the displayed photo image. In the image forming apparatus, a printed matter history managing unit determines a document image that agrees with a printed matter image on the basis of a printed matter history upon receiving the user inquiry and the printed matter image, and transmits as the response a user name of a user associated with the determined document image.