Multicasting-Based Scan-to-Mobile Device Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scan-to-PC functions are inconvenient for mobile devices like smartphones due to their mobility and short network presence, making it difficult to manage device information and establish connections.
Innovation Solution
A scanning apparatus and mobile apparatus system that uses multicasting for device discovery and connection setup, allowing smartphones to freely move between networks while maintaining scan image transmission through a scan-to-mobile function, with the scanning apparatus displaying a list of available mobile devices by telephone number for easy user selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional broadcasting method is used for scan-to-PC function, then PC connection is established, but mobile apparatus cannot be conveniently connected due to mobility and short network presence
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the scanning apparatus broadcasting to discover devices (traditional approach), the mobile apparatus actively multicasts its presence information and the scanning apparatus responds. This inversion allows mobile devices to initiate connection while maintaining compatibility with the scanning apparatus's registration-based architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts the connection establishment process based on device type. For mobile apparatuses, the connection is established through active multicasting with automatic IP address acquisition, while PCs continue to use the traditional broadcasting method, allowing each device type to operate in its optimal mode.
2Ease of operation
If IP address and port information are used for device identification, then connection is established, but user convenience deteriorates due to difficulty in identifying devices
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning apparatus acts as an intermediary that translates between user-friendly device names and technical IP addresses. The mobile apparatus multicasts its presence with identifiable information, and the scanning apparatus matches this with registered device names, presenting only user-friendly identifiers to the user without exposing IP address complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual representation of device connection information that separates user-facing identifiers from technical networking parameters. The scanning apparatus maintains a mapping between device names and IP addresses, allowing users to interact with simplified device names while the system handles the technical IP address management in the background.
3Device complexity
If device information is registered for predetermined time, then connection management is simplified, but mobile apparatus connectivity is limited due to frequent network changes
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile apparatus periodically multicasts its presence information while connected to the network, and the scanning apparatus periodically checks for updated presence information. This periodic action allows the system to maintain connection information for mobile devices that frequently change networks, as the mobile device can re-establish its presence announcement in each new network without requiring long-term registration.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a scanning apparatus, a mobile apparatus, and a scan job performing method thereof. The scan job performing method includes discovering at least one mobile apparatus supporting the scan-to-mobile function by using multicasting by the scanning apparatus, receiving information on at least one discovered mobile apparatus, setting a connection between the scanning apparatus and the mobile apparatus by using the received information of the mobile apparatus, and transmitting a scan image generated by the scanning apparatus to the mobile apparatus. With this configuration, authentication and connection between the scanning apparatus and the mobile apparatus are set by multicasting to thereby improve user's convenience.