Network Device PWA Push Notifications for Remote Status Delivery

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network devices, such as image processing devices, require users to directly check the device display or access a remote UI via a web browser to obtain information like error status, consumable levels, or administrator notices, lacking a more convenient mechanism for information delivery.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a progressive web application (PWA) that allows users to install network device functions on their client devices without an app store, enabling push notifications and icon display on the home screen, using a service worker and a push server to deliver information directly to the client device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users directly check the device display or access remote UI via web browser, then information can be obtained, but user convenience deteriorates due to manual access requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidmanual access time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-installing the web application on the terminal device and establishing push notification capabilities before information needs to be delivered. The service worker is pre-configured to listen for events from the network device, enabling automatic notification delivery without requiring manual user actions to access information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by enabling automatic push notifications that deliver information directly to the user's terminal without requiring manual intervention. The web application automatically detects events from the network device and sends notifications through the push notification service, eliminating the need for users to actively check status or access the remote UI.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If web application is installed via app store, then installation is standardized, but installation effort and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation processVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the web application installation process from the traditional app store ecosystem. By using progressive web application technology, the application can be installed directly from a URL without requiring users to visit app stores, thereby simplifying the installation process and reducing complexity while maintaining standardization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces a URL-based intermediary mechanism that facilitates direct installation of the web application. Instead of requiring users to navigate through app store interfaces, the installation link acts as a direct intermediary that triggers the installation process, simplifying the overall installation experience while maintaining control over the application deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260019508A1Network device, control method, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 CANON KK

AI summary

A network device to provide a web page to a web browser via a network, and detect an event corresponding to information displayed on the web page. The web page provided to the web browser executed by a terminal is a web page where a web application is installable onto the terminal in accordance with a user's predetermined operation performed on the web browser. The web application has at least part of a function provided by the network device.