NFC Quick Menu for Image Forming Address Book
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses lack an efficient method to utilize near field communication (NFC) for simplifying the selection of image forming functions based on address book information from user terminals, requiring users to manually input or search for function-specific addresses.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an NFC module to receive address book information from user terminals, an address analyzing unit to classify addresses, and a control unit to generate a quick menu listing executable image forming functions, thereby eliminating the need for manual input by displaying a popup menu with functions corresponding to the stored addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual input or search for function-specific addresses is required, then users can access image forming functions, but the operation process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically acquiring address book information from the user terminal via NFC before the user needs to use image forming functions. The control unit pre-processes this information to identify contact addresses and prepares function recommendations in advance, eliminating the need for manual input during actual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically generating function recommendations based on the acquired address book information without requiring user intervention. The control unit autonomously analyzes the addresses, matches them with appropriate image forming functions (printing, scanning, copying), and presents the results to the user, allowing the system to serve itself in the information processing task.
2Extent of automation
If NFC module is added to receive address book information, then function selection is automated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The NFC module is integrated into the existing image forming apparatus to serve multiple functions: acquiring address book information, enabling automatic function recommendation, and potentially supporting future NFC-based features. This multi-functionality approach justifies the added complexity by providing broad utility across different operational scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that bridges the NFC module and the user interface. It receives raw address book information from the NFC module, processes and analyzes the data to extract relevant contact addresses, matches these addresses with appropriate image forming functions, and generates the final function recommendations displayed to the user. This intermediary layer simplifies the integration complexity by handling all NFC-related processing centrally.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus to support a near field communication (NFC) function receives address book information stored in a user terminal by tagging the user terminal, and generates a quick menu in which image forming functions related to the received address book information are listed and displays the quick menu on a user interface unit.