Dynamic Content Integration in Printed Documents via NFC

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for incorporating additional content into printed documents are cumbersome, requiring pre-inclusion of content before printing and lack fine-grained access control, making it difficult for users to easily add and securely manage external content.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that allow users to incorporate additional content into printed documents at the time of printing using endpoint devices, with fine-grained access control options such as time, location, passcode, and multiple reader controls, utilizing NFC tags and a content storage server to manage and retrieve external content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional content is incorporated into printed documents before printing, then the document can include external content, but the process becomes cumbersome and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to incorporate additional contentVSAvoidcomplexity of incorporating content before printing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by embedding machine-readable markers (such as QR codes or NFC tags) into the printed document during the printing process itself, rather than requiring pre-inclusion of content. This allows the document to be prepared in advance with the infrastructure for adding content, while the actual content incorporation happens dynamically at print time or later through simple scanning actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary component - a machine-readable marker embedded in the printed document - that mediates between the physical printed document and the digital additional content. This marker serves as a bridge that enables users to access and incorporate external content (videos, images, links) by simply scanning or tapping the marker with their mobile devices, eliminating the need for complex pre-processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users can add additional content to printed documents, then information can be augmented, but access control and security become difficult to implement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to add external contentVSAvoidaccess control and security of additional content

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements local quality by associating different access control mechanisms with specific machine-readable markers or specific portions of the document. Each marker can have its own security settings, allowing fine-grained control over which users can access which additional content. This enables different security levels for different content types or document sections rather than applying a single security policy to the entire document.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the printed document and its embedded markers provide information about access rights and content availability to users. When a user scans a marker, the system provides feedback about whether the user has permission to access the additional content, and if not, what actions are needed to gain access. This creates a closed-loop system that manages security dynamically based on user credentials and document policies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If additional content is incorporated at the time of printing, then user convenience is improved, but the processing system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of adding content at print timeVSAvoidcomplexity of processing system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing users to automatically incorporate additional content into their printed documents without requiring complex manual configuration. When a user sends a document to be printed, the system automatically embeds machine-readable markers and sets up the infrastructure for adding content. The user can then simply scan or tap the markers with their mobile device to access and incorporate additional content, with the system handling all the complex processing in the background.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9489347B2Method and apparatus for incorporating additional content in a printed document at a time of printing

Publication Date: 2016.11.08 XEROX CORP

AI summary

A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for incorporating additional content in a document at a time of processing are disclosed. For example, the method initiates a request to process a document, receives an option to include one or more additional content to the document, selects at least one additional content to add to the printed document from the endpoint device at the time of processing, defines at least one access control of the at least one additional content and sends the request to process the document, wherein the at least one additional content is incorporated into the document that is processed and the at least one additional content has the at least one access control.