Touch Panel Pinch Gesture File Transfer Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for transmitting and receiving files between image forming apparatuses and other devices through a network require complex user manipulations, such as selecting files and destination devices, which is not intuitive, especially for unfamiliar users.

Innovation Solution

An image forming system that uses pinch-in and pinch-out gestures on touch panels to intuitively identify and transfer files between devices, with user authentication and file management handled by controllers, allowing for easy file transfer and storage without manual address selection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional file transfer methods are used between image forming apparatus and terminal devices, then file transfer functionality is achieved, but user operation complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical input methods (keyboard, mouse, menu navigation) with touch panel gestures. Users can transfer files by simply touching and dragging file icons between device representations on the touch panel, eliminating complex manual operations for file selection and destination specification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically handles file transfer parameters based on gesture context. When a user performs a drag gesture from one device representation to another, the system automatically identifies the source file, destination device, and transfer parameters without requiring user configuration, making the operation self-service oriented.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If gesture-based file transfer is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but reliability may deteriorate due to gesture recognition accuracy issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidgesture recognition reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides visual feedback during gesture execution by displaying the file icon being dragged and the destination device representation. This feedback mechanism helps users confirm the correctness of their gesture before completion, reducing misrecognition errors and improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary validation of gestures by detecting the complete gesture sequence (start touch, drag motion, drop position) before executing file transfer. This preliminary action ensures that only valid, intentional gestures are processed, filtering out accidental touches or incomplete gestures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2477384B1Image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a terminal device each having a touch panel recognising pinch gestures
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECH INC
  • EP2477384B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2477384B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2477384B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

MFP as an image forming apparatus includes a touch panel, a controller connected to the touch panel, a memory for storing a data file, and a communication device for communicating with another device. Continuously after two contacts are made on the touch panel, when a gesture of moving the two contacts in a direction that a spacing therebetween is decreased and then releasing the two contacts after being moved is detected (YES in Step 103), the controller identifies (S107) a file presented by an icon displayed in an area defined by the two contacts at least either of before and after being moved, as a file to be transferred, and transfers the file to be transferred to the other device in response to a request to transfer a file from the other device received by the communication device.