Point-Based Printing System Resolving Material Consumption Costs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users on the reception side incur printing costs when printing content using their own printers, deterring them from printing advertisements or other desired materials due to concerns about material consumption costs.

Innovation Solution

A printing system where a server manages points for both transmission and reception users, transferring points from the transmission user to the reception user upon content printing, allowing the reception user to print without incurring printing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the reception user prints content using their own printer, then the content can be distributed and viewed, but the reception user incurs printing costs for material consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent distribution capabilityVSAvoidprinting material consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that manages point balances for both transmission and reception users. When content is printed by the reception user, the server automatically transfers points from the transmission user to the reception user, compensating for the printing material consumption. This mediator system enables content distribution while offsetting the substance loss through automated point management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the economic parameter of printing by introducing a point-based compensation system. Instead of the reception user directly bearing the cost of printing materials, the system transforms the cost structure by allowing point transfers from transmission to reception users, effectively changing the parameter of material consumption cost from a burden to a compensated expense.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of substance

If the reception user is concerned about printing costs, then material consumption is reduced, but content printing and dissemination is inhibited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting material consumptionVSAvoidcontent printing volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The server acts as a mediator that resolves the conflict between material conservation and content dissemination. By automatically managing point transfers when printing occurs, the system removes the user's direct financial concern about material consumption, thereby enabling higher printing volumes without proportionally increasing net material loss, as transmission users bear the cost through their point balances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of increased material consumption from high printing volumes into a benefit by implementing a point compensation system. The transmission user's points are transferred to the reception user, turning the material consumption that would normally be a loss into a beneficial exchange that enables content dissemination while tracking and compensating for resource usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of operation

If points are transferred from transmission user to reception user upon printing, then reception user printing cost burden is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting operation simplicityVSAvoidpoint management system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server serves as an intermediary that centralizes the complexity of point management, shielding individual users from system complexity. The transmission user simply sends content, and the reception user simply prints - the automated point transfer logic resides in the server intermediary, which handles the complex tracking of point balances, transfer conditions, and user accounts without requiring user intervention or understanding of the underlying complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9766841B2Printing system, server, reception apparatus, and printing method used by printing system
Publication Date: 2017.09.19 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • US9766841B2 patent drawing
  • US9766841B2 patent drawing
  • US9766841B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A transmission apparatus transmits an e-mail having a content attached thereto to a mail address destination of a printer. A server having a function of a mail server acquires a thumbnail image of a content acquired from the received e-mail and printing setting information and transmits the thumbnail image and the printing setting information to a terminal. A receiver confirms details of the content and printing setting details on the terminal, and then transmits a printing request notification from the terminal to the server. The server transmits printing data converted from the content and causes the printer to print the content. After the printing data is transmitted, the server performs a process of giving points according to the printing of the content to a user of the reception apparatus.