Portable Device Mediator for Multifunction Peripheral Voice Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multifunction peripherals (MFPs) in office environments are often driven by expensive and inflexible touch panel or button interfaces, which are costly to develop and deploy, and do not easily accommodate individual user preferences, especially for users with disabilities.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a portable data device, such as a smartphone, to provide a natural language dialog interface for MFPs, allowing voice input and response, with wireless communication via Bluetooth, NFC, or Wi-Fi, to translate user voice commands into device operations, utilizing a mobile app that recognizes voice inputs and provides visual feedback, and includes a wizard-like approach to configure tasks efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If voice assisted user interfaces are implemented in MFPs to improve accessibility for users with disabilities, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and development cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a portable data device (smartphone, tablet, or computer) as an intermediary between the user and the MFP. The portable device runs a client application that handles voice recognition and natural language processing, while communicating with the MFP via wireless connection. This mediator approach transfers the complexity of voice interface processing from the MFP to the portable device, improving accessibility without significantly increasing MFP complexity or cost.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom voice interfaces are developed for individual user preferences, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and deployment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration by storing user-specific configuration information in the portable data device. During initial setup, the system learns and stores user preferences, speech patterns, and personalized settings. This preliminary action enables the voice interface to be pre-adapted to individual users before actual MFP operation, providing customization without requiring complex real-time adaptation mechanisms in the MFP itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the portable data device to create and store digital copies of user preferences, voice patterns, and configuration settings. These copied profiles are then reused across multiple sessions and MFP interactions, eliminating the need to re-develop or re-configure interfaces for each user. The copying mechanism enables scalable customization where once-configured user profiles can be replicated and applied automatically.
3Ease of operation
If natural language processing is implemented via portable data devices, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of time for setup and configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration by storing user-specific configuration information in the portable data device. During initial setup, the system learns and stores user preferences, speech patterns, and personalized settings. This preliminary action enables the voice interface to be pre-adapted to individual users before actual MFP operation, providing customization without requiring complex real-time adaptation mechanisms in the MFP itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements automatic connection detection where the client application on the portable device automatically detects when it is proximate to the MFP and initiates communication without requiring manual user intervention. The system also automatically retrieves stored user-specific configuration information and applies it, eliminating the need for users to manually re-configure settings each time they use the MFP. This self-service approach minimizes setup time while maintaining personalized natural language interaction.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for natural language-based multifunction peripheral control includes sensing when a portable data device is proximate to a MFP. A status of the MFP is monitored and user-specific configuration information is stored. The system receives activity data corresponding to performance of a preselected activity by a user and initiates a natural language exchange with a user of the portable data device in accordance with a monitored status of the multifunction peripheral and stored user-specific configuration settings. Document processing instructions received via the natural language exchange generate a natural language response. A second document processing instruction is then received via the natural language exchange responsive to the natural language response and a document processing operation is performed in accordance with the second document processing instruction.