Portable Device Printing via Document Optical Code

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Printing from portable devices is complicated due to lack of memory or computing power for printer drivers, time-consuming printer discovery, and security concerns related to network access, requiring costly and retrofitted hardware.

Innovation Solution

A system that generates a document optical code, allowing the portable device to display it to a printer's scanning mechanism, enabling the printer to retrieve and print documents without driver installation or network discovery, using encryption and access control for security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional printing methods are used from portable devices, then printing functionality can be achieved, but the device requires significant memory and computing power to support printer drivers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting functionalityVSAvoidmemory and computing power

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the printer driver functionality from the portable device and places it on the printer itself. The portable device only needs to generate and display an optical code, while the printer contains the necessary drivers and software to interpret the code and process the printing task. This extraction eliminates the memory and computing power requirements on the portable device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an optical code as an intermediary between the portable device and the printer. Instead of direct communication requiring drivers on the portable device, the optical code serves as a universal intermediary that the printer scans and interprets. This mediator eliminates the need for device-specific driver installations on the portable device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If printer discovery is implemented to enable printing from portable devices, then printing capability is provided, but the process becomes time-consuming and may not always be successful

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting capabilityVSAvoidprinter discovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the portable device actively discovering and connecting to the printer through complex network protocols, the invention inverts the approach: the printer displays a static optical code, and the portable device simply scans this code. This reversal eliminates the time-consuming discovery process while maintaining printing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If network access is enabled for printing from portable devices, then document transfer is possible, but security concerns are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument transferVSAvoidsecurity concerns

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an optical code (a visual copy of information) instead of direct network data transmission. The optical code contains encoded document identifiers that the printer can read and use to retrieve documents. This copying approach maintains ease of operation while eliminating security vulnerabilities associated with direct network access from portable devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Adaptability or versatility

If additional hardware such as Bluetooth, WiFi, RFID, NFC, USB, or IrDA is added to portable devices for printing, then printing functionality is improved, but the cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting functionalityVSAvoidhardware requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical code serves as a universal interface that works with any printer regardless of the portable device's hardware capabilities. Instead of requiring multiple specialized communication hardware components, the invention uses a single universal approach: display an optical code on the portable device screen and scan it with the printer. This achieves printing functionality across all devices without adding hardware complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8848215B2Method and system for printing documents from a portable device

Publication Date: 2014.09.30 GENESEE VALLEY INNOVATIONS LLC

AI summary

One embodiment provides a system for facilitating document printing from a portable device. During operation, the system receives a document at a server. Next, the system generates a document optical code corresponding to the document. Subsequently, the system communicates the document optical code to the portable device, thereby allowing the portable device to display the document optical code to a scanning mechanism associated with a printer, Next, the system receives a request, indicating the optical code, from the printer. Subsequently, the system retrieves the document in response to the request, and sends the document to the printer.