Portable Terminal Grouping for Device Registration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In offices and similar settings, managing initial settings for multiple devices connected to a local network is cumbersome due to the difficulty in identifying and registering each device by MAC address, IP address, and device name, leading to errors and increased time requirements.
Innovation Solution
A non-transitory computer-readable medium with a program that enables a portable terminal to acquire and store group IDs and setting information, associating them with device IDs via near-field communication, allowing for efficient registration of devices without requiring users to return to a central location, thus reducing registration errors and time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If users manually identify and register each device by MAC address, IP address, and device name, then device registration can be completed, but the time required increases significantly and error rate increases when there are many devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a portable terminal as an intermediary device between the user and multiple printers. The portable terminal displays printer information (names, icons, locations) and receives user selection input, then transmits the selected printer's identification information to the information processing apparatus. This intermediary interface simplifies device identification from manual MAC/IP address entry to visual selection, reducing both time and errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual process of typing MAC addresses and IP addresses with an automated system. The information processing apparatus automatically acquires printer identification information, and the portable terminal automatically transmits selected printer details, eliminating manual data entry and reducing time loss while maintaining identification accuracy.
2Productivity
If users group printers and perform initial settings for the entire group, then setting efficiency improves, but the user must return to the information processing apparatus repeatedly, increasing time loss
Solution Approach 1:
The portable terminal serves as a mobile intermediary that allows users to interact with the information processing apparatus without returning to its physical location. Users can select printers and execute initial settings through the portable terminal, which wirelessly transmits commands and receives results, eliminating repeated trips to the fixed apparatus location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static, location-bound interaction model into a dynamic, mobile interaction model. The portable terminal enables users to move freely while performing device management tasks, making the system adaptable to user movement rather than requiring users to return to a fixed position.
3Reliability
If the system waits for user input at the information processing apparatus, then device selection can be confirmed, but during the waiting period other users may mistakenly operate the system causing registration errors
Solution Approach 1:
The portable terminal acts as a private, user-specific intermediary interface. Each user's selections and operations are processed through their own portable terminal, creating isolated interaction channels that prevent other users from accidentally accessing or modifying the registration process. This maintains both reliability and ease of operation by allowing concurrent independent access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the user interaction process into individual portable terminal sessions rather than shared apparatus interaction. Each user has their own independent interface and data transmission channel, dividing the system into isolated operational units that prevent interference between users while maintaining overall system accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable terminal has a memory having a program stored thereon and readably by a computer. The program causes the portable terminal to perform acquiring group ID and setting information, storing the group ID and the setting information in association with each other, receiving first instruction information for instructing execution of association processing for the stored group ID, acquiring device ID to identify the device, to which the portable terminal is brought close, from the device through the data acquisition interface, executing the association processing of associating the stored group ID and the device ID acquired through the data acquisition interface after receiving the first instruction information and acquiring the device ID through the data acquisition interface, and storing the association, and after executing the association processing, transmitting the setting information associated with the group ID to the device associated with the group ID, through the network interface.