Portable Terminal ID Registration via Image Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming systems are limited in their ability to receive job requests from a large number of portable terminal devices using peer-to-peer communication, as they can only register a specified number of devices, restricting access and convenience for unregistered devices.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates an image forming apparatus with an image reading device that scans and reads device IDs from portable terminals placed on a platen glass, transmitting these IDs via peer-to-peer communication to register unconnected devices with a server, allowing job requests to be forwarded from unregistered devices through a registered device, thereby expanding access beyond the initial limit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the image forming apparatus registers only a specified number of portable terminal apparatuses, then the system maintains simplicity and security, but the number of devices that can access the image forming apparatus is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that mediates between unregistered portable terminal apparatuses and the image forming apparatus. The server receives job requests from unregistered devices, correlates them with registered devices, and forwards the requests accordingly. This intermediary enables unlimited device access without increasing the registration capacity of the image forming apparatus itself, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into three functional components: the image forming apparatus, the server, and portable terminal apparatuses. The registration function is segmented and maintained only by the image forming apparatus, while the server handles the correlation and forwarding of job requests. This segmentation allows the image forming apparatus to maintain simple registration while the server provides extensive connectivity, resolving the contradiction between limited registration and broad access.
2Ease of operation
If unregistered portable terminal apparatuses can transmit job requests directly, then accessibility is improved, but security and control over the image forming apparatus are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as a security intermediary that all unregistered device requests must pass through. The server correlates unregistered device IDs with registered device IDs before forwarding requests to the image forming apparatus. This intermediary mechanism maintains ease of operation for unregistered devices while ensuring security and control, as the image forming apparatus only communicates with known registered devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through the server that monitors and validates all job requests. When an unregistered device sends a request, the server feedbacks by correlating the device ID with registered devices and only forwards the request if the correlation is successful. This feedback mechanism ensures that only authenticated requests reach the image forming apparatus, maintaining security while preserving accessibility.
3Ease of manufacture
If the image forming apparatus uses peer-to-peer communication for all devices, then communication simplicity is maintained, but the ability to manage unregistered devices is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The server serves as an intermediary communication layer that maintains the simplicity of peer-to-peer communication between registered devices while adding capability to support unregistered devices. The server receives peer-to-peer requests from unregistered devices, correlates them with registered devices, and forwards them using the existing peer-to-peer communication channel. This approach preserves communication simplicity while enabling unregistered device support.
Solution Approach 2:
The server provides multi-functional capabilities: it handles correlation of device IDs, forwards job requests, and manages communication between registered and unregistered devices. By adding this universal communication manager, the system maintains the simplicity of peer-to-peer communication for registered devices while gaining the versatility to support unregistered devices through the server's intermediary function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables more than the limited number of portable terminal devices to use the image forming apparatus, providing convenient access for unregistered devices by registering and forwarding job requests through a registered device, enhancing usability and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
an image reading apparatus that optically scans and reads a device ID of a first portable terminal apparatus and a device ID of a second terminal apparatus that are respectively displayed by the first portable terminal apparatus and the second portable terminal apparatus that are placed on a platen glass
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus is made to be usable by a greater number of portable terminal apparatuses than a limited number of terminals. In an image forming system, a first portable terminal apparatus is registered in the image forming apparatus so as to be able to transmit job requests to the image forming apparatus using a specified peer-to-peer communication method, however a second portable terminal apparatus is not registered. The image forming apparatus, (a) reads by an image reading apparatus a device ID of the first portable terminal apparatus and a device ID of the second terminal apparatus. Then, the image forming apparatus, (b) transmits the device ID of the second portable terminal apparatus to the first portable terminal apparatus using the peer-to-peer communication method. The first portable terminal apparatus, (a) correlates the received device ID of the second portable terminal apparatus with the first portable terminal apparatus, and registers the device ID in the server. Then, the first portable terminal apparatus, (b) receives a job request that is issued by the second portable terminal apparatus, and transmits that job request to the image forming apparatus using the peer-to-peer communication method. The server transmits the job request received from the second portable terminal apparatus to the first portable terminal apparatus that is correlated with the device ID of that second portable terminal apparatus.