Portable Terminal Printing Prediction via Movement Direction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In cashierless unmanned stores, users face waiting times due to the need to interact with multifunction peripherals for printing services, as existing technologies require manual operation and timing calculations for printing initiation.

Innovation Solution

A portable terminal apparatus that estimates the user's movement direction and predicts the nearest multifunction peripheral for printing, automatically initiating the printing process when the user approaches the device, eliminating the need for manual start instructions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the user manually operates the multifunction peripheral to initiate printing, then the printing service can be provided, but the user experiences waiting time and reduced convenience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting operation convenienceVSAvoidwaiting time for printing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The portable terminal calculates the required printing time in advance and determines the optimal timing to initiate printing before the user arrives at the multifunction peripheral, eliminating the need for manual operation and waiting at the device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically initiates printing without user intervention by having the portable terminal send the printing start instruction to the multifunction peripheral based on pre-calculated timing, making the system self-activating

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If the printing service is applied to cashierless unmanned stores, then shopping efficiency is improved, but users must still interact with the multifunction peripheral causing waiting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshopping efficiencyVSAvoidprinting interaction requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The printing initiation action is extracted from the multifunction peripheral operation and transferred to the portable terminal, allowing the user to complete printing setup and initiation remotely before arriving at the store

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the user arrives at the multifunction peripheral to start printing, then printing can be initiated, but the user must be present at the device which reduces convenience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting initiation reliabilityVSAvoiduser presence requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The multifunction peripheral is designed to receive and execute printing instructions automatically sent from the portable terminal without requiring user presence or manual operation at the device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20240103773A1Portable terminal apparatus, printing service system, non-transitory computer readable medium storing program, and method

Publication Date: 2024.03.28 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A portable terminal apparatus includes a processor configured to estimate a movement direction of a user carrying the portable terminal apparatus from a transition of a current position, from among image forming apparatuses capable of printing a document file to be printed, predict an image forming apparatus to be used for printing the document file by the user, by referring to the movement direction of the user, and provide a printing start instruction of the document file from the image forming apparatus in a case where the user has approached the image forming apparatus to a distance in which printing is estimated to be finished at a point when the user arrives at an installation position of the image forming apparatus.