Printer Beacon Signal for Location Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in identifying the correct printer for print processing due to limited information displayed on scanners, making it hard to determine the location of the printer for executing the print job.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus equipped with both wired and wireless communication interfaces, including NFC and Bluetooth Low Energy, to receive image data and identification information from a mobile terminal, and broadcast this information to facilitate easy printer selection and secure printing by transmitting beacon signals for user notification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the scanner displays only a small amount of information such as printer name, then the display device can show basic printer identification, but the user cannot easily identify the location of the printer for print processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile terminal as an intermediary device between the scanner and the printer. The mobile terminal receives printer identification information from the scanner via wired connection, then wirelessly transmits this information to the printer. This intermediary approach enables location information transfer without modifying the scanner's display capabilities or adding complex systems to existing devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the scanner uses wired communication only, then the connection is stable, but the scanner cannot broadcast printer location information to mobile devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines wired and wireless communication interfaces in the mobile terminal. The wired interface (USB) provides stable data transfer for receiving printer information from the scanner, while the wireless interface (Bluetooth) enables flexible transmission to the printer. This merging of communication methods allows the system to leverage the stability of wired connection and the versatility of wireless connection simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus includes: a first communication interface configured to perform communication according to a first communication standard; a second communication interface configured to perform communication according to a second communication standard that is different from the first communication standard and that is a wireless communication standard; an image recorder; and a controller. The controller receives image data and first identification information from an image-data output device via the first 02-19 communication interface. The controller broadcasts the received first identification information via the second communication interface.