Wireless Printer Control Device Beacon Signal Management

Solution Overview

Problem

Printing processing in devices can be unstable due to unintentional disconnection from a wireless connection, leading to potential changes in the connection destination, which is undesirable for maintaining operation stability.

Innovation Solution

A control device with a wireless communication unit that stops transmitting a beacon signal containing identification information during printing processing to prevent changes in the wireless connection destination, ensuring stable operation by keeping the device invisible until the printing is completed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the beacon signal transmission is continued during printing processing, then other terminals can connect to the printing device, but the connection destination may change unintentionally due to radio interference or disconnection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to receive connection requests from multiple terminalsVSAvoidstability of wireless connection during printing operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device stops transmitting the beacon signal in advance before printing processing begins and maintains this stopped state throughout the printing operation. This preliminary action prevents other terminals from establishing new connections during printing, thereby ensuring connection stability while allowing the device to remain accessible after printing completes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the beacon signal transmission is stopped during printing processing, then connection destination stability is improved, but the device becomes invisible to other terminals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of wireless connection during printing operationVSAvoidability to receive connection requests from multiple terminals

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control device stops transmitting the beacon signal in advance before printing processing begins and maintains this stopped state throughout the printing operation. This preliminary action prevents other terminals from establishing new connections during printing, thereby ensuring connection stability while allowing the device to remain accessible after printing completes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The beacon signal transmission state is dynamically adjusted based on the printing operation status: stopped during printing to ensure stability, and resumed after printing completes to restore accessibility. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize for different operational requirements at different times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If wireless connection is maintained throughout printing processing, then operation stability is ensured, but printing processing may be interrupted by connection switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of operation during printingVSAvoidcompletion rate of printing processing without interruption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device stops transmitting the beacon signal in advance before printing processing begins and maintains this stopped state throughout the printing operation. This preliminary action prevents other terminals from establishing new connections during printing, thereby ensuring connection stability while allowing the device to remain accessible after printing completes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11659105B2Control device restricting change in a wireless connection destination after disconnect during a printing operation, and wireless connection control method and storage medium

Publication Date: 2023.05.23 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD

AI summary

A control device includes a wireless communication unit configured to transmit and receive a signal with a communication terminal with which wireless connection has been established, a control unit configured to perform predetermined control according to a request signal from the communication terminal, and a printing unit configured to print on a to-be-printed medium. When the wireless communication unit detects disconnection of the wireless connection with the communication terminal while the printing unit is printing on the to-be-printed medium, the control unit keeps the wireless communication unit in a state in which transmission of the beacon signal containing identification information of the wireless communication unit is stopped.