Printer Connection Setting via Environmental Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Information processing devices require manual intervention to change printer connection settings when the installation environment changes, which is inefficient and inconvenient for users.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device that automatically adjusts printer connection settings using network connection information, position information (such as GPS), and time information, allowing users to register relationships between these data items and corresponding printers, thereby selecting the appropriate printer without user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual intervention is used to change printer connection settings when installation environment changes, then user control and accuracy are maintained, but user effort and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of printer setting changeVSAvoidtime for manual setting adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects changes in installation environment (network connection, position, time) and autonomously determines the appropriate printer to use, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The information processing device serves itself by monitoring environmental parameters and automatically switching printer connections based on pre-registered rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-registers multiple printers and establishes rules linking them to specific installation environment conditions before actual use. When environmental changes occur, the system can immediately apply the pre-established rules to switch to the appropriate printer without requiring real-time user decision-making or manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If automatic printer selection based only on wireless communication quality is implemented, then the nearest printer is selected consistently, but adaptability to diverse installation environments is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to installation environment changesVSAvoidcomplexity of setting mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic printer selection mechanism is segmented into three independent detection modules: network connection information acquisition, position information acquisition, and time information acquisition. Each module operates independently to detect specific environmental parameters, and their results are combined to determine the appropriate printer. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to diverse installation environments without requiring a completely complex unified mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If multiple information types (network, position, time) are used for printer selection, then accuracy of printer matching improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of printer environment matchingVSAvoidcomplexity of information processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments information acquisition into three independent modules: network connection information acquisition unit, position information acquisition unit, and time information acquisition unit. Each module handles a specific type of data independently, reducing the complexity of any single module while achieving high overall precision through the combination of multiple data types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed to handle more information types than strictly necessary (network, position, and time), allowing it to achieve higher precision in printer matching. The system can selectively apply the appropriate level of information processing based on the specific requirements of the installation environment, using partial or full sets of information as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP1956751B1Information processing device, method and computer readable medium for printer connection setting
Publication Date: 2013.03.06 BROTHER KOGYO KK
  • EP1956751B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1956751B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1956751B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

There is provided an information processing device, comprising: an information obtaining unit configured to obtain at least one of network connection information, position information concerning a position of the information processing device and time information; and a setting unit configured to make settings such that a printer associated with information obtained by the information obtaining unit is set as a normally used printer.