Printer System Topology Data Header Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

In POS systems where a display apparatus is connected via a printer, the existing technologies face challenges in efficiently transmitting data to the display apparatus, leading to increased system costs due to high-speed communication requirements, especially when using high-definition color LCDs.

Innovation Solution

A printer system and method that selectively add header information to command data based on the connection topology, allowing the printer to extract and remove header information for the display apparatus, thereby reducing the amount of data transmitted to the display apparatus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a common data format with header information is used for transmitting data to both printer and display apparatus, then the system maintains compatibility and simplicity in data transmission protocol, but the amount of communication data increases significantly, requiring high-speed communication and increasing system cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata format compatibilityVSAvoidamount of communication data
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data transmission path by introducing a printer that separates data destined for the display apparatus from data for the printer itself. The printer acts as an intermediary that receives common-format data from the host computer, identifies display-bound data through header analysis, removes the headers, and transmits only the essential data to the display apparatus. This segmentation reduces the overall data volume in the communication system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the header information from data packets at the printer before forwarding to the display apparatus. By taking out the redundant header portion that is only needed for routing purposes at the host computer level, the system transmits smaller data packets over the printer-display connection, reducing communication bandwidth requirements and system cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Illumination intensity

If high-definition color LCD is employed as display apparatus, then display quality and customer information presentation capability are improved, but the amount of communication data increases, requiring expensive high-speed communication infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoidamount of communication data
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the printer as an intermediary device between the host computer and the high-definition color LCD display apparatus. The printer receives data in common format from the host, processes and filters the data by removing headers, and transmits the reduced data set to the display. This intermediary role allows the system to maintain high display quality while using a lower-bandwidth communication channel between printer and display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If the printer determines and filters data for display apparatus, then the amount of data transmitted to display is reduced, but the printer's processing load and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of transmitted dataVSAvoidprinter processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the printer perform header analysis and data filtering in advance before transmitting data to the display apparatus. The printer examines incoming data packets, identifies those destined for the display through header detection, removes the headers proactively, and prepares the filtered data for transmission. This preliminary processing at the printer reduces downstream communication requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3647935B1Printer system, printer, method of controlling printer system, and method of controlling printer
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 SEIKO INSTR INC
  • EP3647935B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3647935B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3647935B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4

AI summary

A printer system includes: an information processing device (8); a printer (1); and a display apparatus (7), the information processing device (8) being configured to control the printer (1) and the display apparatus (7). A topology of the information processing device (8) and the display apparatus (7) includes a first topology in which the display apparatus (7) is directly connected to the information processing device (8) and a second topology in which the display apparatus (7) is connected to the information processing device (8) via the printer (1). The information processing device (8) includes a processor (81) configured to: transmit, to the display apparatus (7), instruction data for the display apparatus (7) without adding header information to the instruction data in the first topology; and transmit, to the printer (1), instruction data for the display apparatus (7) by adding header information to the instruction data in the second topology.