Printer Distance Detection for Remote Work Confirmation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users working remotely often unintentionally select a default printer located far away, leading to unnecessary printing and potential information leakage.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that includes a presentation determination processor to present selection information for image-forming apparatuses and a distance determination processor to measure the distance of selected printers, prompting users to confirm whether to switch to a nearby printer for printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a default printer installed in the company is selected for printing during telework, then the printing operation can be performed automatically without user intervention, but the user may accidentally select a far-away printer instead of a nearby printer, leading to unrequired printing and potential information leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to the user by displaying the location information of the selected printer and prompting for confirmation before executing the printing operation. This feedback mechanism allows the user to verify whether the selected default printer is appropriate for the current work location, preventing accidental printing to far-away printers while maintaining automatic printing functionality.
2Reliability
If the system always prompts the user to confirm printer selection, then the reliability of printing operation is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased user intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different levels of confirmation requirements based on the local situation - specifically, whether the selected printer is located far from the user's current position. When the printer is nearby, no confirmation is needed, maintaining ease of operation. When the printer is far-away, confirmation is required, ensuring reliability. This localized approach to confirmation based on printer location resolves the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
3Measurement precision
If the system measures and checks the distance of the selected printer, then the accuracy of printer selection is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional distance determination functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses location information as an intermediary to determine whether confirmation is needed. Instead of directly measuring physical distance between user and printer, the system compares location data (such as GPS coordinates or network location information) of the selected printer with the user's current location. This intermediary approach provides accurate printer selection verification without requiring complex direct distance measurement mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a presentation determination processor that presents selection information for causing a user to select an image-forming apparatus for executing printing and a distance determination processor that measures, when a first image-forming apparatus is selected in the selection information, a distance of the first image-forming apparatus from an installation position and determines whether the measured distance is equal to or larger than a predetermined distance. When determining that the distance is equal to or larger than the predetermined distance, the presentation determination processor performs a presenting process of presenting confirmation information for confirming whether the image-forming apparatus for executing printing is to be switched from the first image-forming apparatus.