Communication Device Fallback Web Page for Printer Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming systems where a terminal device with a web browser is connected to a printer through a network, the system fails to display predetermined information when the terminal device and external server cannot communicate, leading to user inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A communication device provides instructions to the terminal device to display a first web page with information from an external server and a second web page with a solution message when the first page cannot be displayed, allowing the terminal device to acquire information from a local storage unit, reducing communication load and avoiding time-out errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the web browser acquires predetermined information from an external server, then the information can be displayed on the terminal device, but communication failure between the terminal device and external server causes the web page to be undisplayable
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides a second web page display instruction that enables alternative information acquisition methods in advance. When the first web page cannot be displayed due to server communication failure, the user can follow instructions on the second web page to acquire information through alternative means (such as local storage or direct printer access), thus ensuring display reliability without adding complex redundant systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication device acts as an intermediary between the terminal device and the information source. It provides the second web page display instruction that mediates the information acquisition process, offering alternative paths when the primary path (external server) fails, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Loss of information
If the web browser waits for external server response, then accurate information can be displayed, but time-out errors occur when communication is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares alternative information acquisition methods in advance through the second web page display instruction. When the external server response is delayed or lost, the user can immediately access alternative information sources without waiting for the time-out period to expire, thus preventing information loss and reducing display time.
3Reliability
If the system provides alternative display instructions, then information can be displayed even when server communication fails, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alternative information acquisition instructions are extracted into a separate second web page that is only activated when needed. This keeps the primary system simple while providing reliability through an on-demand alternative path, rather than embedding complex redundancy throughout the entire system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device is connected to a terminal device including a display and a web browser through a network. The communication device includes: a first providing unit that provides a first web page display instruction to the terminal device; and a second providing unit that provides a second web page display instruction to the terminal device for making the web browser display a second web page including a specific message on the display unit. The specific message indicates a solution when the first web page including the predetermined information acquired from the external server is not displayed on the display unit of the terminal device, and the solution is for making the web browser acquire the predetermined information by a different method from the method of acquiring the predetermined information from the external server and display the predetermined information on the display unit of the terminal device.