Printer Visible Light Communication Designation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inconvenience in setting up communication between mobile terminals and printers, particularly in temporary usage scenarios, as they need to manually select the printer as the destination for print instructions, which can be burdensome.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a visible light communication system where the printer transmits designation information using an imaging light unit, allowing the mobile terminal to receive this information and establish wireless communication without manual selection, enabling seamless print instruction transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual selection of printer destination is required, then communication setup can be precise and controlled, but user operation becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of communication setupVSAvoidtime for manual selection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile terminal performs automatic printer selection by itself through visible light communication. The terminal captures light signals from the printer containing designation information, automatically extracts printer identification, and establishes wireless connection without requiring user intervention in the selection process, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and time consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The printer preliminarily transmits its designation information through visible light communication before the actual print instruction is sent. This preliminary action allows the mobile terminal to obtain and store printer identification information in advance, eliminating the need for manual selection at the time of printing and reducing both operational complexity and time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If visible light communication is used for designation information transfer, then communication setup becomes automatic and convenient, but additional hardware components are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of printer selectionVSAvoidcomplexity of communication system
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The visible light communication system serves multiple functions: it transmits printer designation information for automatic selection, provides visual feedback for connection status, and enables wireless communication establishment. By making the light communication system multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby managing device complexity while achieving high automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Visible light acts as an intermediary carrier for transmitting printer designation information from the printer to the mobile terminal. This optical intermediary enables automatic identification and connection establishment without requiring complex direct wireless communication protocols between the terminal and printer, thus achieving automation while controlling system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates effortless communication setup between mobile terminals and printers, eliminating the need for manual printer selection and enhancing user convenience in temporary printing scenarios by using visible light communication for designation information transfer.

Implementation Method 1

a transmitter that transmits designation information for designating the printer as a destination of wireless communication via visible light communication

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVisible light communication: Light

Data Source

PatentUS10097719B2Printer and mobile information processing apparatus
Publication Date: 2018.10.09 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP
  • US10097719B2 patent drawing
  • US10097719B2 patent drawing
  • US10097719B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A printer includes an imaging unit, an imaging light unit, a transmitter, and a receiver. The transmitter transmits designation information via visible light communication by using the imaging light unit. The designation information is information for designating the printer as a destination of wireless communication. The receiver receives a print instruction from a mobile information processing apparatus via the wireless communication in accordance with the designation information.