Printer Web Browser Embeds Status in HTTP URL

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network systems requiring web servers to manage client status are costly due to the need for special servers, increased client-server communication, and high performance web servers, especially when clients are behind firewalls or typical home routers.

Innovation Solution

A network system where the client embeds its status information in the URL of HTTP requests, reducing unnecessary communication and allowing a general-use server to manage client status, eliminating the need for special environments and servers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the web server accesses the client to acquire client status, then the client status can be obtained, but the web server cannot access the client through a firewall making it unusable in typical home router environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclient status managementVSAvoidenvironment compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the web server actively accessing the client to obtain status information, the invention inverts the approach by having the client automatically send its status information to the web server through HTTP requests. This allows the client to initiate communication through the firewall in the correct direction, making the system compatible with typical home router environments while maintaining reliable status management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a special program is installed on the client to report status to the web server, then client status can be managed, but a special server and environment are required increasing cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclient status managementVSAvoidsystem configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention makes the web server universal by enabling it to handle status management using standard HTTP requests that any web server can process. The client embeds status information in regular HTTP requests, allowing any general-purpose web server to manage client status without requiring special dedicated servers or complex configurations, thereby reducing system complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the web server regularly checks client status through dedicated communication, then status management is achieved, but communication overhead and server processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclient status managementVSAvoidcommunication overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges status information transmission with existing HTTP communication between the client and web server. By embedding status data in the URL parameters of regular HTTP requests, the system combines multiple functions into a single communication channel, eliminating the need for separate status reporting protocols and reducing overall communication overhead and server processing load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8836975B2Printer with a web browser for obtaining HTML data from a server

Publication Date: 2014.09.16 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A network system has a printer with an internal web browser connected to a web server. The printer has a request unit that sends an HTTP request with printer status information embedded in the URL to the server, a data acquisition unit that gets HTML data from the server, and a print unit that executes a printing process based on the supplied HTML data. The server includes a request receiving unit that receives HTTP requests from the printer, a data transmission unit that sends HTML data to the client, and a status management unit that manages the printer status based on the status information embedded in the URL of the HTTP request.