Printer Wireless Authentication for Unintended Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a concern that printing labels may be created unintentionally by a label creation device different from the user's intention due to the proximity of a portable information terminal to a printing device within a wireless communication range, leading to unintended printing.

Innovation Solution

A printer system that includes a wireless communication controller, memory for storing terminal information, and a controller for periodically outputting packets to identify connected terminals, requesting and printing data from authenticated terminals, ensuring that only intended print data is processed and printed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If automatic printing is enabled when the information terminal is within wireless communication range, then printing convenience is improved, but unintended printing by wrong terminals may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting convenienceVSAvoidprinting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The printer controller actively transmits identification packets and receives terminal information packets to verify whether the information terminal is authenticated. This feedback mechanism ensures that printing only occurs when the correct terminal is present, preventing unintended printing while maintaining automatic printing convenience for authorized terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A terminal information packet serves as an intermediary verification mechanism between the information terminal and printer. The packet contains unique terminal identification information that acts as a mediator to confirm the authenticity of the terminal before allowing printing, thus resolving the contradiction between convenience and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the printer periodically outputs packets to identify terminals, then terminal authentication is improved, but communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal authentication accuracyVSAvoidcommunication energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The printer controller periodically outputs identification packets at predetermined intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action maintains terminal authentication capability while significantly reducing communication overhead and energy consumption compared to continuous transmission, resolving the contradiction between authentication reliability and energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12026415B2Printer and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for performing a printing process without receiving a print instruction

Publication Date: 2024.07.02 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A printer includes a wireless communication controller, a memory configured to store first terminal information, in which the first information terminal wirelessly connected to the printer, a printing unit, and a controller configured to perform packet output processing of periodically outputting a first packet, packet acquisition processing of acquiring a second packet, the second packet including second terminal information of a second information terminal that receives the first packet, information determination processing of determining whether the second terminal information is the first terminal information stored in the memory, request processing of making a request for the print data from the second information terminal in a case where it is determined that the second terminal information is the first terminal information, and printing processing of causing the printing unit to print the print data obtained from the second information terminal in response to the request.