Server Offline Registration for Printer Service Provisioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems require a printer to be connected to the Internet for user and printer information registration, limiting service provision to users without internet access.

Innovation Solution

A server configuration that allows user and printer information registration without an active internet connection, using a controller to store identification information and associate it with service information, enabling service provision once the printer connects to the internet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the printer is required to be connected to the Internet for information registration, then the service provision can be ensured, but the ease of operation deteriorates because users cannot register information without Internet access

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice provisionVSAvoidinformation registration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs preliminary registration of user information and printer information in its internal storage before the printer connects to the Internet. The server receives and stores device identification information, user information, and service information in advance, so that when the printer later connects to the Internet, the registration process is already complete and service provision can begin immediately without requiring prior Internet connectivity from the printer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the server stores and manages device identification information locally, then the adaptability improves by allowing offline registration, but the device complexity increases due to additional storage and management mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoffline registration capabilityVSAvoidserver storage and management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server automatically performs the registration process without requiring manual intervention or complex user operations. When the printer connects to the Internet, the server autonomously retrieves the previously stored device identification information, matches it with registered user information, and activates service provision automatically. This self-service approach handles the complexity internally while presenting a simple interface to users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11509793B2Servers and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for registering and monitoring consumables

Publication Date: 2022.11.22 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A server registers, into a first memory, user identification information and service information in a condition where a connection between the server and a target device via the Internet has not been established. The server registers, into a second memory, first device identification information in association with the user identification information and the service information registered in the first memory after receiving the first device identification information. After the connection between the server and the target device via the Internet has been established for a first time, the server causes a service providing server to provide the service to the user using the user identification information and the service information in the first memory in response to receiving the device identification information from a target device matching the first device identification information.