Terminal Device Cartridge Purchasing Interface Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for purchasing ink cartridges are inefficient as they often require users to manually select colors and navigate through complex web pages, especially when multiple regions and printer models are involved, leading to user inconvenience.

Innovation Solution

A communication system where a terminal device determines the appropriate server to access based on region and printer model information, sending specific page requests to either display a refined web page for selected color cartridges or a general page for all colors, simplifying the purchasing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the system provides a general web page for all cartridge colors, then all color options are available, but the user interface becomes complex and navigation steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecartridge color optionsVSAvoidpurchasing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cartridge purchasing interface by color. Instead of presenting all color options in a single complex page, the system divides the interface into separate sections or pages for each color (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). Users are first prompted to select the color they need, then presented with a simplified purchasing interface specific to that color. This segmentation reduces the perceived complexity while maintaining full color options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by having users select the cartridge color before accessing the purchasing details. The color selection step is performed in advance, which then determines the subsequent purchasing interface presented to the user. This preliminary selection simplifies the main purchasing process by pre-filtering the options based on the user's color preference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system requires manual color selection and navigation through complex pages, then all purchasing options are available, but user convenience decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurchasing optionsVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamics by making the purchasing interface adaptive based on user input. The interface dynamically changes from a general multi-color overview to a specific single-color purchasing page based on the color selection. This dynamic adaptation maintains versatility (all colors still accessible) while improving convenience (simplified interface after selection).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

By performing color selection as a preliminary action before displaying purchasing details, the system reduces the cognitive load and navigation steps required during the actual purchasing process. Users make one selection upfront, then proceed through a simplified workflow for their chosen color.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If the system displays all cartridge color options on one page, then complete information is provided, but the page complexity and number of steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecartridge information completenessVSAvoidweb page complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the information presentation by creating separate purchasing pages for each cartridge color. Instead of overwhelming users with all color options and details on a single page, the system divides the information into color-specific sections. Users access only the information relevant to their selected color, reducing page complexity while maintaining information completeness through multi-page navigation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The color selection serves as a preliminary action that determines which information page is displayed. By filtering information based on the selected color beforehand, the system presents only the relevant cartridge details (pricing, specifications, availability) for that specific color, reducing the amount of information displayed at once while maintaining completeness across all color options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11977797B2Communication system for purchasing cartridge of printing device, non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing computer-readable instructions for terminal device, and method performed by terminal device

Publication Date: 2024.05.07 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A terminal device may obtain specific information stored in a memory. The specific information may include at least one of region information indicating a region where the terminal device is used and model information of a printing device used by the terminal device. The printing device may be configured to execute printing by using a plurality of cartridges corresponding to a plurality of colors. The terminal device may determine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied or not by using the specific information, and in a case where it is determined that the condition is satisfied, send a first page request and color information to a server. The color information may indicate a selected color selected from the plurality of colors.