Terminal Device Selective Data Association Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In systems where a personal computer is connected to a database for printing labels, disassociating the connection disrupts the association between objects and field names, leading to user inconvenience when trying to manage and print labels.
Innovation Solution
A terminal device with computer-readable instructions that stores associations between label files and database files, allowing for selective disassociation of label-file associations without affecting object-area and field-name associations, enabling continued use of existing associations for printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the connection between label file and database file is disassociated, then the label file can be updated or replaced, but the association between object areas and field names is lost, requiring re-association and reducing user convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the association relationships into two independent parts: (1) the association between label file and database file, and (2) the association between object areas and field names. This allows the first association to be disassociated and updated while preserving the second association, eliminating the need for re-association and improving user convenience.
2Ease of operation
If the connection between label file and database file is maintained, then object-area and field-name associations are preserved, but the label file cannot be updated or replaced with a different database file
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the association structure into hierarchical levels (label-file to database-file, and object-area to field_name), the system enables independent updates at each level. The label file can be disassociated from the database file and reassociated with a different one, while object-area and field_name associations remain intact and reusable.
3Reliability
If all associations are disassociated when disconnecting from database, then data integrity is ensured, but re-association work is required and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables selective disassociation where only the label-file to database-file association is terminated while the object-area to field_name association is preserved. This segmented approach maintains data integrity by breaking the label-database link while preserving the reusable object-field structure, eliminating re-association work and improving productivity.
4Reliability
If object-area and field_name associations are disassociated with label-file disassociation, then complete data independence is achieved, but the system becomes more complex and harder to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies association management by segmenting the association hierarchy into independent layers. The object-area to field_name association becomes a reusable template that can be shared across multiple label files and database files, reducing the overall complexity of association management while maintaining complete data independence when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal device may, in a case where a first association instruction is acquired, store a first association between a label file and a first database file, and, in a case where a second association instruction is acquired, store a second association between a first object area and a first field name. The terminal device may, in a case where a first print instruction is acquired, create N pieces of first print data and send the N pieces of first print data to a label printer. The terminal device may, in a case where a disassociation instruction is acquired under the state where the first association and the second association are stored, disassociate the first association between the label file and the first database file without disassociating the second association between the first object area and the first field name.