Portable Terminal Mode Switching for Image Formers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users find it cumbersome to operate portable terminals to set communication modes for linking with image forming devices, as they need to switch between card emulation and peer-to-peer modes for logging in and data exchange, respectively.

Innovation Solution

A communication system that automatically sets the portable terminal to the appropriate mode based on the screen displayed on the image forming device, eliminating the need for users to manually select communication modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the portable terminal manually sets the communication mode, then the communication function can be performed, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the need to switch between card emulation mode and peer-to-peer mode

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidtime for mode setting
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The portable terminal automatically determines and switches between card emulation mode and peer-to-peer mode based on the communication mode information received from the image forming device, eliminating the need for manual user intervention in mode selection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the image forming device's communication mode information to automatically adjust the portable terminal's communication mode, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to the required communication scenario

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the portable terminal supports multiple communication modes, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases due to mode switching mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication mode adaptabilityVSAvoidcommunication mode switching complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The portable terminal dynamically switches between card emulation mode and peer-to-peer mode based on real-time communication mode information from the image forming device, allowing the system to adapt its behavior to different operational scenarios without requiring complex manual configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3267591B1Communication system, communication method, and image forming device
Publication Date: 2021.06.30 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC
  • EP3267591B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3267591B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3267591B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention improves user experience when a reader/writer (5) and a portable terminal (7) engage in near field communication by selecting any of two or more communication modes in order to link an image forming device (3) and the portable terminal (7) using near field communication. When a log-in screen is displayed on a display unit (403) of the image forming device (3), the reader/writer (5) and the portable terminal (7) are automatically set to a read communication mode.