Communication Terminal Automatic Output Destination Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems face difficulties in seamlessly performing output processes across different network environments, requiring users to manually configure settings for communication terminals, information processing apparatuses, and printers, which complicates the process.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a communication terminal with a connection status detection unit, request output unit, and output destination switching unit, which automatically determines and switches the output destination based on network connections, utilizing a relay server to facilitate communication between devices on different networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration of network settings is performed for each apparatus, then communication reliability between devices on different networks is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The communication terminal automatically detects network environments and determines transmission destinations without requiring manual user configuration. The terminal performs self-service by autonomously checking connection statuses of the information processing apparatus and output apparatus, and deciding whether to transmit execution requests directly or via relay, thereby eliminating the need for users to manually configure network settings while maintaining communication reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The communication terminal implements a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring and checking the connection statuses of the information processing apparatus and output apparatus. Based on the detected network environment and connection status feedback, the terminal dynamically adjusts its transmission strategy, switching between direct transmission and relay transmission modes to ensure reliable communication across different network configurations
2Ease of operation
If automatic detection of network environment is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay server as an intermediary component that simplifies the communication terminal's complexity. When direct communication between the information processing apparatus and output apparatus is not possible due to network constraints, the relay server mediates the transmission of execution requests and data, allowing the terminal to maintain simple automatic detection logic while handling complex cross-network scenarios through the intermediary relay mechanism
3Adaptability or versatility
If relay server is used for cross-network communication, then adaptability to different network environments is improved, but communication cost worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The communication terminal implements dynamic adaptability by automatically adjusting its transmission strategy based on the detected network environment. The terminal dynamically switches between direct transmission mode (when information processing apparatus and output apparatus are on the same network) and relay transmission mode (when they are on different networks), ensuring optimal adaptability to various network configurations while minimizing communication costs by avoiding unnecessary relay server usage
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A communication terminal (50), upon receiving an input of an execution instruction that instructs to execute an outputting process for outputting electronic data stored in an information processing apparatus (60) by using an output apparatus (70), obtains connection status of each of the communication terminal (50), the information processing apparatus (60), and the output apparatus (70); depending on the obtained connection status, the communication terminal determines a transmission destination of an execution request to execute the outputting process, and generates the execution request; when the determined transmission destination is the information processing apparatus (60), the execution request includes a first execution request including information that identifies the electronic data, and information that identifies the output apparatus (70); when the determined transmission destination is the output apparatus (70), the execution request includes a second execution request including information that identifies the electronic data, and information that identifies the information processing apparatus (60); when the determined transmission destination is the information processing apparatus (60) and the output apparatus (70), the execution request includes a third execution request including an obtaining request for obtaining the electronic data to be transmitted to the information processing apparatus (60), and a fourth execution request including an output request for outputting the electronic data to be transmitted to the output apparatus (70).