Terminal Apparatus Wireless Presence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In terminal apparatuses, the inefficiency in working efficiency due to unnecessary connection attempts when trying to establish a Wi-Fi connection with a printer, especially when the printer is not present or powered off, leads to user wait times and reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication schemes, the terminal apparatus determines the presence of a printer using BLE beacon signals, allowing it to display absence screens instead of job instruction screens when the printer is not present, thereby avoiding unnecessary connection attempts and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the terminal apparatus attempts to establish a Wi-Fi connection with the printer without prior presence detection, then the connection establishment process is initiated, but the user experiences unnecessary wait time and reduced working efficiency when the printer is absent or powered off
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal apparatus performs preliminary presence detection using BLE beacon signals before initiating the Wi-Fi connection process. The processing unit checks whether the electronic apparatus is present and powered on by detecting BLE beacons, and only then proceeds to establish a Wi-Fi connection. This preliminary action prevents unnecessary connection attempts and wait times when the printer is absent or powered off.
2Reliability
If the terminal apparatus continuously attempts to establish a Wi-Fi connection with an absent printer, then the connection process is repeatedly initiated, but power consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal apparatus performs preliminary presence detection using BLE beacon signals before initiating the Wi-Fi connection process. The processing unit checks whether the electronic apparatus is present and powered on by detecting BLE beacons, and only then proceeds to establish a Wi-Fi connection. This preliminary action prevents unnecessary connection attempts and wait times when the printer is absent or powered off.
3Device complexity
If the terminal apparatus uses only Wi-Fi for communication, then the connection process is simple, but the apparatus cannot detect the presence of the printer when Wi-Fi is turned off to save power
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal apparatus is equipped with both Wi-Fi and BLE communication units, allowing it to use BLE for presence detection and Wi-Fi for data transmission. The processing unit determines whether the electronic apparatus is present based on BLE beacon signals, and then establishes a Wi-Fi connection for actual job execution. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to detect printer presence even when Wi-Fi is turned off for power saving.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal apparatus includes a first wireless communication interface that performs wireless communication with an electronic apparatus using a first wireless communication scheme, a second wireless communication interface that performs wireless communication with the electronic apparatus using a second wireless communication scheme, and a processor. The processor determines whether or not a designation electronic apparatus that is a target which performs a job in compliance with the first wireless communication scheme is present, based on a result of the wireless communication with the designation electronic apparatus in compliance with the second wireless communication scheme, and, in a case where the designation electronic apparatus is not present, performs processing that displays a screen for the absence, on a display unit.