Relay Program for USB Device Web Content Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing apparatuses face challenges in communicating with devices that do not have an assigned IP address, such as those connected via USB or Bluetooth, as they lack a mechanism to display Web content effectively.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus is designed with an acquisition unit to gather device information, a deciding unit to select a free port number and create an access address, a sharing unit to share this address, and a notification unit to inform the communication unit, enabling the apparatus to detect access and request data from the device via a predetermined interface, thus allowing Web content display even without an IP address.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an information processing apparatus communicates with a device via USB or Bluetooth without an IP address, then the device can be connected and data can be transmitted, but the apparatus cannot display Web content of the device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay program as an intermediary component that runs on the information processing apparatus. This relay program acts as a mediator between the web browser and the USB/Bluetooth connected device, enabling Web content display by receiving HTTP requests from the browser, forwarding them to the device via USB/Bluetooth, and returning the responses. This resolves the contradiction by adding an intermediary layer that bridges the gap between IP-based Web protocols and non-IP device communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay program implements multi-functionality by handling multiple tasks: acquiring device information, determining communication protocols, managing HTTP request forwarding, and coordinating between different communication interfaces. This universal approach allows a single component to enable Web content display across various non-IP connection types (USB, Bluetooth), resolving the limitation of device-specific communication methods.
2Ease of operation
If a relay program is introduced to enable Web content display, then Web content can be shown, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay program implements self-service by automatically acquiring device information, autonomously determining the appropriate communication protocol, and self-configuring the communication parameters. It performs these tasks without requiring manual intervention or complex configuration by the user, thereby reducing the operational complexity despite adding a software component to the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functions into the relay program: device information acquisition, protocol determination, HTTP request handling, and communication coordination. By combining these previously separate functions into a single integrated component, the system reduces overall complexity while maintaining Web content display capability, as the relay program manages all these tasks through a unified architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus connected to a device to which an IP address is not set is provided. The apparatus acquires device information that includes unique information of the device, decides a free port number and decide an address, which includes the decided port number, as an access destination for acquiring data from the device, shares the address with an access source, and notifies the unique information and the port number, wherein, when the access source accesses the shared address, the access is detected based on the port number and data is requested from the device corresponding to the unique information, and when the data is received from the device, the data is transmitted to the access source.