Voice Controlled Printer Error Notification via Segmented Audio and Visual Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current notification systems for communication apparatuses lack usability, particularly in displaying error messages effectively when multiple errors occur, as they often prioritize and display only the highest-priority error, potentially masking other critical issues from the user.

Innovation Solution

A communication system that includes an audio control device, a management server, and a relay server, which uses voice control and priority tables to notify users of error states and ink states through both audio and visual interfaces, ensuring that high-priority errors are audibly announced while providing detailed status information on screens, including messages and graphics for all errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If only the highest-priority error is displayed, then the notification system is simple and easy to operate, but other critical errors may be overlooked by the user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification system simplicityVSAvoiderror information completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system is segmented into two distinct channels: audio notifications for high-priority errors and screen display notifications for detailed error information. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity in the primary notification channel while preserving complete error information through the secondary channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism that routes different types of error information to appropriate notification channels based on priority levels. High-priority errors are routed to audio notifications for immediate attention, while comprehensive error details are routed to screen displays for complete information delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If multiple errors are displayed simultaneously, then complete error information is provided to the user, but the notification system becomes complex and difficult to use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror information completenessVSAvoidnotification system usability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Different notification channels are assigned different qualities based on their strengths: audio notifications provide simple, immediate alerts for critical errors, while screen displays provide detailed, comprehensive error information. Each channel has optimized characteristics suited to its specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial action by providing only essential error information through audio notifications to maintain simplicity, while providing complete error information through screen displays. This selective information delivery prevents overwhelming the user while ensuring complete error reporting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If voice control is added to the notification system, then user interaction becomes more convenient, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction convenienceVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces traditional mechanical interaction methods (buttons, switches) with voice-based acoustic control. Users can issue commands through speech rather than physical manipulation, significantly improving interaction convenience while the underlying system architecture handles the complexity of voice recognition and processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3582481B1Voice controlled printing system with error notification method
Publication Date: 2023.03.29 CANON KK
  • EP3582481B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3582481B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3582481B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention offers a server system including transmission means for transmitting, based on error information acquired, audio notification information for causing an audio control device to audibly notify a user of information about an error occurring in a communication apparatus. Control is performed such that, in a case where a plurality of errors is occurring in the communication apparatus, based on the audio notification information transmitted, information about a first error from among the plurality of errors is audibly notified to the user by the audio control device, and information about a second error different from the first error from among the plurality of errors is not audibly notified to the user by the audio control device.