Wireless Credential Transfer for Compact Printing Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in operating touch panels of multi-function machines and printing devices to set up wireless connections due to unfamiliarity and the complexity of selecting SSIDs and inputting passwords, especially when the touch panel is small or absent, making it burdensome to establish wireless connections to access points.
Innovation Solution
A system where a terminal apparatus communicates with a printing device using BLE and Wi-Fi standards to facilitate wireless connections by transmitting SSIDs and passwords to establish communication with access points, allowing users to input information set in the access point through the terminal apparatus, even when the touch panel is small or not attached, thereby simplifying the connection process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless connection settings are performed using the device's own touch panel, then the device can establish wireless connection, but the operation becomes complex and burdensome for users
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a terminal apparatus as an intermediary device to perform wireless connection settings on behalf of the printing device. The terminal apparatus displays available access points and handles password input, while the printing device simply receives the connection credentials automatically. This mediator approach transfers the complex interaction to a device with better display and input capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the printing device display and process wireless settings directly, the invention inverts the roles by having the terminal apparatus perform the display and input operations. The printing device becomes the passive recipient of connection information rather than the active presenter of settings interfaces.
2Area of moving object
If the touch panel size is reduced to make the device compact, then the device becomes more portable, but selecting SSID and inputting password becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal apparatus serves as an intermediary that provides a larger display area and more comfortable input interface for wireless connection settings. The printing device's small touch panel is bypassed for these operations, allowing compact device design without sacrificing input ease.
3Device complexity
If no touch panel is attached to the device, then the device structure is simplified, but wireless connection cannot be configured
Solution Approach 1:
The invention resolves this contradiction by making the terminal apparatus the intermediary that performs all touch panel operations for wireless connection. The printing device only needs to provide and receive connection credentials, eliminating the need for its own touch panel while maintaining full wireless configuration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless connection configuration function is extracted from the printing device and transferred to the terminal apparatus. The printing device retains only the essential function of receiving and using connection credentials, separating the complex UI/interaction requirements from the core printing function.
4Productivity
If the device performs wireless connection autonomously, then the connection process is fast, but users unfamiliar with touch panel operations cannot configure it
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal apparatus acts as an intermediary that combines the speed of automated device-to-device communication with the user-friendliness of a familiar smartphone interface. Users interact with their own device's intuitive UI while the background communication remains efficient and automated.
Data Source
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AI summary
When a terminal apparatus establishes second wireless communication with an access point in compliance with a second wireless communication scheme, a terminal control unit transmits a first network identifier of the access point, the second wireless communication with which is established by the terminal apparatus, to a device. When a first network identifier is included in a list of network identifiers that are acquired by the device by searching a wireless communication network in compliance with a second wireless communication scheme, the terminal control unit causes a first password input screen to be displayed. When a first password is input from the first password input screen, the terminal control unit transmits the first network identifier and the first password to the device, and a device control unit causes a third wireless communication with the access point of which the first network identifier is identified, to be established, based on the first network identifier and the first password.