Proximity Detection for Wireless Image Forming Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inconvenience when trying to connect a mobile terminal to an image forming apparatus due to automatic connections triggered by advertising packets with sufficient signal strength, leading to unwanted connections even when the user is distant from the apparatus.
Innovation Solution
The method involves broadcasting identification packets by the image forming apparatus, allowing the mobile terminal to determine connection requests based on the number and signal strength of received packets within a unit time period, enabling controlled connections only when the user is in proximity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mobile terminal automatically connects to the image forming apparatus when receiving advertising packets with sufficient signal strength, then connection convenience is improved, but unwanted connections occur when the user is distant from the apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter for connection decision from a simple signal strength threshold to a cumulative count of received advertising packets within a specific time period. This parameter transformation allows the system to distinguish between temporary signal fluctuations and genuine proximity, resolving the contradiction by maintaining automatic connection convenience while improving connection accuracy through a more robust proximity detection mechanism.
2Speed
If the mobile terminal uses simple signal strength threshold for connection decision, then connection speed is improved, but connection precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the mobile terminal continuously count received advertising packets before making the connection decision. This pre-measurement approach accumulates proximity evidence over time, enabling more precise proximity detection while maintaining fast connection speed, as the counting process occurs in the background and the connection can be established immediately once the threshold is reached.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an operating method of an image forming apparatus, the operating method including broadcasting a plurality of packets comprising identification information of the image forming apparatus; receiving a connection request comprising the identification information of the image forming apparatus from a mobile terminal which received some packets from among the plurality of broadcasted packets; and connecting to the mobile terminal, based on the connection request, wherein the connection request is transmitted from the mobile terminal when received signal strengths of the some packets received by the mobile terminal are equal to or greater than a first threshold value. In this regard, the first threshold value may indicate a received signal strength greater than a minimum received signal strength at which communication with the mobile terminal is available.