Patent Application
20180115454
This application relates generally to document processing operations on networked multifunction peripherals. The application relates more particularly to interaction between a multifunction peripheral and a portable user device invoked by a device beacon.
Document processing devices include printers, copiers, scanners and e-mail gateways. More recently, devices employing two or more of these functions are found in office environments. These devices are referred to as multifunction peripherals (MFPs) or multifunction devices (MFDs). As used herein, MFPs are understood to comprise printers, alone or in combination with other of the afore-noted functions. It is further understood that any suitable document processing device can be used.
Given the expense in obtaining and maintain MFPs, devices are frequently shared or monitored by users or technicians via a data network. MFPs, while moveable, are generally maintained in a fixed location. Until more recent times, users, which may include individuals or groups such as employees, administrators or technicians administrators of networked MFPs, were also generally in relatively fixed location. A user would typically communicate documents or other information from his or her office or workstation to an MFP. An administrator or technician would also monitor devices from a workstation.
Users may send document processing jobs, such as a print request, to one or more networked document processing devices. In a typical shared device setting, one or more workstations are connected via a network. When a user wants to print a document, an electronic copy of that document is sent to a document processing device via the network. The user may select a particular device when several are available. The user then walks to the selected device and picks up their job or waits for the printed document to be output. In a shared MFP environment, a user may be required to login to an MFP before a job will print. This is particularly useful when a user does not wish others to see their printed document
User devices have become increasingly mobile. Devices include portable notebook computers, handheld devices such as tablet computers, smartphones, or the like. Many users will have their devices with them throughout the day, particularly in the case of smartphones. Mobile users may not even be aware of what MFP resources are around them.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the subject application, a system and method for beacon invoked multifunction peripheral operation includes a document processing system which includes a wireless data beacon associated with an MFP, which broadcasts beacon identification data. A network interface receives user identification data from a portable data device corresponding to the beacon identification data, and the device sends output job queue status data to the portable data device in accordance with an address associated with the user identification data.
In accordance with another example embodiment a BLUETOOTH interface of a portable data device receives a device identifier from an associated BLUETOOTH low energy beacon. The device communicates user identification data via a network interface to a document processing device corresponding to a received device identifier. The network interface then receives status data from the document processing device which is displayed on a device display.
Various embodiments will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:
The systems and methods disclosed herein are described in detail by way of examples and with reference to the figures. It will be appreciated that modifications to disclosed and described examples, arrangements, configurations, components, elements, apparatuses, devices methods, systems, etc. can suitably be made and may be desired for a specific application. In this disclosure, any identification of specific techniques, arrangements, etc. are either related to a specific example presented or are merely a general description of such a technique, arrangement, etc. Identifications of specific details or examples are not intended to be, and should not be, construed as mandatory or limiting unless specifically designated as such.
When a user sends a print job to an MFP, they may walk to the device to determine if it is printed out, logging in if necessary. A user may mistakenly send a job to one device, and walk to another device only to find out their print job is unprinted. They may login to the MFP in order to see whether their job is pending, printed or missing. They may also notice a device error condition that prevents their job from being processed as desired. Such user/device interactions can be frustrating for users and waste considerable time. In example embodiments herein, a user's proximity to an MFP can be determined automatically by providing an MFP with a device beacon.
Suitable beacons include BLUETOOTH low energy (BLE) devices that broadcast an identifier to nearby portable electronic devices. Other suitable beacons include wireless radio frequency communication, such as near-field communication (NFC) devices, or optical data communication devices, such as infrared. Beacons may be purchased as standalone devices. Beacon devices are relatively inexpensive and can be battery powered. Beacons can be programmed to broadcast specified information to nearby devices. Beacons can be placed in any suitable location, including on or near an MFP device. Beacons may also be integrated into an MFP and may also be synthesized by programming of a bi-directional BLUETOOTH interface.
By way of further example, Apple, Inc. has its own beacon BLE version called iBeacon and Google, Inc. has its own version called Eddystone, formerly called UriBeacon. Beacons transmit a universally unique identifier (UUID) that can be picked up receiving hardware running in concert with any compatible application or operating system. iBeacon broadcasts a UUID information packet having a unique ID number comprising three parts, UUID, Major and Minor. Eddystone broadcasts three packets including a UUID, a universal resource locator (URL) and sensor telemetry data providing information as to the beacon's status or health.
Broadcasting Power (or Transmit Power) is the power with which the beacon broadcasts its signal. Broadcasting Power directly impacts signal range. The more power, the longer the range. Beacons do not broadcast constantly. They ‘blink’ instead. Advertising Interval describes the time between each blink. A Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is the strength of the beacon's signal as seen on the receiving device, such as a smartphone or tablet computer. The signal strength depends on distance and Broadcasting Power value. For a typical beacon, at maximum broadcasting power (+4 dBm), an RSSI may range from −26 (a few inches) to −100 (40-50 m distance). RSSI may be used to approximate a distance between the device and the beacon using another value defined by the iBeacon standard. External factors influencing radio waves, such as absorption, interference, or diffraction, may cause an RSSI to fluctuate. The further away the device is from the beacon, the more unstable the RSSI becomes. Measured Power is a factory-calibrated, read-only constant which indicates the expected RSSI at a distance of 1 meter to the beacon. When combined with RSSI, one can estimate the distance between the device and the beacon. iBeacon defines four proximity zones for estimating the distance to a beacon:
These zones, or any other suitable beacon strength zones, are suitably used by a portable device to determine relative proximity and may be used as thresholds for triggering certain events. Alternatively, a portable user device may simply determine that it is sufficiently proximate to an MFP when it is in range to capture its UUID.
In accordance with the subject application,
Once user device 120 has identified an address of MFP 104, device 120 sends identifying information 140, suitably login information for user 116, to MFP 104. A user 116 may have previously routed a print job to MFP 104, or may send a print job 144 directly from their device 120. Once MFP 104 has identified device 120, the MFP 104 captures its status data and communicates the status information via network 136 to user device 120 to generate a corresponding user display. Status information may include print queue information, such as print queue waiting time 148. Status information may also show jobs in the print queue allowing the user 116 to see their relative position. Status information can also include MFP device errors, like malfunction conditions, out-of-toner conditions, out-of-paper conditions, or the like. The user 116 can view this display on their device 120 even as they approach MFP 104, and when they arrive, they are also suitably logged in without further effort.
Turning now to
Processor 202 is also in data communication with a storage interface 208 for reading or writing to a storage 216, suitably comprised of a hard disk, optical disk, solid-state disk, cloud-based storage, or any other suitable data storage as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Processor 202 is also in data communication with a network interface 210 which provides an interface to a network interface controller (NIC) 214, which in turn provides a data path to any suitable wired or physical network connection 220, or to a wireless data connection via wireless network interface 218. Example wireless connections include cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, wireless universal serial bus (wireless USB), satellite, and the like. Example wired interfaces include Ethernet, USB, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Lightning, telephone line, or the like. Processor 202 is also in data communication with BLUETOOTH Interface 221 which may be programmed to function as a device beacon as noted above.
Processor 202 can also be in data communication with any suitable user input/output (I/O) interface 219 which provides data communication with user peripherals, such as displays, keyboards, mice, track balls, touch screens, or the like.
Also in data communication with data bus 212 is a document processor interface 222 suitable for data communication with MFP functional units 250. In the illustrated example, these units include copy hardware 240, scan hardware 242, print hardware 244 and fax hardware 246 which together comprise MFP functional hardware 250. Hardware monitors suitably provide device event data, working in concert with suitable monitoring systems. By way of further example, monitoring systems may include page counters, sensor output, such as consumable level sensors, temperature sensors, power quality sensors, device error sensors, door open sensors, and the like. Data is suitably stored in one or more device logs, such as in storage 216. It will be understood that functional units are suitably comprised of intelligent units, including any suitable hardware or software platform.
Controller 201 is suitably provided with an embedded web server system for device configuration and administration. A suitable web interface is comprised of TOPACCESS Controller (sometimes referred to in the subject illustrations as “TA”), available from Toshiba TEC Corporation.
Turning now to
Referring next to
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the spirit and scope of the inventions.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/410,516, filed Oct. 20, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62410516 | Oct 2016 | US |
