Patent Application
20180115667
This application relates generally to multifunction peripherals with a gamification interface. This application relates more particularly to a multifunction peripheral with enhanced usability to generate user fortunes with touchscreen interaction with a virtual depiction of a Japanese Omikuji fortune sequence.
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.
MFPs are essential business tools it a modern office environment. Earlier devices employed discrete mechanical switches or buttons for user device control. As MFPs became more powerful and configurable, device control was accomplished by an on-board computer referred to as an intelligent controller. A controller can be programmed to control MFP functions such as scanning, printing, or copying. A copying operation could be accomplished by controlling the scanner and printer sequentially. Controllers could also function to enable additional device functions such as stapling or hole punching. Increased device functionality lead to a menu driven, touchscreen user interface to enable a user to easily configure an MFP to accomplish a desired document processing job.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the subject application, a system and method for gamification of multifunction peripherals includes a document processing engine for rendering printed output from electronic image files. An intelligent controller of the MFP controls operation of a document processing engine. A sequence of user interactive graphical images of tangible objects is generated on a device touchscreen interface. Device control instructions corresponding to user touchscreen input responsive to the sequence of graphical images are generated and these instructions control operation of the document processing engine.
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.
MFPs are powerful and essential business tools. However, user interaction is straightforward and accomplished with touchscreen menus that are solely geared toward accomplishing a typical document processing operation, such as scanning, printing or copying. While functional, touchscreen device interfaces are extremely unengaging for users, particularly when a user uses a device regularly for the same or similar tasks. The subject application teaches example embodiments of MFPs that accomplish device control in a gamification context. Gamification includes an application of typical elements of game playing (e.g., point scoring, competition with others, rules of play) to other areas of activity to encourage engagement with a product or service. Enhanced user/device interaction is realized with application of game-design elements and game principles in non-game contexts.
In one example embodiment, an MFP is provided with a gamification interface that enables an MFP to mimic Japanese Omikuji, which are random fortunes written on strips of paper at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan. Meaning “sacred lot,” these are usually received by making a small offering and randomly choosing one from a box, hoping for the resulting fortune to be good. The way one obtains omikuji can feel like a lottery drawing. Traditionally one shook a small box containing numbered bamboo sticks until one fell out. The stick had a number on it and according to the number you were given an omikuji by a priest or Miko. This is still possible nowadays, but more common are boxes that are located somewhere on the temple/shrine ground. Fortunes are also picked from a drawer corresponding to the number on the drawn bamboo stick.
MFPs, via their intelligent controllers, are suitably configured to provide an enhanced user experience with gamification, such as by mimicking an omikuji experience.
In accordance with the subject application,
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Traditional omikuji fortunes include a general blessing which can be any one of the following:
Traditional fortunes then list specific aspects of one's life, which may include any number of the following among other possible combinations:
All of the forgoing are suitably stored in and MFP device storage, detailed further below, for retrieval.
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Omikuji fortunes are typically printed on paper for future placement. When the prediction is bad, it is a custom to fold up the strip of paper and attach it to a pine tree or a wall of metal wires alongside other bad fortunes in the temple or shrine grounds. A purported reason for this custom is a pun on the word for pine tree (matsu) and the verb “to wait” (also matsu), the idea being that the bad luck will wait by the tree rather than attach itself to the bearer. In the event of the fortune being good, a bearer typically has two options: he or she can also tie it to the tree or wires so that the fortune has a greater effect or he or she can keep it for luck. Thus, printing of a fortune on specialized paper or stock, such as a strip paper or paper scored for cutting, would be advantageous. Alternatively, scoring 604 may be supplied by generation of a corresponding printed image on hard copy 150.
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Processor 702 is also in data communication with a storage interface 708 for reading or writing to a storage 716, 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 702 is also in data communication with a network interface 710 which provides an interface to a network interface controller (NIC) 714, which in turn provides a data path to any suitable wired or physical network connection 720, or to a wireless data connection via wireless network interface 718. 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 702 is also in data communication with one or more sensors which provide data relative to a state of the device or associated surroundings, such as device temperature, ambient temperature, humidity, device movement and the like.
Processor 702 can also be in data communication with any suitable user input/output (I/O) interface 719 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 712 is a document processor interface 222 suitable for data communication with MFP functional units 750. In the illustrate example, these units include copy hardware 740, scan hardware 742, print hardware 744 and fax hardware 746 which together comprise MFP functional hardware 750. 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. It will be understood that functional units are suitably comprised of intelligent units, including any suitable hardware or software platform.
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. 62/410,534, filed Oct. 20, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62410534 | Oct 2016 | US |
