Patent Application
20230058051
This application relates generally to transferring of electronic files. The application relates more particularly to directed movement of electronic documents between devices with verbal commands.
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.
A typical MFP user interface provides a display and tactile human input. Many MFPs employ a touchscreen where various MFP functions can be displayed for touch selection. As used herein, it is to be understood that a touchscreen may be substituted with any display and tactile entry, such as a keyboard, mouse, switch or the like.
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.
As noted above, MFP functions may be displayed with various screens on a device touchscreen, such as with selectable icons and text input. There are some users that have physical challenges that may prevent or inhibit their use of a touchscreen. Examples may include users with missing appendages or paralysis. In some instances, it may be undesirable for a user to touch a common touchscreen, such as when there is a risk of transmission of germs such as microscopic bacteria, viruses, fungi, or protozoa that can cause disease.
In example embodiments herein, users take advantage of their portable digital devices, such as smartphones or tablet computers, to verbally direct an MFP to send one or more electronic files to a specified location. Transfers can be to any device for which a user has established as a connection having a name supplied by the user. There are several portable device operating systems being used today. The most well-known mobile operating systems include Android, iOS, Windows phone OS, and Symbian. Users of iOS are able to process information and send information to each other using Apple's AirDrop technology. With AirDrop, users having Apple devices running iOS 7, iPadOS 13, OS X 10.10, or later versions, can wirelessly send photos, videos, websites, locations, and more to other nearby devices and Mac computers. AirDrop transfers information using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Both must be turned on. To use AirDrop, a user needs to be signed in with their Apple ID. Transfers are encrypted for security. With iOS devices, there is no ability to transfer files to non-Apple devices, such as MFPs, or devices running Android or Windows operating systems.
In example embodiments herein, a voice activated transfer system enables a phone, computer, or MFP to send files to other phones, other computers or other MFPs using voice commands and Airdrop for Apple systems, Bluetooth technology for non-Apple systems or via embedded software applications in connected devices. This enables touchless file transference which can be accomplished in multiple languages.
Example embodiments herein provide a voice activated transfer program that enables users to use vocal commands to send files to networked devices, such as directing an MFP, desktop, or computer to transfer files to one or more desired locations. This is suitably accomplished with applications or apps on or more devices.
In further example embodiments, the voice activated transfer system users can pre-associate names with their devices of interest. Users need only speak a command, such as “scan document” or “transfer to [named] computer.” Users can also speak into any device running the voice activated transfer system such as their phone, computer or MFP. File transfers via vocal commands are made to another paired device of their choosing. Multiple devices are also suitably paired.
In the system of
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 interface or physical network connection 220, or to a wireless data connection via wireless network interface 218. Example wireless data 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 can also be in data communication with any suitable user input/output (I/O) interface 219 which provides data communication for interfacing with user peripherals, such as displays, keyboards, mice, track balls, touch screens, or the like. Processor 202 can also be in communication with hardware monitor 221, such as a page counter, temperature sensor, toner or ink level sensor, paper level sensor, or the like.
Also in data communication with data bus 212 is a document processor interface 222 suitable for data communication with the document rendering system 200, including MFP functional units. 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. It will be understood that functional units are suitably comprised of intelligent units, including any suitable hardware or software platform. Also in data communication with data bus 212 is Bluetooth interface 226 and audio interface 248. Audio interface 248 provides sound output from speaker 251. Analog data, such as speech, is captured from microphone 252 and converted to digital data via audio interface 248.
Turning now to
In a setup process, user 824 provides input at block 828 to add a connection between a device and a device hosting an application at block 832. This facilitates voice activated transfer 836 to one or more of devices previously set up 846. Realization of a voice activated transfer 836′ from a user 824′ transfers a download file 838 between smartphone 840 and Sarah's desktop computer 844. An audible indicator 848 of a successful file transfer is generated from speaker 852 which is illustrated as associated with computer 844, but can be generated by any suitable device or multiple devices.
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. If a user wishes to test a particular device, they can identify their device of interest in text entry window 152 and hit submit button 156, wherein a test of the device is made and results displayed to the user.
