Patent Publication Number: US-11662958-B2

Title: System and method for identification and location of user identified feature specific printers

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/797,179 filed on Feb. 21, 2020, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. utility patent application for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application relates generally to printing via portable data devices such as smartphones or tablet computers. The application relates more particularly to identifying to users available printers that meet the user&#39;s current needs, and guiding users to a selected printer&#39;s location. 
     BACKGROUND 
     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 typically used in networked environments so the devices can be shared by multiple users. Early systems employed user workstations connected to MFPs via a data network. More recently, printing is undertaken in conjunction with wireless networking employing portable user devices such as smartphones and tablets. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is an example embodiment of a system for identification and location of user identified, feature specific printers; 
         FIG.  2    is an example embodiment of a networked digital device such as a multifunction peripheral; 
         FIG.  3    is an example embodiment of a portable user device such as a smartphone or tablet computer; 
         FIG.  4    is a hardware block diagram of example embodiment of an MFP used in connection identification and location of user identified, feature specific printers; 
         FIG.  5    is an example embodiment of communication flow between a multifunction peripheral and a portable user data device; 
         FIG.  6    is a first example embodiment of a user touchscreen device display sequence for a mobile app printing device search; 
         FIG.  7    is a second example embodiment of a user touchscreen device display sequence for a mobile app printing device search; and 
         FIG.  8    is a flowchart of an example embodiment of an identification and location of user identified, feature specific MFPs. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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. 
     The adoption of mobile devices and apps in a business environment has benefited staffs and faculties tremendously by providing them with flexibility and work portability, allowing them to submit their jobs from anywhere with network connection. Users are can process and manage their documents with MFP service using applications from their mobile device, such as smartphones and tablet computers. The user may be required to know an MFP&#39;s address, such as its IP address, functionalities and location in order to use its capabilities. However, users may not be aware of a device&#39;s capabilities, and knowing a device&#39;s address is of no help to a user who may not know where an MFP is physically located. 
     Portable data devices may use a suitable MFP interface system to interact with devices in their network. An example is with installation of an e-BRIDGE Print &amp; Capture app by Toshiba TEC. Devices so configured allow users to output data easily from mobile devices and from files stored in the cloud. When there&#39;s a sudden need to output a document, as on a business trip, users can get it right away. Data scanned by an MFP can be downloaded to a mobile device or uploaded to the cloud for easy data sharing. 
     In addition to the forgoing, it would be advantageous to enable user to search for specific printer&#39;s capabilities in the network, such as firmware, model, functionalities, distance, and the like rather than just provide the user with a list of nearby printers by IP address or name. Users may wish to only discover printers with specific properties in accordance with their print requirements. In addition, when the user finds the IP address, they cannot determine the location of the MFP. The user may be able to connect to the device, but cannot determine the location to which their job is physically being sent. This can cause problems when the user has no prior knowledge of the MFP&#39;s location, such as with a new employee or a visitor, or when an IP address of the MFP changes. 
     Example embodiments herein teach a dynamic search for printers&#39; capabilities that allows the user to input keywords or phrases when trying to locate specific printers nearby which meet their needs. When the user is returned with the list of nearby printers, each printer&#39;s proximity is displayed. With a user selection, such as by clicking on a “GO” button, a map application is launched. The map application uses the printer&#39;s geo location queried from the printer as the destination coordinate, commencing at a current location of the user&#39;s device. 
     In accordance with the subject application,  FIG.  1    illustrates an example embodiment of a system  100  for identification and location of user identified, feature specific printers, such as MFPs. The example illustrates MFPs  104 ,  108 ,  112  and  116 , all of which are with a device search perimeter  120  associated with portable user device  124 , illustrated as a smartphone. Device in the illustration are in mutual data communication via network cloud  128 , suitably comprised of any wireless or wired network, such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) which may comprise the Internet, or any suitable combination thereof. Example wireless data exchange is via Wi-Fi, such as with access point  132 . 
     Devices of  FIG.  1    are associated with a location. The MFPs, for example, may be supplied with location information when they are installed. MFPs generally operate from a fixed location once installed, so this information would be static until such time a device may be relocated. Positioning information may also be determined for MFPs by any suitable positioning system, such by use of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Positioning outside of the reach of a GPS beacon may be done by a suitable indoor positioning system such as Wi-Fi positioning, for example when a device connects to one or more Wi-Fi access points or hotspots having known locations. In such situations, further location information can determined by relative signal strength of a Wi-Fi connection. Indoor position information may also be obtained by use of beacon information other than GPS. For example, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons, such as BLE beacon  136 , can be positioned in known locations on a premises and broadcast their position information. Unlike statically placed MFPs, the position of a smartphone  124  is transient. Accordingly, determination of its position is suitably accomplished wirelessly, such as with the examples detailed above. 
     Also illustrated in  FIG.  1    is touchscreen input display  140  of smartphone  124 . As will be detailed further below, such a device user interface is suitably used to secure a user&#39;s printer capability requirements to list one or more devices in their corresponding search perimeter that meet those needs. In the example, MFPs have different capabilities, such as different finishing options, such as color, hole punching, stapling, duplexing, or the like. A user may wish to isolate a subset of compatible MFPs to those having specified software or firmware, including software versions. Display  140  provides indicia as to available MFPs, along with a distance or duration to be reached by the smartphone user. Calculated distance can generate an approximate time to walk from an original position of a user device to a selected MFP. Although walking speeds can vary greatly depending on many factors such as height, weight, age, terrain, surface, load, culture, effort, and fitness, it has been found, for example, that the average human walking speed is about 5.0 kilometers per hour (km/h), or about 1.4 meters per second (m/s), or about 3.1 miles per hour (mph). Other factors that can influence a user&#39;s MFP selection decision include whether the user chooses to remain in a current building or on a current floor. Time to ascend or descend staircases, or average elevator wait/transport times can also be factored in. 
     When a user makes a selection of an MFP from the listed subset, the system provides map information, suitably showing the selected device location and routing to get there. In the example of  FIG.  1   , data storage and calculations to accomplish the forgoing are suitably accomplished on one or more MFPs, the user device, or a network server, such as server  144 . 
     Turning now to  FIG.  2    illustrated is an example embodiment of a networked digital device comprised of document rendering system  200  suitably comprised within an MFP, such as with MFPs  104 ,  108 ,  112  and  116  of  FIG.  1   . It will be appreciated that an MFP includes an intelligent controller  201  which is itself a computer system. Included in controller  201  are one or more processors, such as that illustrated by processor  202 . Each processor is suitably associated with non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM)  204 , and random access memory (RAM)  206 , via a data bus  212 . 
     Processor  202  is also in data communication with a storage interface  208  for reading or writing data with 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 a wireless network interface, such as WiFi  218 . Example wireless connections include cellular, Wi-Fi, 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. Wireless connection information is suitably used for a determination of location as noted above. Processor  202  is also in data communication with a hardware monitor  221 , suitably amassing state data from subassemblies, sensors, digital thermometers, or the like, and suitably including digital state date including device codes, such as device error codes. Processor  202  can also be in data communication a document processor interface  222 , with Bluetooth interface  226  and NFC interface  228  via data path  212 . Bluetooth interface  226  suitably comprises a data interface from a BLE beacon for location determination as noted above. 
     Processor  202  can also be in data communication with any suitable user input/output (I/O) interface (not shown) which provides data communication with user peripherals, such as displays, keyboards, mice, track balls, touch screens, or the like. 
     Document processor interface  222  is suitable for data communication with MFP functional units  250 . In the illustrate example, these units include a copy engine, suitably comprised of copy hardware  240 , a scan engine, suitably comprised of scan hardware  242 , a print engine, suitably comprised of print hardware  244  and a fax engine, suitably comprised of fax hardware  246 . These subsystems 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. 
     Turning now to  FIG.  3   , illustrated is an example of a digital device system  300  suitably comprising smartphone  124  of  FIG.  1   . Included are one or more processors, such as that illustrated by processor  304 . Each processor is suitably associated with non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM)  310  and random access memory (RAM)  312 , via a data bus  314 . 
     Processor  304  is also in data communication with a storage interface  306  for reading or writing to a data storage system  308 , suitably comprised of a hard disk, optical disk, solid-state disk, or any other suitable data storage as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Processor  304  is also in data communication with a network interface controller (NIC)  330 , which provides a data path to any suitable network or device connection, such as a suitable wireless data connection via wireless network interface  338 . A suitable data connection to an MFP or server is via a data network, such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), which may comprise the Internet, or any suitable combination thereof. A digital data connection is also suitably directly with an MFP or server, such as via Bluetooth, optical data transfer, Wi-Fi direct, or the like. 
     Processor  304  is also in data communication with a user input/output (I/O) interface  340  which provides data communication with user peripherals, such as touch screen display  344  via display generator  346 , as well as keyboards, mice, track balls, touch screens, or the like. It will be understood that functional units are suitably comprised of intelligent units, including any suitable hardware or software platform. Processor  304  is also in data communication with Bluetooth Interface  348  and GPS interface  350 , one or both being usable for location determination as noted above. 
       FIG.  4    is a hardware block diagram  400  of an MFP used in connection identification and location of user identified, feature specific printers. Controller  404  interfaces with printing system  408 , as well as user I/O interface  412 . I/O interface  412 , in turn, interacts with a user interface including display  416 . Display elements  420  include display output from printer applications  422 , background images  424  and icons  426  which are suitably stored in printer storage  418 . Also in data communication with controller  404  is a document finishing system  430  which includes printer properties, such as document rendering properties  438 . In the illustrated example, these include finisher properties  440 , such as collating, stapling or hole punching, toner color properties  442 , paper size properties  444  and location data  446 . Document rendering properties are suitably selectable by users via their portable data devices. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates an example embodiment of communication flow  500  between MFP  504  and portable user data device  508 , such as a smartphone or tablet computer. Data device  508  requests location information from MFP  504  at block  512 . MFP  504  responds by supplying the device with its location data at block  516 . Device  508  obtains user device needs, filters for compatible MFPs and displays results to a user at block  518 . Navigation software is used to guide the user to a selected MFP at block  520 . 
       FIG.  6    illustrates an example embodiment of a user touchscreen device display sequence  600  for a mobile app device search. Display  604  illustrates device discovery mode wherein desired device properties may be input by selection of button  612  or other user search criteria entered by selection button  616 . In the example, button  612  is selected and search button  614  is then selected, resulting in generation of display  608  showing selectable printer properties  620 . In this particular example, after selection of button  612 ′ and search button  614 ′ the user is given a drop down option of printer capabilities such as COLOR MODE, TONER MODE, DUPLEX, DISTANCE, along with an option to display more options. For each drop down option, the user can enter specific keywords or phrases associated with each option using selection button  616 ′. 
       FIG.  7    illustrates a user device display sequence  700 , suitably following user selections made in connection with  FIG.  6   . The sequence includes screens  704 ,  708  and  712 . Screen  704  displays a subset of MFPs  716  that satisfy the user&#39;s requirements. MFPs in the subset are displayed associatively with distances from the user, such as distance  720 . Also suitably displayed is associated status information, such as paper out notification  724 . When the user selects an MFP from display  704 , screen  708  is generated showing that their job is being sent to their selected device. If the user desires navigation assistance to find their selected device, they may select navigation button  730  which then causes generation of screen  712 . Screen  712 , generated with any suitable software, such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, or other mapping software. In screen  712 , the user is also shown graphically their location  734  and their selected MFP location  736  on a map  732 . 
       FIG.  8    is a flowchart  800  of an example embodiment of operations of a system for identification and location of user identified, feature specific MFPs. The process commences at block  804  and proceeds to block  808  where a user is prompted on their device to enter their printer requirements. These are entered at block  812 , and a subset of MFPs that meet the user requirements is generated at block  816 . Location information for MFPs in the subset is obtained at block  820 , and a location of the user device is obtained at block  824 . Distances between the user device and MFPs of the subset is calculated at block  828 , and this information is displayed associatively with the subset of MFPs, along with an estimated duration for the user to get to each MFP at block  832 . A user selection from the displayed subset is received at block  836  and a map generated and displayed at block  840 . If the user elects to receive routing to the selected MFP at block  844 , routing is displayed at block  848  before the process ends at block  852 . If no routing is requested at block  844 , the process proceeds directly to end block  852 . 
     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.