Method and apparatus for implementing near field communications with a printer

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure provide systems, methods, and apparatuses for leveraging near field communications (NFC) in conjunction with printer devices. Examples of the disclosure provide for novel methods of interfacing with printers configured to use near field communications using NFC enabled readers and output media. Examples include using a smart phone to access data stored on an NFC tag associated with the printer. The data provided by the NFC tag may include printer status information, printer configuration information, network information, or other data relating to operation and maintenance of the printer. The printer may also encode the NFC tag dynamically, including encoding data to NFC tags included on print media. The printer may encode an NFC tag associated with media with a variety of information in support of various use cases.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This non-provisional application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 601,496, filed Feb. 21, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Patent 61 / 712,684, filed Oct. 11, 2012, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the field of communications technology, and more particularly, example embodiments relate to implementing near field communications (NFC) with a printer.TECHNICAL BACKGROUND[0003]As technology advances, it is more and more common for electronic devices to have the ability to communicate with one another to streamline common tasks. Various wired and wireless protocols have been developed to allow machines to communicate with one another, such as 802.11, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and others. These protocols allow common devices to transmit data directly to and from one-another, allowing for efficient and fast interaction...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a technology called near field communication (NFC) that allows two devices to communicate with each other when they are close to each other. This technology can be used in conjunction with a printer to allow the printer to communicate with a reader or a peer-to-peer device. The NFC technology can be used in various ways to enhance the functionality of the printer, such as by allowing it to establish a remote interface with the printer, provide instructions for downloading or installing applications, or provide information about the printer's status. The patent also describes how the NFC technology can be used to provide data to the printer through an NFC tag, which can be embedded in the printer. Overall, the technology described in the patent allows for more efficient and convenient communication between devices and printers.

Problems solved by technology

However, the limitations of 802.11 and other such protocols become apparent when considering scenarios with multiple devices in proximity with one another, or where physical proximity is desirable.

If the user does not know the network address of the printer with which the user intends to interact, it may not be immediately apparent how to access the printer on the network.

The range and sophistication of these protocols may also present drawbacks in many other use cases, including when performing maintenance operations and when detecting a particular printer's configuration.

Finally, during initial setup and configuration, printers may not be able to access a local network, making the use of prior art network protocols impractical.

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