Application Device Driver Association Registration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information processing systems face challenges in associating new application versions with device drivers, leading to the need for new device driver releases, even if the driver is common across multiple device models, limiting the utilization of device drivers for future models.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that registers applications based on device types, allowing for updates in association information independently of device drivers, enabling seamless integration of new applications with existing or future device drivers without requiring new driver releases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an application is registered based on device driver information when installing a device driver, then the application can be uniquely determined with respect to a device driver, but a new device driver needs to be released when a new application version is released, even if the device driver is common for multiple device models

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication-device driver association reliabilityVSAvoiddevice driver adaptability to new applications

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the association between applications and devices by introducing device type information as a separate registration key, independent of device driver information. This allows applications to be registered under device types (e.g., scanner, printer) rather than being tied to specific driver versions, enabling new applications to be associated with existing device drivers without requiring new driver releases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces device type information as an intermediary element between applications and device drivers. Instead of directly associating applications with device drivers, the system uses device type as a mediator to establish indirect associations, allowing applications to be linked to device types which in turn are associated with device drivers. This intermediary layer enables flexible reassociation without driver changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If a common device driver is used for multiple device models including future models, then device driver production efficiency is improved, but the device driver cannot be associated with new applications without releasing a new driver version

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice driver production efficiencyVSAvoiddevice driver association flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic association capabilities where the relationship between applications and device drivers is not fixed but can be changed. By registering applications under device types rather than binding them to specific driver versions, the system allows dynamic reassociation of applications with different driver versions, enabling a single common driver to serve multiple applications and device models flexibly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables device drivers to serve multiple functions by allowing a single device driver to be associated with multiple applications through the device type mechanism. The device driver becomes universal rather than specific to one application, as the same driver can support various applications by registering them under the appropriate device type categories.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If application registration is tied to device driver installation, then the registration process is simplified, but updating application associations requires driver reinstallation or new driver versions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication registration process simplicityVSAvoidtime for application updates

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the application registration process from the device driver installation process. By separating these two operations, applications can be registered independently under device types without requiring driver installation. This extraction allows application updates to occur independently of driver versions, eliminating the need for driver reinstallation when applications need to be updated or reassociated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9661172B2Information processing apparatus, information processing method and storage medium with separate device driver installation and application registration processing

Publication Date: 2017.05.23 CANON KK

AI summary

There is provided an information processing apparatus that can reliably associate a device driver with an application even without updating the device driver itself. To achieve this, the information processing apparatus is provided with a registration unit capable of registering and updating association information between information for managing a device and a predetermined application regardless of whether a device driver is installed. This allows management by separating installation of a device driver from registration processing of an application.