Customizing Print Setting Screens via General-Purpose Programs
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no known configuration for customizing the print setting screen displayed by the OS-standard general-purpose print program in an information processing device, limiting the ability to tailor the print settings according to specific printer specifications.
Innovation Solution
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores instructions that read setting data for customizing the print setting screen, generating display data based on this data, and sending it to the general-purpose print program to display the screen accordingly, allowing for customization of the print settings screen in accordance with printer specifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an OS-standard general-purpose print program is used to control the printer, then the printer can be controlled without using a printer driver, but the print setting screen cannot be customized according to printer specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a print setting screen generation unit as an intermediary component that receives printer specification information and generates customized print setting screens. This mediator bridges the gap between the general-purpose print program and printer-specific requirements, allowing customization without needing printer-specific drivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the parameters and content of the print setting screen based on printer specification information. By modifying which setting items are displayed and their configurations according to the specific printer model, the system achieves customization while using a general-purpose print program.
2Ease of operation
If a printer driver is used to customize the print setting screen, then the screen can be tailored to printer specifications, but the system requires additional software beyond the OS-standard program
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the general-purpose print program multi-functional by enabling it to generate customized print setting screens through the integrated print setting screen generation unit. This eliminates the need for separate printer driver software while maintaining customization capabilities, as the same print program handles both general printing and printer-specific customization.
3Ease of operation
If customization data is installed with the print setting application, then the print setting screen can be customized, but this approach is not applicable to OS-standard general-purpose print programs
Solution Approach 1:
The print setting screen generation unit operates autonomously to generate customized print setting screens based on printer specification information. It automatically retrieves necessary printer capabilities and configures the appropriate setting items without requiring manual installation of customization data or user intervention, making it compatible with OS-standard general-purpose print programs.
Data Source
AI summary
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores computer-readable instructions that are compatible with a printer connected with an information processing device and support a general-purpose print program incorporated in advance in an operating system of the information processing device. The instructions are configured to, when executed by a computer of the information processing device, cause the information processing device to read, in response to receiving a processing request from the general-purpose print program when the printer is selected, setting data indicating settings for customizing a print setting screen, generate, based on the settings indicated by the read setting data, display data indicating contents to be displayed on the print setting screen, and send the generated display data to the general-purpose print program, thereby causing the print setting screen to be displayed on a display of the information processing device in accordance with the display data via the general-purpose print program.