Printing Control Program Using Difference Data with General-Purpose Drivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing general-purpose printer drivers do not support printing processing that reduces the amount of data transmitted to the printer using image differences, limiting the ability to optimize data transmission in printing environments.
Innovation Solution
A printing control program and system that includes an acquisition processing unit to acquire printing data from a general-purpose printer driver, a difference processing unit to calculate difference data between previously and newly acquired data, and an instruction processing unit to transmit the difference data to the printer for synthesis-based printing, utilizing a vendor auxiliary application to assist the general-purpose driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If general-purpose printer driver is used, then ease of operation is improved, but data transmission amount cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A printing control program is introduced as an intermediary between the general-purpose printer driver and the printer. This program acquires printing data from the driver, calculates difference data by comparing with previously acquired data, and transmits only the difference data to the printer. The printer then synthesizes the difference data with previously stored data to generate the final printing image, thereby reducing data transmission amount while maintaining ease of operation through the driver interface
Solution Approach 2:
The printing data transmission process is segmented into two parts: the complete printing data is transmitted initially, and subsequent updates transmit only the difference data (changes) from the previous version. This segmentation of data transmission allows the system to reduce the amount of data sent for each update while maintaining the functionality of the general-purpose driver
2Quantity of substance
If image difference processing is implemented, then data transmission amount is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The printing control program serves as a mediator that handles the complexity of image difference calculation and data comparison. It acquires printing data from the general-purpose driver, calculates the difference between current and previous data, and transmits only the necessary difference data to the printer. This intermediary approach concentrates the complexity in a manageable software layer while keeping the driver and printer relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by acquiring and storing printing data from the general-purpose driver before the actual printing process. This previously acquired data is then used as a reference to calculate differences, enabling the system to reduce transmission data by comparing against the stored previous version rather than transmitting complete data each time
Data Source
AI summary
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a printing control program according to one aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to perform acquisition processing, difference processing, and first instruction processing. In the acquisition processing, printing data is acquired from a general-purpose printer driver 16. In the difference processing, difference data between first printing data that is previously acquired printing data and second printing data that is newly acquired printing data is calculated. In the first instruction processing, the difference data is transmitted to a printer, and the printer is caused to perform printing based on synthesized data obtained by synthesizing the first printing data with the difference data.