Dynamic Print Driver Management for Digital Cameras
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital cameras, despite their increasing complexity and network capabilities, lack the ability to directly print images to unfamiliar printers without pre-installed software drivers, due to limited storage space.
Innovation Solution
A system is configured with a discovery service on the camera to find available printers and a print driver update manager to obtain and manage compatible print drivers, allowing direct printing and automatic updates, while also deleting drivers to free up space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If digital cameras store multiple print drivers locally, then printing compatibility with various printers is improved, but storage space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a print server as an intermediary component that stores and manages print drivers centrally. Instead of each camera storing multiple drivers locally, the camera communicates with the print server which provides the appropriate driver when needed. This mediator approach allows printing compatibility with various printers while the camera maintains minimal local storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The print server is designed as a universal system that can serve multiple cameras and support multiple printer types. It provides a centralized repository of print drivers that can be dynamically allocated to any camera that needs to print to any supported printer, eliminating the need for each camera to have its own complete set of drivers.
2Ease of operation
If digital cameras pre-install all necessary print drivers, then direct printing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the print driver management functionality from the camera device and places it in a separate print server system. The camera is left with simplified functionality for initiating prints, while the complex driver selection, storage, and management tasks are performed by the external print server. This extraction reduces device complexity while maintaining direct printing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The print server performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring and storing all necessary print drivers in advance. When a camera needs to print, the driver is already prepared and available on the server, eliminating the need for the camera to perform complex driver installation or selection processes.
3Quantity of substance
If digital cameras download print drivers dynamically, then storage space utilization is improved, but network dependency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The print server performs preliminary preparation by having all print drivers ready and stored in advance. This allows the camera to quickly retrieve drivers through simple network queries rather than performing complex dynamic downloads, reducing network dependency and improving reliability.
4Quantity of substance
If digital cameras use a centralized print server, then storage space on camera is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The print server acts as an intermediary that handles all complex driver management tasks centrally. The camera system remains simple in architecture, only needing basic network communication capabilities to interact with the server. The complexity is isolated to the server component rather than being distributed across multiple camera devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for discovering, installing and using a printer device directly from a digital camera is provided. The system eliminates the use of a personal computer as an intermediary in printing images from a digital camera.