Gadget Printer Object Deletion for Error Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for gadgets, such as widgets, do not effectively manage the allocation and deletion of printer objects, leading to situations where a widget may receive instructions intended for a deleted printer object, resulting in operational inefficiencies and user confusion.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with an allocation unit for assigning printer objects to device objects, an instruction unit for managing printer driver usage, and a deletion unit for removing device objects when corresponding printer objects are deleted, ensuring proper output functionality and user interface management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a gadget is allocated to a printer object, then the gadget can receive printing instructions from users, but the gadget may continue to receive instructions even after the printer object is deleted, causing operational errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegadget operabilityVSAvoidprinter operation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the existence status of printer objects allocated to gadgets and provides feedback by automatically deleting gadgets whose associated printer objects no longer exist. This feedback mechanism prevents erroneous operations on deleted printer objects while maintaining gadget functionality when printer objects are available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary deletion of gadgets before users can issue printing instructions to them. By proactively removing gadgets whose printer objects have been deleted, the system prevents potential operational errors before they can occur, rather than waiting for error conditions to manifest.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the gadget management system automatically deletes gadgets when printer objects are deleted, then operational errors are prevented, but the system complexity increases due to allocation and deletion management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinter operation reliabilityVSAvoidgadget management system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gadget deletion functionality is merged with the existing printer object management system. The same allocation unit that manages printer object allocations also handles gadget deletions, and the deletion unit integrates with existing printer driver management infrastructure. This consolidation avoids creating separate complex management systems while achieving reliable automatic gadget deletion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9030683B2Information processing apparatus, control method, and storage medium with deletion unit deleting a virtual device object

Publication Date: 2015.05.12 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus performs, when an instruction is received on a gadget from a user and a printer object allocated to the gadget exists, processing using a printer driver allocated to the printer object, and displays, when an instruction is received on the gadget from the user and the printer object allocated to the gadget does not exist, a setting screen for the gadget.