IPP Printing Apparatus Vendor Attribute Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard printer drivers lack the capability to fully exhibit the features of printing apparatuses, especially when used with print support applications, due to limited functionality and vendor-specific settings not being reflected correctly in print jobs.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus and method that utilize the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) to determine and apply specific attribute values for print settings, either vendor-defined or standard, based on the presence of specific IPP attribute information in print jobs, ensuring correct functionality with both standard and dedicated printer drivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard printer driver is used, then ease of operation is improved, but printing apparatus capability is not fully exhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a print support application as an intermediary between the standard printer driver and the printing apparatus. This application receives print jobs from the standard driver, adds vendor-specific attribute information, and transmits the enhanced print job to the printing apparatus, thereby enabling full capability utilization without requiring users to manually install vendor-specific drivers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the printing system into three distinct components: the standard printer driver (providing ease of operation), the print support application (providing capability enhancement), and the printing apparatus (receiving enhanced print jobs). This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function while working together to resolve the contradiction
2Adaptability or versatility
If a vendor-specific printer driver is introduced, then printing apparatus capability is fully exhibited, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the print support application pre-process print jobs before they reach the printing apparatus. The application automatically adds necessary vendor-specific attribute information in advance, so that users don't need to manually configure complex driver settings while still achieving full apparatus capability
3Adaptability or versatility
If vendor-specific attribute information is added to print jobs, then printing apparatus capability is exhibited, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the print support application to automatically identify which vendor-specific attribute information is needed for each print job and add it autonomously. The system serves itself by making intelligent decisions about attribute inclusion without requiring manual user configuration, thereby managing complexity internally while maintaining simplicity for users
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes: a printing section that is capable of printing a print job based on Internet Printing Protocol; and a controller that performs a print setting by reflecting a first attribute value being not defined by the Internet Printing Protocol when it is determined that specific Internet Printing Protocol attribute information is included in the received print job, performs a print setting by reflecting a second attribute value being defined by the Internet Printing Protocol when it is determined that the specific Internet Printing Protocol attribute information is not included in the received print job, and controls the printing section, based on the set print setting.