Management Server for Dynamic Printer Driver Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing image forming systems, when a user moves a PC to a new location, the printer driver settings are not automatically updated to reflect the capabilities of the new location's MFPs, leading to unavailable functions like stapling unless manual changes are made, and all functions remain selectable even if not available at the new location.
Innovation Solution
A management server that manages network information and print performance for each location, identifies the PC's new location upon network setting changes, and transmits the appropriate printer driver settings to the PC, ensuring that only available functions are enabled at the new location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a general-purpose printer driver is registered to a PC to enable printing from any MFP in a same location, then printing functionality is enabled across locations, but the device setting cannot automatically adapt to different location capabilities causing function unavailability
Solution Approach 1:
The printer driver settings are made dynamic by automatically changing device settings based on the PC's current location. The management server receives notification of network setting changes, identifies the new location, and transmits appropriate device settings to update the printer driver without manual intervention, allowing the system to adapt dynamically to different location capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by having the PC notify the management server when network settings change, allowing the server to detect the location change and respond by transmitting updated device settings. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the printer driver settings automatically reflect the current location's MFP capabilities
2Adaptability or versatility
If all settings for print performance of a general driver registered in the PC are kept ON, then all printer functions are selectable, but functions unavailable at the new location remain selectable causing incorrect operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by configuring printer driver settings specifically for each location's MFP capabilities. Instead of using uniform settings across all locations, the management server transmits location-specific device settings that match the actual capabilities of MFPs at each location, ensuring settings are appropriately tailored to local conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by dynamically adjusting device settings based on location identification. When the PC moves to a new location, the management server receives network setting change notification, identifies the new location, and transmits updated device settings that modify printer driver parameters to match the new location's MFP capabilities, ensuring accurate function availability
3Reliability
If the user manually changes the device setting of the registered printer driver each time the user moves across locations, then the proper MFP function becomes available, but time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically updating printer driver settings without requiring user intervention. The PC automatically notifies the management server of network setting changes, and the server automatically transmits the appropriate device settings, eliminating the need for manual settings adjustment and reducing time loss while maintaining reliable function availability
Data Source
AI summary
A management server connected, to a plurality of image forming devices and an information processing device having a printer driver is provided. The server manages, for each location, network information and information of print performance of an image forming device belonging to the location; identifies a location to which the information processing device belongs, based on the network information, upon receiving from the information processing device a notification that network setting of the information processing device has been changed; and transmits, to the information processing device, a device setting of the printer driver based on information of print performance corresponding to an image forming device belonging to the location being identified.