Mobile Print Plugin Status Display for Consumables and Errors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile operating systems for printing apparatuses lack the ability to display comprehensive information about the state of a printing apparatus, such as consumable product levels and error status, limiting user convenience.

Innovation Solution

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores an application program that acquires setting values and status information from a printing apparatus, providing this information to the operating system through a print plugin, enabling extended settings and status displays on the user interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a conventional printing system is used in a mobile operating system, then basic print functions are provided, but comprehensive status information about the printing apparatus (such as consumable levels and error status) cannot be displayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestatus informationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a print plugin that communicates with the printing apparatus, an operating system layer that manages information flow, and a user interface that displays status information. This segmentation allows the status information display function to be added without complicating the entire system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A print plugin acts as an intermediary component between the printing apparatus and the mobile operating system. The plugin receives status information from the printing apparatus via communication units and transmits it to the OS, enabling information display without requiring direct integration between the OS and printing apparatus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the printing system displays only setting items, then the user interface remains simple, but users cannot confirm information about consumable products or error status

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidstatus information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The status information display functionality is merged with the existing print settings interface. The user interface combines setting items and status information (consumable levels, error status) into a single unified display, allowing users to access both functions without navigating multiple screens or interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The print plugin is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a communication bridge for basic print operations and as an information transmission channel for status data. This universal component handles multiple tasks without requiring separate dedicated systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250224906A1Information processing apparatus, control method for information processing apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing application

Publication Date: 2025.07.10 CANON KK

AI summary

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores an application program which causes an information processing apparatus to perform a control method including acquiring a setting value set in an object displayed on the information processing apparatus, and providing status information acquired from a printing apparatus and selected based on the acquired setting value acquired in the acquiring to an operating system of the information processing apparatus.