Mobile Printing Driver Interceptor and Print Service
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile-computing devices face challenges in identifying and communicating with remote printers, as well as formatting data for printing, due to the need for specific drivers and line-of-sight requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method that establishes a network connection to a remote location, receives a list of available printers, generates a print device context, and uses an application to render information for printing, forwarding device commands to a print service that translates them into printer-ready data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mobile-computing devices use traditional printing methods with specific drivers, then printing can be achieved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to the need for driver installation and configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a print service as an intermediary component that runs on the mobile device and mediates between applications and remote printers. This print service automatically manages driver selection, printer discovery, and data formatting, eliminating the need for users to manually configure drivers or understand printing protocols. The intermediary handles all complexity internally while presenting a simple printing interface to users.
Solution Approach 2:
The print service implements self-service by automatically discovering available remote printers, selecting appropriate drivers based on printer type, and formatting data without user intervention. The system autonomously manages the entire printing workflow from document selection to transmission, reducing user burden to simply initiating the print command.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mobile devices establish network connections to remote printers, then printing capability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to network instability and connection issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing and maintaining network connections to remote printers before actual printing is needed. The print service proactively discovers available printers, tests connectivity, and prepares printing channels in advance, so that when a user initiates a print job, the connection is already validated and ready, reducing the impact of network instability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the print service continuously monitors network connection status and printer availability. When connection issues are detected, the system automatically retries connections, selects alternative printers from the available list, or notifies the user of the status. This feedback loop maintains reliability by adapting to changing network conditions in real-time.
3Productivity
If data is transmitted to remote printers, then printing function is achieved, but loss of information increases due to data format incompatibility between different printer types
Solution Approach 1:
The print service dynamically changes data parameters by automatically detecting the target printer type and transforming the document data into the appropriate format for that specific printer. This includes adjusting data encoding, resolution, color profiles, and command sequences to match the recipient printer's capabilities, ensuring complete information transfer without loss or incompatibility issues.
Data Source
AI summary
A driver for a mobile-computing device. The driver comprises a communication interface for communicatively coupling the driver to an application executing on the mobile-computing device and a print service wirelessly coupled to the mobile-computing apparatus. The driver further comprises an interceptor and a graphics device formatter. The interceptor identifies graphics device commands and forwards graphics device commands issued by the application. The formatter, when enabled, renders information desired to be printed from the mobile-communication device to an intermediate format communicated to the print service.