Print Conversion Utility for OS Standard Format Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
In environments using the OS standard print function, printers not compatible with this standard face issues in interpreting print data formats, leading to incorrect paper size selections and desired print results, such as borderless printing being misinterpreted as oversize printing, resulting in unintended margins and print output.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a print conversion utility that converts print data from an OS standard format to a printer-specific format, allowing printers not compatible with the OS standard print function to interpret and process print jobs correctly, ensuring accurate paper size conversions and desired print outcomes by determining the appropriate data conversion method based on user settings and printer capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If OS standard print function is used, then print compatibility and standardization are improved, but paper size interpretation accuracy deteriorates for non-compatible printers
Solution Approach 1:
A print conversion utility is introduced as an intermediary component between the OS standard print function and non-compatible printers. This utility receives print data in the standard format, converts it to printer-specific formats, and transmits it to the printing apparatus, thereby enabling compatible printers to function with non-compatible hardware while maintaining accurate paper size interpretation.
2Measurement precision
If conventional specific printer driver is used, then paper size display accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases due to vendor-specific requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the paper size conversion functionality from the complex vendor-specific printer driver and relocates it to a separate, OS-level print conversion utility. This allows the printer driver to remain simple and OS-standard compliant while the conversion logic handles the complexity of mapping between different paper size representations, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If print data is converted without accurate size detection, then conversion speed is improved, but print quality deteriorates due to incorrect margins
Solution Approach 1:
The print conversion utility performs preliminary detection of paper size and print settings before executing the conversion process. By accurately identifying the paper size and conversion type (e.g., borderless, oversize) in advance, the system can prepare appropriate conversion parameters and execute rapid, accurate conversion without compromising print quality or requiring post-processing adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus generates print data in a first format and communicates with a printing apparatus, and obtains, from OS standard print software which operates in a computer, print data in a second format different from the first format and including document data, print setting by a user, and information related to paper indicating a paper size supported by the printing apparatus, converts the print data such that a size of the document data is converted in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied, and generates the converted print data as the print data in the first format and sends the generated print data to the printing apparatus. The predetermined condition includes a condition that, among the information related to paper, one or more sizes associated with a regular size specified based on the print setting include an irregular size different from the specified regular size.