Print Data Generation Templates for Variable Element Counts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional print data generation APIs require repetitive code execution for variable number of print elements, leading to unintuitive and complex program code.

Innovation Solution

Generate print data using a template with API call commands of the smallest unit, specifying a repeat range based on the number of print elements, and replacing merge fields with element data to create a print data generation API that executes commands multiple times automatically.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the print data generation API is repeatedly executed a plurality of times to handle variable number of print elements, then the print data can be generated for variable number of elements, but the program code becomes complex and difficult to understand due to required loop descriptions and conditional branches

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle variable number of print elementsVSAvoidprogram code complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A template is introduced as an intermediary between the application program and the print data generation API. The template contains placeholder positions for print elements and is processed by a print data generation unit that automatically performs the repetitive API calls based on the template structure, eliminating the need for the application program to contain explicit loop and conditional branch descriptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The template is prepared in advance with the structure and placeholder positions defined before execution. This preliminary preparation allows the system to handle variable numbers of print elements without requiring complex runtime logic in the application program, as the repetition structure is already established in the template.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the print data generation API is called repeatedly with loop descriptions and conditional branches, then variable number of print elements can be processed, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to unintuitive and difficult-to-understand code

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiency for variable print elementsVSAvoidcode readability and intuitiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The repetitive loop logic and conditional branch descriptions are extracted from the application program and transferred to the template structure. The application program only needs to contain high-level instructions without the cumbersome repetition logic, significantly improving code readability while maintaining processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The template serves as a reusable pattern that can be copied and applied multiple times. Instead of writing repetitive code blocks in the application program, the same template structure is instantiated multiple times with different data, eliminating code duplication and improving maintainability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20250232145A1Print data generation device and print data generation method

Publication Date: 2025.07.17 STAR MICRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Print data are generated using a template constituted by commands of the smallest unit not including repetitions, the number of which corresponds to a variable number of print elements, and field data including data of print elements to be inserted into merge fields of API call commands included in the template. A repeat range is specified from the template, a print data generation API is generated by replacing the merge fields, including repeat substitutions within the specified range, with the data of the print elements, and by executing the generated print data generation API, print data including print-related commands into which the data of the print elements have been inserted is generated.