Print Driver Extension Editing for High-Quality Output

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing standard drivers for printing apparatuses lack the ability to provide enhanced functionalities beyond their basic capabilities, limiting user customization and functionality extension.

Innovation Solution

An extension application is associated with printing data generation software to add extended functions, allowing for skip processing of intermediate data conversion and editing, and converting edited data into printing data, thereby enhancing the printing capabilities of the system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If standard driver is used for printing, then basic printing function is provided, but extended functions cannot be implemented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting functionVSAvoiddriver structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The driver system is segmented into a standard driver component and an extension application component. The standard driver handles basic printing functions while the extension application provides additional functionalities. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity for core operations while enabling extended capabilities when needed, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The extension application is designed to work with multiple printing apparatuses and can be associated with different standard drivers. It provides universal extended functions such as layout processing, scaling, and image quality enhancement that can be applied across various printing scenarios, thereby improving adaptability without requiring separate complex drivers for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If conversion processing of intermediate data is performed, then printing data is generated, but image quality may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata processing efficiencyVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The extension application acts as an intermediary between the standard driver and the printing apparatus. It receives intermediate data from the standard driver, performs necessary processing such as layout and scaling operations, and then converts it into printing data suitable for the specific printing apparatus. This intermediary role allows for controlled processing that maintains image quality while enabling extended functionalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The extension application performs preliminary processing actions on intermediate data before final conversion to printing data. Operations such as layout arrangement, scaling adjustments, and image quality enhancements are conducted in advance, allowing the standard driver to focus on efficient data generation while the extension application ensures quality preservation during the transition to final printing format.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12547354B2Method of controlling information processing apparatus, editing intermediate data, and converting edited intermediate data into printing data

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 CANON KK

AI summary

A method of controlling an information processing apparatus configured to execute an extension application associated with printing data generation software operatable in the information processing apparatus to extend a function includes: adding information on an extended function to printing function information used in the printing data generation software; switching in accordance with a setting value stored in common information shared with the extension application whether to perform skip processing in which conversion processing of intermediate data performed by the printing data generation software is skipped; and editing the intermediate data in which the conversion processing is skipped in the printing data generation software in the switching and converting the edited intermediate data into printing data.