Print Function Expansion Application for Roll Paper Widths

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printer drivers lack user-friendly functionality for expanding print capabilities beyond standard class drivers, leading to limited user convenience and flexibility in utilizing advanced features of printing apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that includes an expansion application to edit and generate print setting information, allowing users to designate and expand print functions through a print function expansion unit, print setting screen expansion unit, print data editing unit, and notification unit, enhancing the capabilities of standard class drivers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a standard class driver is used for printing, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidadaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The driver functionality is segmented into two independent components: a standard class driver that provides basic printing operations and an expansion application that adds advanced features. This segmentation allows the standard driver to maintain ease of operation while the expansion application provides adaptability for advanced printing features like borderless printing and roll paper support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The expansion application is designed to work with multiple printing apparatus models and can be associated with different standard class drivers. This multi-functionality allows a single expansion application to enhance various standard drivers, providing adaptability across different printing scenarios while maintaining the universal ease of use of standard drivers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If an expansion application is added to provide advanced functions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The expansion application acts as an intermediary layer between the user and the printing apparatus. It intercepts print requests, adds advanced functionality, and communicates with the standard class driver and printing apparatus. This intermediary approach allows adaptability to be added without increasing the complexity of the standard driver or the printing apparatus itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The expansion application automatically detects the printing apparatus model, acquires appropriate print function information, and configures itself without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability reduces the perceived complexity for users while providing extensive adaptability for advanced printing features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If print function information is edited to add advanced features, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The expansion application automatically acquires print function information from the printing apparatus and edits it to include advanced features without requiring user intervention. The system self-configures the print settings, manages paper size information, and handles borderless printing parameters, maintaining ease of operation while providing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The expansion application performs preliminary editing of print function information before the actual printing operation. It pre-configures advanced features, validates paper size data, and prepares borderless printing parameters in advance, so that users can simply select from pre-configured options without dealing with complex settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12455707B2Information processing apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus acquires print function information for allowing a user to designate a function of a printing apparatus, edits the acquired print function information, and generates, based on the edited print function information, print setting information for executing the function designated by the user. In addition, information of a print medium is stored and added to the acquired print function information. The print medium includes roll paper, and added to the acquired print function information is information of roll paper having a width smaller than a maximum width of paper included in the acquired print function information in the stored information of the roll paper.