Print Setting Application with Network Printer Icon Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing systems lack a standardized driver that can efficiently manage and display icons for diverse printer models, especially those incompatible with cloud printing services, leading to inefficiencies in print settings and user interface management.
Innovation Solution
A non-transitory storage medium with a print setting extension application that acquires and displays icons from external printers via a network, utilizing a cloud print proxy server to integrate cloud-print incompatible devices into the cloud print service, enabling seamless print setting management across various printer models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a standard driver is used to support multiple printer models, then compatibility with diverse printers is improved, but the ability to display model-specific icons and settings is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments icon management by separating model-specific icon data from the standard driver. Each printer model maintains its own icon file, which is selectively loaded based on model identification. This allows the standard driver to remain universal while displaying accurate model-specific icons through segmented data organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-storing icon data for multiple printer models in advance. When a printer is connected, the standard driver identifies the model type and retrieves the corresponding pre-prepared icon data, eliminating the need for real-time icon generation and enabling immediate display of accurate icons.
2Ease of operation
If vendor-specific drivers are used for each printer model, then icon display accuracy is improved, but device complexity and installation requirements are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by creating a standard driver that can handle multiple printer models through a unified architecture. The driver includes built-in functionality to identify different printer models and automatically load appropriate icon data, eliminating the need for separate vendor-specific drivers while maintaining accurate icon display across all models.
3Productivity
If cloud print service is implemented, then print management efficiency is improved, but compatibility with non-cloud printers is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism that enables cloud print service functionality to work with both cloud-compatible and non-cloud printers. The standard driver acts as a mediator, providing a unified interface that allows cloud print management features to operate across diverse printer types without requiring cloud-specific hardware or software modifications.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an application that acquires data of an icon from an external apparatus. Some embodiments provide a non-transitory storage medium storing an application that provides a print setting screen for allowing a user to make a print setting used to generate a print command provided for printing in a printer by a driver in a computer, wherein the application, when executed by the computer, causes the computer to acquire data of an icon representing the printer from an external apparatus different from the computer via a network, and display the acquired icon on a display unit of the computer.