Print Ticket Segmentation for Editable and Non-Editable Conditions

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing printing system, particularly in the Microsoft Windows operating system, fails to generate appropriate print setting information due to applications not setting detailed print conditions, leading to inadequate print data generation by the printer driver.

Innovation Solution

A processing unit and memory configuration that includes an application tool to edit print conditions based on printer functional information, generating both editable and non-editable print setting information, ensuring accurate print data production by incorporating both first and second print conditions in the Print Ticket.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If application programs edit the Print Ticket to set only general print conditions, then the application program can generate print settings, but detailed print conditions are not set appropriately

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication program's ability to generate print settingsVSAvoiddetail of print conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The Print Ticket is divided into two distinct sections: a first Print Ticket containing general print conditions that can be edited by application programs, and a second Print Ticket containing detailed print conditions that cannot be edited by application programs. This segmentation allows applications to freely modify general settings while preserving the integrity of detailed settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the print settings are given different editability properties. The first Print Ticket is designed to be editable by applications for flexibility, while the second Print Ticket is designed to be non-editable to ensure precision. This local differentiation of quality (editability) resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the Print Ticket is made fully editable by application programs, then flexibility in modifying print conditions is improved, but the reliability of print condition settings deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in modifying print conditionsVSAvoidaccuracy of print condition settings

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The Print Ticket structure is segmented into editable and non-editable portions. The first Print Ticket allows full adaptability for application modification, while the second Print Ticket maintains reliability by preventing application editing, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The printer driver performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the second Print Ticket with accurate, detailed print conditions before the application processes the print request. This preliminary setup ensures reliability is established in advance, allowing the application to freely modify only the first Print Ticket without compromising overall accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If the printer driver generates only a single Print Ticket, then the data structure is simple, but the ability to preserve both general and detailed print conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePrint Ticket data structureVSAvoidcompleteness of print condition preservation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a single complex Print Ticket structure, the system segments print conditions into two separate Print Tickets. This segmentation actually reduces structural complexity by creating two simple, well-defined data structures rather than one complex structure with conflicting requirements, while simultaneously improving reliability through clear separation of editable and non-editable conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The two Print Tickets are processed in a nested manner where the first Print Ticket (editable) is processed first by the application, followed by the second Print Ticket (non-editable) which supplements or overrides specific conditions. This nested processing structure allows the system to maintain simplicity while ensuring both general and detailed conditions are preserved reliably.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS9195415B2Print controller, computer readable medium having computer program product for generating print data based on print setting information stored thereon, and method of generating print setting information

Publication Date: 2015.11.24 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An apparatus includes a processing unit and memory. The memory stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the apparatus to provide an application tool and a generation section. The application tool is configured to edit a print condition based on print functional information relating to print functions provided with a printer. The generation section is configured to generate print setting information including a first print condition and a second print condition. The generating section generates the first print condition in a form so as to be editable by the application tool and generates the second print condition including at least a part of the first print condition in a form so as not to be editable by the application tool. The print data producing section is configured to produce print data based on the print setting information including the first print condition that has been edited by the application tool and the second print condition.