Printer Capability Mapping for Vendor-Specific Print Settings
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Solution Overview
Problem
General-purpose printer drivers restrict print setting options due to handling print jobs from various vendors, necessitating a method to display vendor-specific settings without acquiring capability information, leading to unsuitable display issues.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus acquires first and second capability information, storing it in association with a printer, enabling display of vendor-specific objects and settings based on stored information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a general-purpose printer driver is used to handle print jobs from various vendors, then compatibility with multiple printer vendors is improved, but the number of available print setting options is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments print settings into two categories: standard settings defined by the IPP protocol and vendor-specific settings. The general-purpose driver handles standard settings universally, while vendor-specific settings are accessed through a separate mechanism (print queue extension) that activates only when needed, thus maintaining broad compatibility while providing extended functionality without cluttering the default interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The general-purpose printer driver is designed to universally handle print jobs from multiple vendors through standard IPP protocols. The patent enhances this universality by allowing the same driver to access both standard settings and vendor-specific settings through a unified interface, enabling one driver to serve multiple purposes across different printer systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vendor-specific print settings are accessed through print queue extension, then print setting flexibility is improved, but capability information acquisition requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining the structure and location of capability information for vendor-specific settings within the print queue extension mechanism. The system prepares the framework for acquiring capability information in advance, so when a user accesses vendor-specific settings, the necessary information structures are already in place and ready for immediate population, reducing real-time acquisition complexity.
3Speed
If capability information is not acquired for vendor-specific settings, then system response time is improved, but display suitability for setting items deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing the capability information acquisition mechanism and data structures within the print queue extension framework. When a user selects an object to access vendor-specific settings, the system can immediately retrieve pre-organized capability information rather than performing complex real-time acquisition, thus maintaining fast response while ensuring display suitability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces capability information as an intermediary element that mediates between the user interface and the actual printer settings. This intermediary layer caches and organizes capability information, allowing the system to respond quickly by retrieving pre-processed information rather than performing complex real-time queries, thus balancing speed with reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus storing information regarding a printer and a predetermined printer driver in association includes a controller configured to acquire first capability information defined by a predetermined protocol and second capability information undefined by the predetermined protocol, and store the first capability information and the second capability information having been acquired in association with the information regarding the printer, wherein, based on a storage unit storing the first capability information and the second capability information, a predetermined object is displayed in a selectable state on a display unit, and wherein, based on the displayed predetermined object being selected, an object for receiving a print setting is displayed on the display unit in accordance with the second capability information stored in association with the information regarding the printer.