Printer Direct Print MPPF Tag Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Direct printing of electronic documents with multiple page printing features (MPPFs) does not invoke the necessary printer settings, resulting in hardcopy documents without the desired MPPFs, as it bypasses the printer driver and lacks explicit specification of required settings.

Innovation Solution

A method and system where a printer identifies tags in an Office Open XML document specifying MPPFs, maps these to required printer settings, and invokes them to generate hardcopy documents with the desired MPPFs, including features like mirror margins, two pages per sheet, and book fold, without relying on a printer driver.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If direct printing is used to print electronic documents, then printing speed and simplicity are improved, but the ability to implement multiple page printing features (MPPFs) deteriorates because printer settings are not invoked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidMPPF implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary component within the printer that acts as a bridge between the direct print request and the printer settings invocation system. This intermediary parses the OOXML document to extract MPPF tags and automatically invokes the corresponding printer settings, enabling MPPF implementation in direct printing mode without requiring a printer driver

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The printer system performs self-service by automatically detecting MPPF requirements from the document tags and invoking the necessary settings without external intervention. The printer parses the document structure, identifies MPPF specifications, and configures itself to implement the desired features, eliminating the need for manual driver-based configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a printer driver is used to manually set printer settings for MPPFs, then MPPF implementation is achieved, but operation complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMPPF implementationVSAvoidmanual setting complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service operation by automatically extracting MPPF requirements from document tags and invoking the corresponding printer settings without requiring user intervention. The printer independently parses the document structure, identifies MPPF specifications, and configures the necessary settings, eliminating manual driver configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The MPPF information is embedded in the document structure in advance as tags within the OOXML file. This preliminary encoding of printing requirements allows the printer to automatically retrieve and act on the specifications during the printing process, eliminating the need for post-document manual configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If direct printing without driver is used, then printing process is simplified, but the automatic invocation of required printer settings is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting process complexityVSAvoidautomatic settings invocation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

An intermediary parsing and detection mechanism is introduced within the printer that operates between the direct print request and the printing engine. This intermediary automatically extracts MPPF tags from the OOXML document and invokes the corresponding printer settings, maintaining the simplicity of direct printing while restoring automatic settings invocation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional driver-based mechanical system with an automated tag-based detection and settings invocation system. Instead of relying on a printer driver to translate print requests, the system uses automated parsing of document tags to directly invoke the necessary printer settings, simplifying the overall architecture while maintaining functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8705056B2Printer for receiving direct printer requests and mapping features of the requests to required settings

Publication Date: 2014.04.22 KONICA MINOLTA SYSTEMS LABORATORY INC

AI summary

A method for generating a hardcopy document, including: receiving, by a printer, a direct print request for an Office Open XML (OOXML) document having a plurality of pages; identifying, by the printer, a tag in the OOXML document specifying a multiple page printing feature (MPPF) for the plurality of pages, where the tag is located within a settings.xml file of the OOXML document; identifying, by the printer, a first printer setting required to implement the MPPF; invoking, by the printer, the first printer setting on the printer; and generating, by the printer and from the OOXML document, the hardcopy document with the MPPF feature after invoking the first printer setting.