Printer Driver Auto-Installation via Support Program

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods of controlling printers through information processing apparatuses, either using printer drivers or OS-standard printing programs, often result in suboptimal printing speed and quality when OS-standard printing programs are employed, as they do not fully utilize the printer's functions.

Innovation Solution

A support program is implemented in the information processing apparatus to identify if a printer driver is installed and, if not, automatically installs the corresponding printer driver before generating print data, ensuring that high-performance printing capabilities are utilized.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If OS-standard printing program is used, then ease of operation is improved, but printing speed and quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidprinting speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The support program automatically detects whether a printer driver is installed and autonomously installs the appropriate driver without user intervention. This self-service mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of operation (user doesn't need to manually install drivers) while achieving high printing speed and quality (through automatic installation of optimized printer drivers)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The support program performs preliminary detection and installation of printer drivers before the printing operation occurs. By pre-installing the appropriate driver in advance, the system ensures that when printing is needed, the optimized driver is already in place, thereby achieving both ease of operation and high printing performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If OS-standard printing program is used, then ease of operation is improved, but printing quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidprinting quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support program automatically detects whether a printer driver is installed and autonomously installs the appropriate driver without user intervention. This self-service mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of operation (user doesn't need to manually install drivers) while achieving high printing speed and quality (through automatic installation of optimized printer drivers)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The support program performs preliminary detection and installation of printer drivers before the printing operation occurs. By pre-installing the appropriate driver in advance, the system ensures that when printing is needed, the optimized driver is already in place, thereby achieving both ease of operation and high printing performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If printer driver is manually installed, then printing speed and quality are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support program automatically detects whether a printer driver is installed and autonomously installs the appropriate driver without user intervention. This self-service mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of operation (user doesn't need to manually install drivers) while achieving high printing speed and quality (through automatic installation of optimized printer drivers)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The support program acts as an intermediary between the user and the printer driver installation process. It detects printer information, determines the appropriate driver, and facilitates automatic installation, thereby reducing the complexity burden on the user while maintaining high printing performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11321027B2Printing method, information processing apparatus employing printing method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing instructions therefor

Publication Date: 2022.05.03 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing instructions executable by a controller of an information processing apparatus. When executed by the controller, the instructions realize a support program corresponding to a printer connected to the information processing apparatus. When a print instruction is input through a printing program, the support program causes the information processing apparatus to obtain printer information stored in a memory, the printing program being implemented, in advance, in an operating system of the information processing apparatus. When driver identifying information is contained in the printer information and a printer driver identified by the driver identifying information contained in the printer information is not installed in the operation system, the support program causes the information processing apparatus to cause the information processing apparatus to perform an operation regarding installation of the printer driver in the operation system, the printer driver corresponding to the printer.