Printer Driver Batch Customization Across Multiple Models
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional customization systems for printer drivers are inefficient as they require separate customization processes for each printer driver, imposing a significant burden on administrators and reducing efficiency, especially in network environments where multiple printers are involved.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that allows for the simultaneous customization of multiple printer drivers using a specifying unit to identify and a setting unit to set property information, enabling customization through a single process without the need for individual installation and reactivation of the customization tool for each driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional customization tool is used to customize printer drivers, then each driver can be customized with proper settings, but the administrator must iteratively perform customization for each driver separately, increasing time consumption and operational burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate customization operations into a single batch customization process. The customization tool is modified to accept multiple driver installation files simultaneously and apply customization settings to all selected drivers in one execution, eliminating the need for iterative separate customizations while maintaining the same customization accuracy for each driver.
Solution Approach 2:
The customization tool is enhanced to perform multiple functions: it can customize a single driver or multiple drivers simultaneously, and it can process different types of driver installation files (INF, UPD, GPD) through a unified interface. This multi-functionality allows administrators to customize diverse printer drivers using the same tool without separate procedures.
2Productivity
If the customization tool is designed to handle multiple drivers simultaneously, then customization efficiency improves, but the device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The batch customization process is segmented into distinct phases: selection of multiple driver files, configuration of customization parameters, execution of customization for each selected driver, and generation of customized installation packages. This segmentation allows the tool to manage complexity by handling one logical task at a time within the batch process, maintaining clarity while improving efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The customization tool creates temporary working copies of the selected driver installation files in a working directory, customizes each copy independently, and then replaces the originals or outputs the customized versions. This copying approach allows parallel processing of multiple drivers without interfering with the original files, managing complexity through isolation of processing contexts.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an information processing apparatus, which is configured to customize a device driver that is adapted to control a printer, by setting a property. The information processing apparatus includes a specifying unit adapted to specify a plurality of device drivers, and a setting unit adapted to set, in response to one device-driver customization instruction, property information, which corresponds to a device driver, in the plurality of device drivers specified by the specifying unit.