Printer Driver Conflict Management via Mediator Pattern
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the context of printer drivers, the addition of multiple plug-in functions can lead to conflicts between setting values, causing inconsistencies and preventing normal printing operations, especially in enterprise environments where specific functions are added via the plug-in format.
Innovation Solution
A data processing apparatus and method that utilize conflict processing rules stored in separate units to identify and adjust setting values, ensuring no conflicts occur between the original printer driver settings and added plug-in functions, by reading and applying these rules to maintain consistent and functional print settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple plug-in functions are added to the printer driver, then the function expansion capability is improved, but the setting conflict between plug-ins and original driver increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a conflict management mechanism as an intermediary layer between the plug-in functions and the original driver settings. This mediator automatically detects potential conflicts between plug-in settings and driver settings, and resolves them by preventing simultaneous activation of conflicting functions, thereby enabling multiple functions to coexist without causing system instability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary conflict detection before allowing settings to be applied. By checking for potential conflicts between plug-in functions and original driver settings in advance, the system prevents conflicting settings from being activated simultaneously, ensuring reliable operation while maintaining function expansion capabilities
2Ease of operation
If the setting change environment is provided for multiple functions, then the user interface capability is improved, but the complexity of managing setting conflicts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service conflict resolution where the system automatically manages setting conflicts without requiring user intervention. The conflict management mechanism autonomously detects, identifies, and resolves conflicts between multiple functions and driver settings, thereby maintaining simple user interfaces while handling the complexity of multi-function setting management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that automatically adjust settings based on detected conflicts. When the system detects that enabling a particular plug-in function would create a conflict with existing driver settings, it provides feedback by preventing the conflicting setting from being applied or by automatically adjusting other settings to resolve the conflict, thereby simplifying the user experience
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a control program which allows a computer to execute a setting processing method having: an obtainment step of respectively obtaining conflict rules showing rules for avoiding conflict of setting values which are used in a plurality of print processes that are used in a first expanding function program to expand a function of a print processing related program and a second expanding function program to expand the function of the print processing related program; and a discrimination step of discriminating the presence or absence of conflict between setting values of print settings which are used in the first expanding function program and the second expanding function program by using the conflict rules obtained in the obtainment step.