Printer Driver Error Notification Across OS Versions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Operating systems (OS) of different versions may not recognize newly defined printer errors, leading to inadequate error notification to users when a printer error occurs, as the standard error notification function is version-dependent and may not support all error types.
Innovation Solution
A printing control method that determines printer errors based on status information and controls the notification to OS printing software, ensuring appropriate error messaging by checking if the OS supports individual or generic error keys, and storing error information in 'printer-state-reasons' and 'job-printer-state-message' to display accurate error messages on the print queue screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the standard error notification function is used to notify printer errors to users, then the error notification process is simplified, but the error recognition accuracy deteriorates when using older OS versions with newer error definitions
Solution Approach 1:
The printer driver performs preliminary detection of the OS version and determination of error type compatibility before notifying the error. This preliminary action allows the system to select the appropriate notification method (standard error notification function or alternative method) based on whether the OS can properly recognize the specific error type, thereby preventing inaccurate error notification while maintaining simplicity where possible
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the notification parameter dynamically based on OS version and error type compatibility. When the OS version is old and cannot recognize newer error types, the system changes the notification approach to use generic error codes or alternative messaging mechanisms, ensuring accurate error communication across different OS versions
2Measurement precision
If newer printer error types are defined in newer OS versions, then the error notification accuracy is improved, but the compatibility with older OS versions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The printer driver changes the error notification parameters based on the target OS version. For older OS versions, it uses generic error codes or mapped error types that are compatible with the older version's error database. For newer OS versions, it uses specific error types that provide more accurate notification. This parameter adaptation maintains both accuracy and compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The printer driver acts as an intermediary between the printer and the OS. It translates printer error codes into OS-compatible error notifications by detecting the OS version and selecting the appropriate error type mapping, ensuring that error information is accurately conveyed regardless of OS version differences
Data Source
AI summary
A print control method uses print control software to communicate with OS printing software operating in an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printer. The method includes identifying, by the print control software, an error occurring in the printer based on status information obtained from the printer, and performing control such that in a case where the OS printing software is not capable of displaying the identified error, the print control software notifies the OS printing software of an identifier indicating a generic error such that the generic error is displayed in an area for displaying a state of the printer in the display screen, and the print control software notifies the OS printing software of a message corresponding to the identified error such that the message corresponding to the identified error is displayed in an area for displaying a state of a job in a display screen.