Printer Driver Installer Module Search Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printer driver installation methods often exclude already installed printer drivers of different types from search results, preventing users from selecting and installing optimal drivers, especially when inbox drivers are automatically installed without user notification, limiting functionality and print quality.
Innovation Solution
An installer module that uses the WS-Discovery function to include printers with already installed inbox drivers in search results, allowing the installation of outbox drivers by deleting the inbox driver and performing a new search for optimal drivers, with user confirmation and port management to ensure intended driver installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the system excludes already installed printer drivers from search results, then the search result list is simplified and easier to manage, but users cannot select and install optimal drivers (such as outbox drivers) for printers that already have inbox drivers installed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the exclusion logic from the search result generation process. Instead of automatically excluding printers with installed drivers, the system separates the search result generation from the driver installation status check, allowing all printers to appear in search results while maintaining the ability to install drivers through user confirmation prompts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by not preventing driver installation through exclusion, but rather by allowing installation through explicit user confirmation. The system asks users whether they want to install a driver for a printer that already has a driver installed, flipping the control from system-preventive to user-permissive.
2Productivity
If inbox drivers are automatically installed without user notification, then driver installation speed is improved, but users lose control over which drivers are installed and cannot select optimal outbox drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces feedback loops where the system notifies users when a printer with an installed driver is found in the search, and explicitly asks for user confirmation before proceeding with driver installation. This feedback mechanism ensures users are aware of and control the driver installation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary detection of installed drivers before presenting search results, and prepares installation options in advance. The system checks driver installation status beforehand and prepares appropriate prompts or options, allowing for informed user decisions while maintaining installation efficiency.
3Productivity
If the system maintains existing printer queues while installing new drivers, then user productivity is maintained, but the driver installation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification and preservation of printer queues associated with printers that have installed drivers. Before driver installation proceeds, the system ensures that existing printer queues are identified and maintained, preventing disruption to ongoing printing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the driver installation process into distinct phases: detection of installed drivers, presentation of search results with installation options, user confirmation, and execution of driver installation while preserving printer queues. This segmentation manages complexity by breaking down the process into manageable, independent steps.
Data Source
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AI summary
An information processing apparatus identifies, from among printers for each of which a first type of printer driver has been installed, a printer for which a second type of printer driver is installable. The information processing apparatus displays, as candidates for a printer for which the second type of printer driver is to be installed, printers in a search result, acquired from an operating system, from which printers for each of which a printer driver has been installed are excluded, and the identified printer.