Printer Driver Customization via Registry Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printer driver customization systems fail to accurately manage and inherit customization information, especially when updating drivers, and are not suited for centralized management or installation on multiple computers, leading to difficulties in determining whether a customized driver is being used and maintaining its settings.
Innovation Solution
An information processing technique that issues identification information for customized drivers, allowing external programs to determine if a driver is customized and enabling accurate inheritance of customization information during updates, while also allowing easy customization of device drivers according to environmental or configuration settings, including limiting changes to print settings and stamp settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a customized printer driver is installed with a unique code, then the driver can be identified as customized, but the code cannot be referred to from external programs and cannot be externally determined whether the computer uses the customized driver
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a registry as an intermediary component that stores and provides access to the custom driver code. The registry acts as a mediator between the customized driver and external programs, allowing system administrators to determine whether a customized driver is being used without modifying the driver itself. This resolves the contradiction by enabling external determination while maintaining the driver's original identification mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the driver identification information (custom driver code) from the driver program itself and stores it separately in the registry. This separation allows the driver to maintain its unique identification while enabling external programs to access and determine customization status through the registry, rather than requiring the code to be embedded or exposed in the driver.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a driver installer prompts the user to select limitations on functions, then customization can be done, but the installer must change information on print settings for each computer individually and cannot be suited for centralized management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by allowing system administrators to pre-configure print settings and customization parameters in the registry before driver installation. The registry stores default values and customization information in advance, so when the driver is installed, the settings are automatically applied without requiring interactive user input on each computer. This enables centralized management while maintaining customization flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the installer universal by designing it to work in multiple modes: it can perform centralized installation using pre-configured registry settings, or fall back to interactive customization if needed. The registry-based approach allows the same installer to serve both centralized administration and individual customization needs, improving productivity without sacrificing adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an installed driver is overwritten by installing a driver of a new version, then the new driver can be installed, but the installer cannot grasp that the installed driver is a customized one and the new driver cannot inherit information unique to customized items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the installer check the registry for existing custom driver codes before performing installation or updates. The registry provides feedback about the customization status of the current driver, allowing the installer to preserve customization information. The installer uses this feedback to maintain the custom driver code in the registry after updates, ensuring customization information is inherited by new driver versions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by storing customization information in the registry prior to driver installation or updates. This pre-stored information acts as a cushion that protects customization data from being lost during driver replacement. When a new driver version is installed, the registry already contains the custom driver code, ensuring the customization information is preserved and inherited.
4Ease of operation
If the user can change print setting values from the user interface, then user flexibility is provided, but the system cannot enforce functional limitations or input control on print settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between the driver's internal behavior and the UI's behavior. The driver maintains strict input control and functional limitations at the processing level, while the UI can present a more flexible appearance. The registry stores information about which settings should be controlled, allowing the driver to enforce limitations selectively on specific print settings while leaving others user-modifiable, thus achieving both control reliability and operational flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
According to this invention, an information processing apparatus which customizes a device driver for controlling an image forming apparatus includes an issuing unit which issues identification information for specifying a customized driver, and a storage unit which stores, in association with the customized driver, the identification information issued by the issuing unit.