Printer Driver Sheet Size Selection for Unknown Printers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printer drivers face difficulties in identifying and providing optimal sheet sizes for unknown printers, limiting user flexibility in selecting printable sheet sizes, even if the sheets are not loaded in the printer's cassettes.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with a user interface for setting sheet size ranges, a selection unit for choosing user-defined sheets within those ranges, and a display unit for presenting printable options, enabling easy selection of printable sheets on unknown printers by storing and managing standard and user-defined sheet sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a printer driver obtains sheet sizes from the printer's cassettes, then the printer driver can display usable sheet sizes, but only sheets loaded in cassettes are available and user flexibility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of sheet size selectionVSAvoidflexibility in sheet size selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The printer driver stores sheet size information in advance from printer specification data before actual printing occurs. This preliminary storage of sheet size data allows the driver to provide sheet size options without requiring physical sheets to be loaded in cassettes, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and flexibility in sheet size selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The printer driver creates a virtual copy of sheet size information from printer specifications and stores it locally. This copied sheet size data enables the driver to display and select sheet sizes without needing physical sheets present in the printer, achieving both ease of operation and adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If a printer driver identifies usable sheet sizes based on selected printer model, then sheet size options are provided, but compatibility with unknown future printers is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinter model compatibilityVSAvoidloss of sheet size information for unknown printers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The printer driver is designed with universal functionality to handle both known and unknown printer models. By storing sheet size information from printer specifications in a model-agnostic manner, the driver can provide sheet size options for any printer, resolving the contradiction between printer model compatibility and preventing information loss for unknown printers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The printer driver changes its approach from model-specific sheet size identification to parameter-based sheet size storage. By storing sheet size as generic parameters rather than model-specific data, the driver maintains compatibility across different printer models including future unknown printers, preventing information loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9268508B2Information processing apparatus and sheet size setting method

Publication Date: 2016.02.23 CANON KK

AI summary

Printable standard sheets and a range of user-defined sheets are both configured in an editable manner, and the range of user-defined sheets is automatically set in accordance with the printable standard sheets.