General-Purpose Printer Driver Vendor-Specific Function Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional general-purpose printer drivers struggle to acquire apparatus-specific functions and new functions from printing apparatuses of different vendors due to differences in communication methods and extended Page Description Language (PDL) or Job Description Language (JDL), making it difficult to standardize and uniformly operate printer drivers across various models.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with a device driver that includes a first acquisition unit for common definition information and a second acquisition unit to acquire configuration information specific to each peripheral apparatus, using a combination of standard protocols like IPP and WSD, allowing for the storage of both apparatus-common and apparatus-specific information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a general-purpose printer driver is used to print with multiple vendors' apparatuses, then ease of operation is improved, but apparatus-specific functions cannot be acquired
Solution Approach 1:
The driver is segmented into a common portion handling standard IPP operations and a vendor-specific portion handling apparatus-specific functions. This segmentation allows the driver to maintain general compatibility while incorporating vendor-specific capabilities through separate, modular components that can be selectively activated.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary mechanism is introduced that detects the printer vendor and dynamically loads appropriate vendor-specific definition information. This intermediary layer sits between the common driver interface and the vendor-specific implementation details, enabling automatic adaptation without requiring users to manually configure vendor-specific settings.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vendor-specific printer drivers are used to acquire apparatus-specific functions, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to installation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The driver achieves multi-functionality by integrating both common and vendor-specific capabilities into a single unified driver package. The vendor-specific definition information is embedded within the universal driver structure, allowing the same driver to serve multiple printer vendors while maintaining access to apparatus-specific functions without requiring separate installations.
Solution Approach 2:
Vendor-specific definition information is pre-configured and embedded within the universal driver before deployment. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for post-installation configuration or separate vendor-specific driver installations, as the driver already contains the necessary vendor-specific capabilities ready for automatic detection and activation.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard IPP protocol is used for information acquisition, then ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement precision of apparatus-specific information deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The driver implements local quality by applying different information acquisition strategies to different data types. Standard IPP protocols are used for common printing parameters, while vendor-specific protocols and definition information are selectively applied for apparatus-specific functions. This localized approach ensures each type of information is acquired with the most appropriate method for its specific requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The driver dynamically changes operational parameters based on the detected printer vendor and model. When vendor-specific definition information is available, the driver switches from standard IPP parameter sets to vendor-specific parameter sets, thereby adapting the information acquisition precision to match the specific capabilities and communication protocols of the target apparatus.
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments, a printer capability acquiring unit of a general-purpose printer driver acquires, from a printer, definition information (definition for acquisition of apparatus-specific definition) for information acquisition specific to the printer, using definition information for information acquisition (definition for acquisition of apparatus-common information) commonly usable for various printers and independent of vendors or models, acquires, from the printer, configuration information specific to the printer, using the definition for acquisition of apparatus-specific information, and saves the configuration information in an extended information storage unit for each printer. The general-purpose printer driver controls the printer using the configuration information for the printer saved in the extended information storage unit.