Printer Supporting Program for Driverless Image Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
OS-standard universal printing programs lack the functionality to scale images to a specific size, which is typically provided by printer vendor-specific drivers, limiting the ability to print images at desired sizes without such drivers.
Innovation Solution
A supporting program that allows specification of a scaling factor through a user interface, determines an appropriate tray based on the scaling factor, and adjusts the image size accordingly, enabling printing with OS-standard universal printing programs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If an OS-standard universal printing program is used without a printer driver, then the system can print using built-in functionality, but the ability to scale images to specific sizes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the OS-standard universal printing program by integrating image scaling functionality directly into it. The program now performs both universal printing and vendor-specific scaling operations, eliminating the need for separate printer drivers while maintaining scaling capability through automatic detection and application of scaling factors based on tray specifications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a printer driver provided by a vendor is used, then image scaling to specific sizes is enabled, but dependency on vendor-specific software increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential image scaling functionality from vendor-specific printer drivers and integrates it directly into the OS-standard universal printing program. This extraction eliminates the need for separate vendor drivers while preserving the scaling capability, reducing software dependency and system complexity.
3Device complexity
If the OS-standard universal printing program is used, then no printer driver is needed, but automatic tray selection based on scaled image size cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the OS-standard universal printing program to automatically determine the appropriate output size based on the selected tray's sheet size and apply the corresponding scaling factor. The system performs self-service by automatically matching image scaling to tray specifications without requiring user intervention or vendor-specific drivers, thereby maintaining simplicity while adding automatic tray selection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A supporting program for a printer, when executed by a controller of an information processing device, causes the information processing device to receive a scaling factor via a setting screen displayed on a user interface of the information processing device. When a universal printing program receives a print instruction from an application program, the supporting program causes the information processing device to determine an output size based on a size of an image to be printed in the print instruction and the scaling factor, obtain sheet sizes specified for or detected in trays of the printer, identify an appropriate tray with a sheet size within a range approximately equal to the output size or loaded with a sheet within that range, obtain a scaled image by scaling the image to be printed based on the scaling factor, and cause the printer to print the scaled image using the appropriate tray.