Printer Information Conversion for Third-Party Display Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Third-party applications often struggle to accurately display information about ink levels in network-connected printers due to differences in language and naming conventions between the manufacturer and the application, leading to user confusion and errors in ink purchasing.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that acquires and converts information about external devices, such as printers, into displayable formats compatible with the display program, using a thread to control the device and convert information based on the display program's settings, ensuring accurate and localized display of device information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If third-party applications use predetermined presentation definitions to display device information, then the display format is standardized and easy to implement, but the accuracy of information display deteriorates due to language and naming convention differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary conversion process between the device information source and the display application. A conversion unit translates device information from the source language/format to the target language/format required by the display program, enabling accurate information display while maintaining compatibility with third-party applications. This intermediary layer resolves the contradiction by allowing standardized implementation through automated conversion rather than manual localization.
2Productivity
If device information is transmitted with predetermined presentation definitions, then information exchange is streamlined, but user confusion increases due to language mismatches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes the language parameter of device information based on the display program's requirements. The conversion unit detects the target language format needed by the display application and automatically transforms the device information into the appropriate language, maintaining efficient information exchange while ensuring user comprehension. This parameter transformation resolves the contradiction between streamlined exchange and user understanding.
3Adaptability or versatility
If third-party manufacturers define their own ink names, then application development is independent and flexible, but compatibility with manufacturer-defined names deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an intermediary conversion mechanism that bridges third-party application definitions and manufacturer-defined ink names. The conversion unit maps between different naming conventions, allowing third-party applications to maintain their independent definitions while ensuring accurate correspondence with manufacturer names through automated translation. This resolves the contradiction by preserving application independence while guaranteeing name compatibility through the conversion layer.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus that is connectable to an external device via a communication network and that supplies information concerning the external device, the information being displayable in accordance with a plurality of expressions. The information processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit configured to acquire information concerning a display program, the information being used for identifying an expression to be displayed in the display program; a receiving unit configured to receive the information concerning the external device from the external device; and a generating unit configured to identify the expression of the information concerning the external device, received by the receiving unit, based on the information concerning the display program, acquired by the acquiring unit, to generate display information complying with the identified expression.