Printer List Grouping by Identifier to Reduce Virtual Printer Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printer list generation systems confuse users by displaying the same virtual printers registered in multiple services and local printers as separate entities, reducing user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A printer list generator that searches for virtual printers across multiple services and groups them based on unique printer identifiers, ensuring that printers with the same ID are displayed as a single entity, regardless of their registration in different services or discovery through local networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If virtual printers registered in multiple printing services are displayed as separate entities, then the complete list of available printers is provided, but user confusion increases and convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges virtual printers that correspond to the same physical printer into a single grouped entry in the printer list. By detecting that multiple virtual printers from different printing services map to the same physical device, the system combines them into one consolidated list item, preventing user confusion while maintaining access to all printing services.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step between retrieving printers from multiple services and displaying them to the user. This intermediary layer analyzes printer identifiers and groupings, acting as a mediator that transforms the raw data from multiple services into a deduplicated, user-friendly list that eliminates redundancy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If printers from local-area networks are displayed together with virtual printers, then comprehensive printer availability is shown, but differentiation between virtual and local printers becomes unclear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different visual characteristics or metadata for different printer types within the same list. Virtual printers and local printers are differentiated through distinct display attributes (such as icons, labels, or visual styling) while maintaining a unified list structure, allowing users to easily distinguish between printer sources.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the same printer is registered as virtual printer in different printing services, then service diversity is maintained, but printer list redundancy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges redundant printer entries by detecting that multiple virtual printers from different printing services correspond to the same physical printer. The system consolidates these into a single grouped entry that preserves access to multiple printing services while eliminating visual redundancy in the printer list.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses printer identifier information as a copying key to detect duplicates. By comparing printer identification data across different printing services, the system identifies that certain virtual printers are copies or representations of the same physical device, enabling intelligent grouping and deduplication.
Data Source
AI summary
In the case of displaying, as a list, information pieces on virtual printers registered in multiple respective printing services, the user may become confused when choosing a printer if virtual printers that correspond to a printer are displayed as different printers, consequently reducing user convenience. The present invention relates to searching for virtual printers registered in multiple respective printing services and generating a printer list that displays, as a group, virtual printers corresponding to a printer among the virtual printers thus found, on the basis of printer identifiers of the virtual printers.