Printer Maintenance Support Program for Universal Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
OS standard universal printing programs lack the capability to transmit maintenance commands to printers, leading to inconveniences for users as they cannot perform printer-specific maintenance operations without printer drivers.
Innovation Solution
A support program is introduced that executes maintenance operations on printers by processing commands received from an information processing device, enabling printer-specific maintenance even when using an OS standard universal printing program without manufacturer-specific drivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an OS standard universal printing program is used instead of a printer driver, then printing functionality is improved through standardization and compatibility, but the ability to transmit maintenance commands to the printer is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support program as an intermediary component that bridges the OS standard universal printing program and the printer. This support program receives maintenance commands from the universal printing program and translates them into printer-specific maintenance commands, enabling maintenance operations without requiring manufacturer-specific drivers while maintaining compatibility with the standard printing framework
2Ease of operation
If a printer driver provided by the manufacturer is used, then maintenance command transmission capability is maintained, but system complexity increases due to dependency on manufacturer-specific software
Solution Approach 1:
The support program serves as a mediator that reduces software dependency complexity. Instead of requiring full manufacturer-specific printer drivers, the system uses a lightweight support program that only handles maintenance command translation, while relying on the OS standard universal printing program for core printing functions. This division separates maintenance functionality from printing functionality, reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the printing system into distinct functional components: the OS standard universal printing program handles printing operations, while the support program handles maintenance operations. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and reduces the complexity associated with having a single comprehensive printer driver
Data Source
AI summary
A computer with a support program performs processes of displaying a settings screen on a user interface of an information processing apparatus, receiving, via the settings screen, print settings, receiving intermediate image data from a universal printing program of an operating system of the information processing apparatus; generating print data based on the intermediate image data, in association with the universal printing program; and a maintenance operation execution instruction for a printer, receiving, via the settings screen, a maintenance instruction, and transmitting a main command to a printer to instruct a maintenance operation of the printer, in response to receiving the maintenance instruction.