Supporting Program for Printer Service Information Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
In environments where a general-purpose printing program is used, there is a lack of configuration to display service information specific to an external printer, limiting the effectiveness of print setting and service utilization.
Innovation Solution
A supporting program that processes data to display a print setting screen on a user interface, obtaining and generating notification data based on service information stored in the external printer, and displaying this information to the user, enhancing the display of applicable services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a general-purpose printing program is used to control external printers, then printing functionality is simplified and driver-free operation is achieved, but service information display capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a supporting program as an intermediary component between the general-purpose printing program and the external printer. This supporting program retrieves service information from the printer and integrates it into the print setting screen, allowing service information display without compromising the simplicity of driver-free printing operations.
2Loss of information
If service information is obtained and displayed, then user awareness of applicable services is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into distinct functional components: the general-purpose printing program handles printing operations, the supporting program handles service information retrieval and integration, and the print setting screen handles user interface display. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, managing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting program is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an information retrieval mechanism and as an integration layer between the printing program and service information sources. This universal approach reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A non-transitory storage medium stores a supporting program executable by a computer of an information processing apparatus. The supporting program is configured to support a printing program of an operating system of the information processing apparatus. The printing program of the operating system is configured to process data so as to display a print setting screen on a display of the information processing apparatus, Service information which is information related to a service applicable to the external printer is stored in the external printer. The supporting program causes the information processing apparatus to obtaining the service information, generating, based on the obtained service information, notification data indicating a notifying image to a user, and displaying the notifying image on the print setting screen displayed on the display of the information processing apparatus by outputting the generated notification data to the printing program of the operating system.