Printer Setting Mediator for Duplicate Configuration Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Integrated applications face difficulties in obtaining and controlling printer functions when a non-corresponding printer is selected, leading to incomplete or duplicate printing settings, which can result in undesired printing results and increased user effort.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that determines and displays necessary printing settings using both the integrated application and the printer driver, allowing for communication with the printing apparatus to ensure correct settings are applied based on the selected printer's capabilities, thereby preventing duplicate settings and ensuring desired printing outcomes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a non-corresponding printer is selected, then printing flexibility is improved, but printing setting accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting flexibilityVSAvoidprinting setting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a determination unit as an intermediary component that mediates between the integrated application and the printer driver. This unit determines whether printing setting information should be overridden based on the printer type, allowing the system to adapt to non-corresponding printers while maintaining setting accuracy through controlled information flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of setting information handling based on the printer type. When a non-corresponding printer is detected, the system changes the behavior from using application settings to using driver settings, thereby adapting the printing process to the specific printer capabilities while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If printing setting information is set using the integrated application, then ease of operation is improved, but setting completeness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidsetting completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the determination unit continuously monitors the printer type and provides feedback on whether to override printing setting information. This ensures that the system maintains ease of operation through automatic determination while guaranteeing setting completeness by validating against printer capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary determination of printer compatibility before applying printing settings. By pre-determining whether the printer corresponds to the integrated application, the system can proactively select the appropriate setting source (application or driver) to ensure both ease of operation and setting completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If both integrated application and printer driver execute the same printing function, then functionality is improved, but harmful effects increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidduplicate processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using the determination unit to prevent duplicate processing before it occurs. When a non-corresponding printer is detected, the system proactively prevents the integrated application from executing printing functions that would be duplicated by the printer driver, thereby eliminating harmful duplicate processing while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The determination unit acts as an intermediary that controls the interaction between the integrated application and printer driver. It mediates the execution of printing functions by determining whether the application should override driver settings, preventing duplicate processing while preserving necessary functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9323493B2Information processing apparatus and control method, and control program

Publication Date: 2016.04.26 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with printers includes: an application to set printing setting information as a document to be printed; a printer driver to generate printing data by employing the printing setting information specified by the application and the document; a determining unit to determine whether the printing setting information to be set using the printer driver is included in the printing setting information set using the application, using selected printer attributes and printing setting information set using the application; and a display to display information relating to printing settings to be set using the printer driver of the selected printer in a case the determining unit determines that the printing setting information to be set using the printer driver is included. If a printer is selected which cannot be controlled by a binding application, the binding application displays items to be set with a printer driver.