Printer Unicode Code Page Conversion Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printers struggle to handle Unicode character codes without additional apparatuses or expanding memory, leading to garbled characters in printed documents, especially in point-of-sale systems with limited memory.

Innovation Solution

The printer selects between a first and second print control unit based on the input character code, using existing code page fonts for code page data and converting Unicode data internally without the need for additional apparatuses or memory expansion, allowing seamless printing of both code page and Unicode data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a printer uses a code page font set for a specific country or region, then it can print characters of that code page, but it cannot print Unicode characters beyond its font coverage, resulting in garbled characters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharacter code compatibilityVSAvoidprinting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a print control apparatus as an intermediary between the host computer and the printer. This apparatus converts Unicode character codes into corresponding code page character codes, enabling the printer to render Unicode characters using its existing code page font set without requiring additional Unicode font storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the character code parameter from Unicode to code page format through the print control apparatus. By transforming the character code representation while maintaining the same visual output, the system enables universal character support without expanding the printer's font memory requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a print control apparatus is provided between the host computer and the printer to convert Unicode to code page, then Unicode printing is enabled, but the system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUnicode supportVSAvoidsystem configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The print control apparatus is designed to handle multiple character code systems (code pages and Unicode) through a unified conversion mechanism. It can process various code page formats and convert them to the printer's supported format, providing universal character support without requiring separate processing paths for different character sets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple font sets covering JIS code, Unicode, or Windows Glyph-Width are stored in the printer, then printing flexibility is improved, but memory size must be expanded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefont compatibilityVSAvoidmemory size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the font conversion function from the printer and relocates it to the print control apparatus. The printer only needs to store its native code page font set, while the print control apparatus handles Unicode conversion externally. This extraction eliminates the need for the printer to store multiple font sets locally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The print control apparatus creates a virtual mapping of Unicode characters to code page characters, allowing the printer to display Unicode content using its existing font set. Instead of storing actual Unicode fonts in the printer, the system uses software-based character code translation to achieve the same visual result.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Ease of operation

If a POS printer with limited memory is used, then it is suitable for point-of-sale systems, but it cannot store large-scale font sets such as Unicode fonts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem suitability for POSVSAvoidcharacter code handling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The print control apparatus serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the host computer's Unicode output and the POS printer's code page limitations. It performs real-time character code conversion, enabling the printer to display any Unicode character without requiring expanded memory or changing the printer's hardware configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10026026B2Printer, printing system and print control method

Publication Date: 2018.07.17 STAR MICRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention enables successful printing whether printing data contains a character code of either code page or Unicode without an addition of an apparatus for code conversion and without expansion of printer memory for storing Unicode font set. Upon receipt of the input of printing data containing the character code of the code page, a first print control unit is selected to control printing of a string represented by the code page with a font available for the code page. Upon receipt of the input of printing data containing the character code of Unicode, a second print control unit is selected to convert the character code of Unicode to the character code of the code page and to control printing of a string represented by the Unicode with a font available for the code page on the basis of the code page after conversion.