Specialty Device Module API for Driverless Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Specialty devices, including specialty printers, often lack initial device driver support from operating systems, making them inaccessible for direct communication and control by software applications, limiting their functionality and compatibility.

Innovation Solution

A method and system providing an alternative applications programming interface (API) through a specialty device module or specialty printing module, allowing software applications to interface and control specialty devices without requiring a specialty device driver, enabling local or remote access and control via a computer network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If specialty devices are designed without initial device driver support, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but accessibility and controllability by software applications deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidaccessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a specialty device module as an intermediary component that enables software applications to access and control specialty devices without requiring traditional device drivers. This module acts as a mediator between the application layer and the device layer, providing necessary communication protocols and control functions while maintaining device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The specialty device module provides universal access mechanisms that work across multiple software applications and operating systems, eliminating the need for device-specific drivers. This multi-functional approach allows a single module to handle various communication protocols and control operations for different specialty devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If device-specific drivers are required for each specialty device, then control functionality is precise and reliable, but device complexity increases and adaptability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol functionalityVSAvoidadaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The specialty device module implements a universal control interface that maintains reliable device control while adapting to different device types and operating systems. The module contains multiple communication protocol handlers and control mechanisms that can be dynamically selected based on the target device, providing both reliability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts its control mechanisms based on the specific device being accessed. The specialty device module can change its behavior and communication methods in real-time depending on the device requirements, maintaining reliable control without needing static device-specific drivers for each device type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If traditional device driver architecture is used, then system stability is maintained, but ease of operation and accessibility to specialty devices deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The specialty device module serves as a stable intermediary layer that preserves system stability while improving ease of operation. It implements standardized interfaces and communication protocols that maintain system architecture integrity while providing simplified access methods for software applications to control specialty devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Device complexity

If specialty devices lack operating system communication capability, then device complexity is reduced, but functionality and productivity are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidfunctionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The specialty device module enables enhanced functionality without increasing device complexity by implementing the communication and control logic in the software module rather than in the hardware device. This allows rich functionality to be achieved through software-based intermediaries while keeping the physical devices simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11126570B1System for providing an alternative control interface to specialty devices

Publication Date: 2021.09.21 AMANI MAJID

AI summary

The invention provides an alternative applications programming interface (API) for a software application to interface with and to control the operation of a variety of one or more specialty devices, including specialty printing and specialty non-printing devices. The alternative API provides a superset of control functionality relative to an API that would typically be provided by a specialty device driver. In some embodiments, this alternative API is provided via a specialty device module (SDM) or a specialty printing module (SPM) that is remotely accessible to a software application via a computer network. The SDM or SPM can provide for interface and control of specialty devices that would otherwise be un-accessible to a software application via a specialty device driver, and can provide such locally or remotely accessible functionality to the software application, without necessarily requiring employment of a specialty device driver.