Unified Application Printer Object Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for selecting and registering printers in image forming devices are inconvenient, as they require users to manually select and register printers each time, leading to unnecessary registrations of unused or incompatible printers.
Innovation Solution
A unified application that manages printer objects and allows users to select and register appropriate image forming devices as printers, improving operability by displaying a list of available printers and enabling easy addition, deletion, and management of printer icons, with automatic driver installation and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If all printers installed in the operating system are registered to the application, then the user can access any printer through the application, but unnecessary printers and incompatible printers are also registered causing clutter and operational inconveniences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary printer information (printer name, icon, and basic identification) from the operating system's printer list, rather than registering all printer details. This selective extraction allows the application to display and access printers without the clutter of unnecessary or incompatible printer registrations, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive accessibility and operational convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the printer registration process into two parts: basic printer information is automatically registered for accessibility, while detailed printer configuration and compatibility settings are managed separately. This segmentation allows users to access printers through the application interface without being overwhelmed by full printer details, maintaining both versatility and ease of operation
2Reliability
If users manually select and register printers each time, then the application can use the printer's full functions, but the process causes inconveniences and requires repeated registration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary registration of printer basic information when the application is first launched or when printers are detected, storing essential printer identification data in advance. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated manual registration while maintaining the ability to access printer functions, thus reducing time loss without sacrificing compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The application automatically detects available printers and registers their basic information without requiring user intervention. This self-service mechanism handles the registration process autonomously, saving user time while maintaining reliable printer functionality through automatic driver detection and configuration
Data Source
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AI summary
A unified application (600) acquires a printer driver, which is an example of a device driver, managed by an operating system of the information processing apparatus (100), and a printer object corresponding to a printer port. The printer object is an example of a device object. The unified application (600) determines whether a function of the printer driver corresponding to the printer object satisfies a condition for registering a printer icon by the unified application (600).