Virtual Printer Interface for Cloud Print Settings

Solution Overview

Problem

The OS-standard general-purpose print program does not support printer-specific settings, making it difficult to handle printer-specific functions during printing via cloud printing systems, which often requires large-scale facilities and higher costs for extended cloud printing services.

Innovation Solution

A computer-readable storage medium and a printing system that includes a server with a virtual printer, allowing the information processing device to identify the selected printing device, determine if it's a virtual printer, and display different print setting screens based on its capabilities, enabling settings for both standard and printer-specific functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a separately-prepared extended cloud printing service is used to handle printer-specific functions, then printer-specific settings can be handled, but the facilities required are large in scale and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinter-specific settings capabilityVSAvoidfacility scale

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal print setting screen that can handle both standard print settings and printer-specific functions through a single interface. The system determines the type of printing device (virtual printer or actual printer) and dynamically adjusts the settings available, eliminating the need for separate extended cloud printing services while maintaining full functionality for various printer types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a virtual printer as an intermediary between the general-purpose print program and actual printers. This virtual printer layer enables the system to handle printer-specific functions without requiring direct integration with each printer type, thereby reducing facility complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a separately-prepared extended cloud printing service is used to handle printer-specific functions, then printer-specific settings can be handled, but costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinter-specific settings capabilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal print setting screen that can handle both standard print settings and printer-specific functions through a single interface. The system determines the type of printing device (virtual printer or actual printer) and dynamically adjusts the settings available, eliminating the need for separate extended cloud printing services while maintaining full functionality for various printer types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the OS-standard general-purpose print program is used, then printing can be performed without printer drivers, but printer-specific settings are not supported

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriverless printingVSAvoidprinter-specific settings capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a virtual printer as an intermediary between the general-purpose print program and actual printers. This virtual printer layer enables the system to handle printer-specific functions without requiring direct integration with each printer type, thereby reducing facility complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the print setting screen dynamic by determining the type of printing device (virtual printer or actual printer) and adjusting the available settings accordingly. This dynamic adaptation allows the same general-purpose print program to support both driverless printing and printer-specific settings without requiring separate programs or configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20240402957A1Computer-readable storage medium, printing system, and method for configuring print settings based on common capabilities of printers connectable with server

Publication Date: 2024.12.05 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A computer-readable storage medium stores computer-readable instructions supporting a general-purpose print program incorporated in an operating system of an information processing device. The instructions, when executed by a computer of the information processing device, cause the information processing device to obtain specific information to identify a selected printing device, obtain capability information indicating capabilities of the selected printing device, determine, in response to receiving a processing request from the general-purpose print program, whether the selected printing device is a virtual printer of a server on a network, based on the specific information, display a first print setting screen configured to accept print settings based on the capability information when the selected printing device is not the virtual printer, and display a second print setting screen configured to accept print settings based on common capabilities of printing devices connectable with the server when the selected printing device is the virtual printer.