Virtual Printer Service Converts Driverless Jobs for Legacy Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses that do not support printing systems enabling printing without a printer driver cannot interpret print jobs received from operating systems, necessitating the development of a virtual device capable of receiving and transmitting print jobs.
Innovation Solution
A virtual printer service is installed in a computer's operating system, which generates virtual printers associated with actual printers, converts print jobs into interpretable formats, and transmits them to the actual printers, eliminating the need for device drivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a printing system enabling printing without a printer driver (e.g., AirPrint, Mopria) is introduced into the operating system, then the ease of operation and device compatibility are improved, but image forming apparatuses that do not support this printing system cannot interpret print jobs, reducing their adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
A virtual printer is introduced as an intermediary component between the operating system's printing system and the actual image forming apparatus. The virtual printer receives print jobs from the OS in modern formats (AirPrint, Mopria, etc.), converts them into interpretable formats, and transmits them to legacy printers that do not support these printing systems, thereby enabling compatibility without modifying the actual printers or the OS printing system
2Adaptability or versatility
If a virtual device is created to transmit print jobs to non-compliant image forming apparatuses, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for additional virtual device components
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual printer service is merged with the host computer's existing printing system and integrated into the OS's device management framework. By combining the virtual device functionality with the host computer's existing infrastructure, the solution avoids creating entirely separate complex systems while still providing the necessary conversion and transmission capabilities for legacy printer support
Data Source
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AI summary
A virtual printer A generated in a virtual printer service included in a host computer including an OS uses a search request receiver to receive a device search request from the OS, and uses a search request responder to respond to the received device search request. Further, a print job receiver receives a print job from the OS, which has registered the virtual printer A as a transmission destination of the print job based on the response, in accordance with a specific protocol. Then, a print job converter converts the received print job, and a print job transmitter transmits the converted print job to a printer AY, which does not support the specific protocol, via a job generator in accordance with a protocol different from the specific protocol.