Virtual Printer Segmentation for VDI Printing Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtualized computing environments, particularly in VDI setups, printing to PDF or other document formats is inefficient due to the need for multiple user interactions and the inability of current virtual printers to reflect the specific printing-related properties of local printers, leading to incompatible formats and failed print jobs.
Innovation Solution
Creating a virtual printer at the host for each local printer connected to the user device, allowing each virtual printer to represent the specific printing-related properties of the corresponding local printer, thereby eliminating the need for user selection and ensuring compatible print formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single virtual printer is used for all local printers, then device complexity is reduced, but printing compatibility and reliability deteriorate due to inability to reflect specific printing properties of each local printer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the printing system by creating a separate virtual printer instance for each local printer. This segmentation allows each virtual printer to maintain the specific printing properties and capabilities of its corresponding local printer, resolving the compatibility issues that arise from using a single generic virtual printer for all local printers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual user selection and format conversion are required for printing, then printing versatility is improved, but productivity and ease of operation deteriorate due to multiple user commands and interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual printer automatically performs format conversion and printing operations without requiring manual user intervention. The system self-services by detecting the document format, converting it to the appropriate format based on the virtual printer's capabilities, and executing the print job automatically, thereby eliminating the need for multiple user commands and improving productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If format conversion is performed manually through user commands, then printing versatility is improved, but loss of time increases due to multiple user interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual printer performs format conversion in advance as part of the print job preparation process. By detecting the document format and converting it to the appropriate format before printing, the system eliminates the need for subsequent manual format conversion steps, thereby reducing the total time required to complete the print job.
Data Source
AI summary
The capability to print to a portable document format (PDF) file is provided in a virtualized computing environment that supports a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). Printing-related properties, of local printers coupled to a client device, are provided to a host, so that virtual printers at the host can be configured with the printing-related properties. A simulator may be provided at the host to receive the printing-related properties from the client device and to receive a query from a virtualized computing instance for the printing-related properties, instead of the query being directly sent to the client device.