Web Browser Device Control Script for Offline Printer Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing control systems require significant processing power in the printer to perform character code conversion, limiting their applicability, and cannot control printers when the client terminal and printer control server are offline without a network connection.
Innovation Solution
A device control system using a standard web browser to acquire and execute a device control script for character code conversion, allowing command transmission to devices without a plugin or device driver, enabling offline operation and supporting a wide range of character code sets through a dynamically generated conversion table.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If character code conversion is performed by the printer, then the printer can be controlled, but the printer requires significant processing power which limits the range of usable printers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a client terminal as an intermediary between the web server and the printer. The client terminal performs character code conversion and generates control commands, acting as a mediator that relieves the printer of complex processing tasks. This allows simple printers with limited processing power to be controlled effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/computational processing system in the printer with a web-based system running on the client terminal. By using standard web technologies (HTML, JavaScript) that execute in the client's browser, the system substitutes the printer's processing role with client-side computation, enabling control of printers with minimal processing capabilities.
2Reliability
If a printer driver is installed on the client terminal, then the printer can be controlled offline, but the system complexity increases and development costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the client terminal universal by using standard web browsers that are already present on most devices. Instead of requiring specialized printer driver software for each printer type, the system uses a universal web-based interface that can control multiple different printers through standard web technologies, reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a virtual copy of the printer control interface through web pages that replicate printer functionality. The web server hosts HTML pages containing JavaScript code that mimics printer control commands, allowing the client terminal to control the printer through this virtual interface without needing physical driver installations.
3Ease of manufacture
If a plugin or device driver is used for character code conversion, then the conversion can be performed, but the system requires additional software components that increase complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables the client terminal to perform character code conversion independently using built-in web browser capabilities. The JavaScript code executed in the browser automatically handles character code conversion without requiring external plugins or device drivers. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional software components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of character code conversion from requiring specialized software components to using standard web technologies. By converting the control interface to web-based HTML and JavaScript, the system transforms the conversion process into something that can be performed by any modern web browser without additional installations or plugins.
Data Source
AI summary
A client terminal can control a printer even when the network connection to a web server is interrupted, and can convert character codes using a simple configuration. The client terminal having a standard web browser and connected to a web server and a printer has a web page acquisition unit that uses the web browser to acquire a web page with an embedded printer control script from the web server; a web page display unit that displays the acquired web page and run the printer control script; a character code conversion unit that uses the printer control script to convert script character codes to printer character codes, which is a character code for the device; and a command transmission unit that sends a command containing the converted printer character codes to the printer.