US 5,687,301 AGranted

Field correction of application specific printer driver problems

AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company

InventorsDeVerl N. Stokes, Terry P. Mahoney

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The present invention allows for field changes of the function of a print driver based on the application requesting print driver services. First, a utility is activated. Using the utility, the application is selected and a flag is set that indicates the problem function. The flag and information about the associated application are stored in a data structure. Finally, the data structure is stored in a storage device. When the application requests services of the printer driver, all the data structures are scanned looking for an entry for the requesting application. If an entry is found, then the function flag is used to direct a change in the function of the printer driver. If an entry is not found, then a permanent list is searched for an entry of the application. Again, if an entry is found in the permanent list it is used to direct a change in the function of the printer driver.

Claims1

Dependent claims

A method for changing a function of a printer driver, said method comprising the steps of:

activating a utility;
selecting an application through said utility;
indicating said function by setting a function flag;
associating said function flag with said application in a data structure;
storing said data structure in a storage means;
detecting when said application requests services of said printer driver;
reading said data structure from said storage means
first searching said data structure for said function flag associated with said application;
if said step of first searching finds said function flag associated with said application, then
retrieving said function flag;
using said function flag to direct a change in said function of said printer driver;
if said step of first searching fails to find said function flag associated with said application, then
second searching a hardcoded list for an entry associated with said application;
and
if said step of second searching finds said entry, then allowing said entry to direct a change in said function of said printer driver.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/528,589Filed 15 Sep 1995
Granted: 11 Nov 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G06F 3/1206
Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management: resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
G06F 3/1296
Digital output to print unit , e.g. line printer, chain printer: printer job scheduling or printer resource handling
G06F 3/1224
Specifically adapted to use a particular technique: client or server resources management
G06F 3/1284
Specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure: local printer device