Adding printing to the windows registry

• US 6,184,998 B1
• Filed: 09/15/1997
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tebeka, Haim M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Popovici, Dov
• Application Number:
  US08/929,776
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 395/114, 395/712, 395/651, 395/500-4-5, 395/527, 707/203, 358/1.15, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.16, 358/1.17, 358/1.18, 358/1.9, 358/1.6, 358/1.1, 358/407, 358/434, 358/435, 358/436, 358/437, 358/438, 358/439, 358/468, 710/8, 710/14-19, 710/62, 710/64, 710/72, 345/326
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1224 Client or server resources management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1231 Device related settings, e.g. IP address, Name, Identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1257 by using pre-stored settings, e.g. job templates, presets, print styles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

A new printer for use in a Windows operating system is created by obtaining a new printer name, copying data corresponding to an existing printer, so as to obtained copied data, and substituting data corresponding to the new printer name into the copied data. Also provided is a printer driver for a Windows operating system which includes a number of user-selectable configuration settings and a user-selectable interface for instructing creation of a new printer. In response to actuation of the user-selectable interface, code within the printer driver creates the new printer and accesses an API of the Windows operating system so as to add an entry for the new printer to a printers branch of a registry in the Windows operating system. The new printer stores user-selected configuration settings together with a name of the new printer, and a value that points to a printer driver already installed in a drivers branch of the registry.

Claims

1. Computer executable process steps stored on a computer readable medium for creating a new printer object, comprising:

a copying step to copy data contained in a registry corresponding to an existing printer object;

a creating step to create the new printer object using the copied data;

a substituting step to substitute an obtained new printer object name into the new printer object; and

an adding step to add the new printer object in the registry, the registry thereby containing data corresponding to the existing printer object and the new printer object.

2. Computer executable process steps according to claim 1, wherein the new printer object name is obtained from a user via a user interface.

3. Computer executable process steps according to claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises a dialog box.

4. Computer executable process steps according to claim 1, wherein the new printer object name is generated based on an existing printer object name.

5. Computer executable process steps according to claim 1, wherein the new printer object name is generated based on a name corresponding to a selected setting for the existing printer object.

6. Computer executable process steps according to claim 1, further comprising a defining step to define the new printer object.

7. Computer executable process steps according to claim 1, wherein the adding step further comprising a registering step to register the new printer object with an operating system.

8. Computer executable process steps according to claim 7, wherein the registering step updates a printers branch of the registry in the operating system.

9. Computer executable process steps according to claim 8, wherein the new printer object name is substituted into a portion of the copied data corresponding to a device mode key and into a portion of the copied data corresponding to a printer name key, both the device mode key and the printer name key residing in the printers branch of the registry.

10. Computer executable process steps according to claim 1, wherein the copying step copies a configuration settings file from a directory for the existing printer object to a directory for the new printer object.

11. Computer executable process steps according to claim 1, wherein data corresponding to user specified configuration settings is substituted into a portion of the copied data corresponding to a device mode key in a printers branch of the registry in an operating system.

12. Computer executable process steps according to claim 1, wherein the new printer object is represented by an icon.

13. A printer driver comprising:

a plurality of user-selectable configurations associated with an existing printer, each of the configurations comprising configuration settings;

code to receive an instruction to create a new printer object; and

code to create the new printer object and to request an operating system to add an entry for the new printer object to a registry in the operating system when the instruction is received;

wherein the new printer object contains the configuration settings of a selected one of the user-selectable configurations and information that points to the printer driver.

14. A printer driver according to claim 13, wherein the code to create the new printer object includes code to copy data corresponding to an existing printer object.

15. A printer driver according to claim 13, further comprising code to substitute a new printer object name into the new printer object.

16. A printer driver according to claim 13, wherein the code to create the new printer object includes code to copy a configuration settings file from a directory for an existing printer object to a directory for the new printer object.

17. A printer driver according to claim 15, further comprising code to obtain the new printer object name.

18. A printer driver according to claim 17, wherein the code to obtain the new printer object name includes code to display a dialog box.

19. A printer driver according to claim 13, further comprising code to generate a new printer object name based on an existing printer object name.

20. A printer driver according to claim 13, further comprising code to generate a new printer object name based on a name corresponding to a selected settings file for an existing printer object.

21. A printer driver according to claim 13, wherein settings in the selected one of the user-selectable configurations have been set by changing the configuration settings for an existing printer object.

22. A printer driver according to claim 13, wherein settings in the selected one of the user-selectable configurations have been set by designating a configuration settings file corresponding to an existing printer object.

23. A printer driver according to claim 13, wherein the new printer object is represented by an icon.

24. A machine-readable memory medium for storing computer-executable process steps to create a new printer object, said computer-executable process steps comprising:

a copying step to copy data contained in a registry corresponding to an existing printer object;

a creating step to create the new printer object using the copied data;

a substituting step to substitute an obtained new printer object name into the new printer object; and

an adding step to add the new printer object, in the registry, the registry thereby containing data corresponding to the existing printer object and the new printer object.

25. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 24, wherein the new printer object name is obtained from a user via a user interface.

26. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 25, wherein the user interface comprises a dialog box.

27. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 24, wherein the new printer object name is generated based on an existing printer object name.

28. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 24, wherein the new printer object name is generated based on a name corresponding to a selected setting for the existing printer object.

29. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 24, wherein said computer-executable process steps further comprise a defining step to define the new printer object.

30. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 24, wherein the adding step further comprise a registering step to register the new printer object with an operating system.

31. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 30, wherein the registering step updates a printers branch of the registry in the operating system.

32. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 31, wherein the new printer object name is substituted into a portion of the copied data corresponding to a device mode key and into a portion of the copied data corresponding to a printer name key, both the device mode key and the printer name key residing in the printers branch of the registry.

33. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 24, wherein the copying step copies a configuration settings file from a directory for the existing printer object to a directory for the new printer object.

34. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 24, wherein data corresponding to user specified configuration settings is substituted into a portion of the copied data corresponding to a device mode key in a printers branch of the registry.

35. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 24, wherein the new printer object is represented by an icon.

36. A computer for creating a new printer object, comprising:

copying means for copying data contained in a registry corresponding to an existing printer object;

creating means for creating the new printer object using the copied data;

substituting means for substituting an obtained new printer object name into the new printer object; and

adding means for adding to the new printer object, in the registry, the registry thereby containing data corresponding to the existing printer object and the new printer object.

37. A computer according to claim 36, wherein the new printer object name is obtained from a user via a user interface.

38. A computer according to claim 37, wherein the user interface comprises a dialog box.

39. A computer according to claim 36, wherein the new printer object name is generated based on an existing printer object name.

40. A computer according to claim 36, wherein the new printer object name is generated based on a name corresponding to a selected setting for the existing printer object.

41. A computer according to claim 36, further comprising defining means for defining the new printer object.

42. A computer according to claim 36, wherein said adding means further comprising a registering means for registering the new printer object with an operating system.

43. A computer according to claim 42, wherein the registering means updates a printers branch of the registry in the operating system.

44. A computer according to claim 43, wherein the new printer object name is substituted into a portion of the copied data corresponding to a device mode key and into a portion of the copied data corresponding to a printer name key, both the device mode key and the printer name key residing in the printers branch of the registry.

45. A computer according to claim 36, wherein the copying means copies a configuration settings file from a directory for the existing printer object to a directory for the new printer object.

46. A computer according to claim 36, wherein data corresponding to user specified configuration settings is substituted into a portion of the copied data corresponding to a device mode key in a printers branch of the registry.

47. A computer according to claim 36, wherein the new printer object is represented by an icon.

48. Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer-executable process steps for creating a new printer object, said computer-executable process steps comprising:

copying code to copy data contained in a registry corresponding to an existing printer object;

creating code to create the new printer object using the copied data;

substituting code to substitute an obtained new printer object name into the new printer object; and

adding code to add the new printer object in the registry, the registry thereby containing data corresponding to the existing printer object and the new printer object.

49. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 48, wherein the new printer object name is obtained from a user via a user interface.

50. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 49, wherein the user interface comprises a dialog box.

51. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 48, wherein the new printer object name is generated based on an existing printer object name.

52. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 48, wherein the new printer object name is generated based on a name corresponding to a selected setting for the existing printer object.

53. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 48, further comprising defining code to define the new printer object.

54. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 48, wherein the adding code further comprising registering code to register the new printer object with an operating system.

55. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 54, wherein the registering code includes code to update a printers branch of the registry in the operating system.

56. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 55, wherein the substituting code includes code to substitute the new printer object name into a portion of the copied data corresponding to a device mode key and into a portion of the copied data corresponding to a printer name key, both the device mode key and the printer name key residing in the printers branch of the registry.

57. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 48, wherein the copying code includes code to copy a configuration settings file from a directory for the existing printer object to a directory for the new printer object.

58. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 48, further comprising code to substitute data corresponding to user specified configuration settings into a portion of the copied data corresponding to a device mode key in a printers branch of the registry.

59. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 48, wherein the new printer object is represented by an icon.

60. A computer that stores a printer driver which includes a plurality of user-selectable configurations associated with an existing printer, each of the configurations comprising configuration settings, said computer comprising:

receiving means for receiving an instruction to create a new printer object; and

creating means for creating the new printer object and requesting an operating system to add an entry for the new printer object to a registry in the operating system when the instruction is received;

wherein the new printer object contains the configuration settings of a selected one of the user-selectable configurations and information that points to the printer driver.

61. A computer according to claim 60, wherein said creating means copies data corresponding to an existing printer object.

62. A computer according to claim 60, further comprising substituting means for substituting a new printer object name into the new printer object.

63. A computer according to claim 60, wherein said creating means copies a configuration settings file from a directory for an existing printer object to a directory for the new printer object.

64. A computer according to claim 62, further comprising obtaining means for obtaining the new printer object name.

65. A computer according to claim 64, wherein said obtaining means displays a dialog box.

66. A computer according to claim 60, further comprising generating means for generating a new printer object name based on an existing printer object name.

67. A computer according to claim 60, further comprising generating means which generates a new printer object name based on a name corresponding to a selected settings file for an existing printer object.

68. A computer according to claim 60, wherein the user-selectable configurations have been set by changing the configuration settings for an existing printer object.

69. A computer according to claim 60, wherein the user-selectable configurations have been set by designating a configuration settings file corresponding to an existing printer object.

70. A computer according to claim 60, wherein the new printer object is represented by an icon.

71. A machine-readable memory medium for storing computer-executable process steps to constitute a printer driver, the printer driver comprising:

a plurality of user-selectable configurations associated with an existing printer, each of the configurations comprising configuration settings;

code to receive an instruction to create a new printer object; and

code to create the new printer object and to request an operating system to add an entry for the new printer object to a registry in the operating system when the instruction is received;

wherein the new printer object contains the configuration settings of a selected one of the user-selectable configurations and information that points to the printer driver.

72. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 71, wherein the code to create the new printer object includes code to copy data corresponding to an existing printer object.

73. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 71, the printer driver further comprising code to substitute a new printer object name into the new printer object.

74. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 71, wherein the code to create the new printer object includes code to copy a configuration settings file from a directory for an existing printer object to a directory for the new printer object.

75. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 73, the printer driver further comprising code to obtain the new printer object name.

76. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 75, wherein the code to obtain the new printer object name includes code to display a dialog box.

77. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 71, the printer driver further comprising code to generate a new printer object name based on an existing printer object name.

78. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 71, the printer driver further comprising code to generate a new printer object name based on a name corresponding to a selected settings file for an existing printer object.

79. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 71, wherein the user-selectable configurations have been set by changing the configuration settings for an existing printer object.

80. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 71, wherein the user-selectable configurations have been set by designating a configuration settings file corresponding to an existing printer object.

81. A machine-readable memory medium according to claim 71, wherein the new printer object is represented by an icon.