Code generator for printer driver
First Claim
1. A method for generating source code in a code generator having a pre-compiled library of proprietary printer functions having entry points accessible by a link editor, said method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining design parameters for a printer driver, said design parameters including parameters relating to input functionality, output functionality, user interface functionality, and print data processing functionality;
obtaining a pointer to a printer port function that interfaces directly to a printer port; and
generating source code in a high-level language, with the source code implementing the design parameters using appropriate ones of the functions in the pre-compiled library, and by using the printer port function;
whereby the generated source code may be compiled by a standard compiler into a compiled object, and the compiled object can be linked by a link editor with the pre-compiled library of functions, so as to yield an executable which implements desired printer functionality.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A code generator together with a pre-compiled library of proprietary printer functions having entry points accessible by a link editor. The code generator obtains design parameters for a printer driver, the design parameters including parameters relating to input functionality, output functionality, user interface functionality, and print data processing functionality. In addition, the code generator obtains a pointer to a printer port function that interfaces directly to a printer port. Preferably, the code generator also obtains an other pointer to an other function that uses a port or an operating system function to access a system resource. Thereafter, the code generator generates source code in a high-level language such as C or C++, with the source code implementing the design parameters by including calls to appropriate ones of the functions in the pre-compiled library, and by including a call to the system function such as a printer port function that causes printer data to be output to the printer port. The source code also preferably includes a call to the other function that accesses the system resource. Thereafter, the generated source code may be compiled by a standard compiler into a compiled object, and the compiled object can be linked by a link editor with the pre-compiled library of functions, so as to yield an executable which implements desired printer functionality.
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Citations
61 Claims
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1. A method for generating source code in a code generator having a pre-compiled library of proprietary printer functions having entry points accessible by a link editor, said method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining design parameters for a printer driver, said design parameters including parameters relating to input functionality, output functionality, user interface functionality, and print data processing functionality;
obtaining a pointer to a printer port function that interfaces directly to a printer port; and
generating source code in a high-level language, with the source code implementing the design parameters using appropriate ones of the functions in the pre-compiled library, and by using the printer port function;
whereby the generated source code may be compiled by a standard compiler into a compiled object, and the compiled object can be linked by a link editor with the pre-compiled library of functions, so as to yield an executable which implements desired printer functionality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for generating source code in a code generator having a pre-compiled library of proprietary printer functions having entry points accessible by a link editor, said apparatus comprising:
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obtaining means for obtaining design parameters for a printer driver, said design parameters including parameters relating to input functionality, output functionality, user interface functionality, and print data processing functionality, and for obtaining a pointer to a printer port function that interfaces directly to a printer port; and
generating means for generating source code in a high-level language, with the source code implementing the design parameters using appropriate ones of the functions in the pre-compiled library, and by using the printer port function;
whereby the generated source code may be compiled by a standard compiler into a compiled object, and the compiled object can be linked by a link editor with the pre-compiled library of functions, so as to yield an executable which implements desired printer functionality. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for generating source code in a code generator having a pre-compiled library of proprietary printer functions having entry points accessible by a link editor, said apparatus comprising:
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a memory including a region for storing executable process steps; and
a processor for executing the executable process steps;
wherein the executable process steps include the steps of;
(a) obtaining design parameters for a printer driver, said design parameters including parameters relating to input functionality, output functionality, user interface functionality, and print data processing functionality;
(b) obtaining a pointer to a printer port function that interfaces directly to a printer port; and
(c) generating source code in a high-level language, with the source code implementing the design parameters using appropriate ones of the functions in the pre-compiled library, and by using the printer port function;
whereby the generated source code may be compiled by a standard compiler into a compiled object, and the compiled object can be linked by a link editor with the pre-compiled library of functions, so as to yield an executable which implements desired printer functionality. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer-executable process steps to generate source code in a code generator having a pre-compiled library of proprietary printer functions having entry points accessible by a link editor, said computer-executable process steps comprising:
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code to obtain design parameters for a printer driver, said design parameters including parameters relating to input functionality, output functionality, user interface functionality, and print data processing functionality;
code to obtain a pointer to a printer port function that interfaces directly to a printer port; and
code to generate source code in a high-level language, with the source code implementing the design parameters using appropriate ones of the functions in the pre-compiled library, and by using the printer port function;
whereby the generated source code may be compiled by a standard compiler into a compiled object, and the compiled object can be linked by a link editor with the pre-compiled library of functions, so as to yield an executable which implements desired printer functionality. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A computer-readable medium which stores computer-executable process steps, the computer-executable process steps to generate source code in a code generator having a pre-compiled library of proprietary printer functions having entry points accessible by a link editor, said computer-executable process steps comprising:
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a first obtaining step to obtain design parameters for a printer driver, said design parameters including parameters relating to input functionality, output functionality and print data processing functionality;
a second obtaining step to obtain a pointer to a printer port function that interfaces directly to a printer port; and
a generating step to generate source code in a high-level language, with the source code implementing the design parameters using appropriate ones of the functions in the pre-compiled library, and by using the printer port function;
whereby the generated source code may be compiled by a standard compiler into a compiled object, and the compiled object can be linked by a link editor with the pre-compiled library of functions, so as to yield an executable which implements desired printer functionality. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method for building a printer driver using a code generator that generates source code linkable to a pre-compiled library of proprietary printer functions having entry points accessible by a link editor, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing the code generator with design parameters that define functionality of the printer driver;
providing the code generator with a pointer to a printer port function that interfaces directly to a printer port;
obtaining generated source code from the code generator, the source code including variable definitions for or calls to at least one of the proprietary printer functions in the pre-compiled library and a pointer or a call to the printer port function; and
compiling the generated source code, the compiled code being linkable with the pre-compiled library to obtain an executable which implements desired printer functionality. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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Specification