Expanding application functionality without changing the existing application
First Claim
1. A function expansion method for executing a process that expands application functionality, the function expansion method comprising:
- outputting print data from an application that operates on an application layer to a first communication port;
acquiring the print data at an operating system kernel layer on which an operating system operates before the print data is received at the first communication port;
performing at the application layer a process that expands a function of the acquired print data; and
outputting the print data after processing to the first communication port or a second communication port suited to the print data.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various functions can be easily added using print data output from an existing application without modifying the existing application program. A function expansion method for executing a process that expands the functions of an application runs on a computer that operates according to an operating system on the operating system kernel layer, executes a specific process according to an application on an application layer, and has one or more communication ports, includes a step of acquiring print data output from the application on the operating system kernel layer, and a step of performing at the application layer a process expanding the function of the acquired print data, and outputs the print data after processing to a suitable communication port.
18 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A function expansion method for executing a process that expands application functionality, the function expansion method comprising:
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outputting print data from an application that operates on an application layer to a first communication port; acquiring the print data at an operating system kernel layer on which an operating system operates before the print data is received at the first communication port; performing at the application layer a process that expands a function of the acquired print data; and outputting the print data after processing to the first communication port or a second communication port suited to the print data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A function expansion device that executes a process that expands application functionality, the function expansion device comprising:
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a first communication port that outputs data; a second communication port that outputs data; a data acquisition unit that acquires print data output from an application that operates on an application layer to the first communication port at an operating system kernel layer on which an operation system operates before the print data is received at the first communication port; and a function expansion unit that performs at the application layer a process that expands a function of print data acquired by the data acquisition unit, and outputs the print data after processing to the first communication port or the second communication port suited to the data. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A device, comprising:
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an application on an application layer; a first communication port; a second communication port; and a processor configured to acquire print out data output from the application to the first communication port at an operating system kernel layer before the print data is received at the first communication port; perform at the application layer a process that expands a function of the acquired print data and output the acquired print data after processing to the first or second communication port suited to the data.
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Specification