Function expansion method using print data for a point-of-sale terminal
First Claim
1. A function expansion method for executing a process that expands functionality of an application program configured to output print data, comprising:
- outputting the print data to a first communication port connected to a first printer by the application program, the first printer being of a first type configured to print a first type of data but not a second, different type of data;
acquiring the print data by a program for function expansion processing before the print data is received at the first communication port;
executing the function expansion processing based on the print data acquired by the program for the function expansion processing; and
outputting the print data processed by the function expansion processing to the first communication port or a second communication port connected to a second printer by the program for function expansion processing, the second printer being of a second type configured to print the second type of data but not the first type of data, whereinexecuting the function expansion processing includes determining whether the first printer is suitable for printing the print data, the determining including determining whether the print data includes the first type of data or the second type of data;
when it is determined that the first printer is not suitable for printing the print data, outputting the print data processed by the function expansion processing includes outputting the print data to the second communication port and not outputting the print data to the first communication port; and
when it is determined that the first printer is suitable for printing the print data, outputting the print data processed by the function expansion processing includes outputting the print data to the first communication port wherein the application program is a Point-of-Sales application program, and the Point-of-Sales application program generates the print data printed on a receipt.
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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.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A function expansion method for executing a process that expands functionality of an application program configured to output print data, comprising:
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outputting the print data to a first communication port connected to a first printer by the application program, the first printer being of a first type configured to print a first type of data but not a second, different type of data; acquiring the print data by a program for function expansion processing before the print data is received at the first communication port; executing the function expansion processing based on the print data acquired by the program for the function expansion processing; and outputting the print data processed by the function expansion processing to the first communication port or a second communication port connected to a second printer by the program for function expansion processing, the second printer being of a second type configured to print the second type of data but not the first type of data, wherein executing the function expansion processing includes determining whether the first printer is suitable for printing the print data, the determining including determining whether the print data includes the first type of data or the second type of data; when it is determined that the first printer is not suitable for printing the print data, outputting the print data processed by the function expansion processing includes outputting the print data to the second communication port and not outputting the print data to the first communication port; and when it is determined that the first printer is suitable for printing the print data, outputting the print data processed by the function expansion processing includes outputting the print data to the first communication port wherein the application program is a Point-of-Sales application program, and the Point-of-Sales application program generates the print data printed on a receipt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A function expansion device that executes a process configured to expand functionality of an application program configured to output print data, comprising:
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a first communication port configured to output data to a first printer being of a first type configured to print a first type of data but not a second, different type of data; a second communication port configured to output data to a second printer being of a second type configured to print the second type of data but not the first type of data; a data acquisition unit configured to acquire the print data generated by the application program to the first communication port before the print data is received at the first communication port; a function expansion unit configured to perform a function expansion processing based on the print data acquired by the data acquisition unit, wherein the function expansion processing includes determining whether the first printer is suitable for printing the print data, the determining including determining whether the print data includes the first type of data or the second type of data; when it is determined that the first printer is not suitable for printing the print data, the function expansion unit outputs the print data processed by the function expansion processing to the second communication port and not to the first communication port; and when it is determined that the first printer is suitable for printing the print data, the function expansion unit outputs the print data to the first communication port wherein the application program is a Point-of-Sales application program, and the Point-of-Sales application program generates the print data printed on a receipt. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification