Multi-source, adaptive printer driver configuration

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention provide techniques whereby a printer driver may be modified and supplemented over time. For example, a framework may be provided which enables a printer driver's functionality to be supplemented over time to include new and/or enhanced features, such as features relating to the manner in which the capabilities of a printer are configured, print settings are manipulated, information is presented to users, print-related system events are handled, etc. In some embodiments, one or more components (which may be included in a print subsystem provided by an operating system of a computing device, in a printer driver, and/or some other system element) may be configured to automatically seek and acquire configuration data from any of various sources, including the printer device, one or more online sources, and/or other sources.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . At least one computer-readable medium, comprising at least one of a memory or a disk, having instructions stored thereon for performing operations that supplement drivers for printer devices, the operations comprising:
 determining that new configuration data for adding a new feature to an existing printer driver and/or for enhancing an existing feature of the printer driver was made available by any of a plurality of sources, the plurality of sources comprising a printer device driven by the printer driver and at least one online source;   obtaining the new configuration data from at least one of the plurality of sources;   using the obtained configuration data to add the new feature to the printer driver and/or enhance the existing feature of the existing printer driver.   
     
     
         22 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein prior to the use of the obtained configuration data, the printer driver is configured with a base configuration. 
     
     
         23 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the base configuration of the printer driver enables the printer driver to interoperate with a plurality of types of printer devices. 
     
     
         24 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 resolving a conflict relating to the new configuration data via use of a script written in a scripting language.   
     
     
         25 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the new feature that is added and/or the existing feature that is enhanced relates to a manner in which one or more capabilities of the printer device are configured, one or more print settings for a print job are manipulated, or to how information relating to printing by the printer device is presented to a user. 
     
     
         26 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of sources further includes an administrator. 
     
     
         27 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the new configuration data specifies a restriction relating to printing by the printer device. 
     
     
         28 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 making the new feature that has been added and/or the existing feature that has been enhanced available for use by an application operable to print.   
     
     
         29 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein determining that new configuration data was made available comprises:
 employing a printer device communication protocol to communicate with the printer device.   
     
     
         30 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one online source is accessible via the Internet. 
     
     
         31 . A system, comprising:
 at least one memory; and   at least one processor, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor are respectively configured to store and execute instructions, including instructions that cause the system to:
 determine that new configuration data for modifying an existing printer driver that drives a printer device was made available by any of a plurality of sources, the plurality of sources comprising the printer device and at least one online source; 
 obtain the new configuration data from at least one of the plurality of sources; and 
 modify the printer driver according to the obtained configuration data, the modification including:
 addition of one or more new features to the printer driver; and/or 
 enhancement of one or more existing features of the printer driver. 
 
   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 the printer device.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more new features that are added and/or the one or more existing features that are enhanced relate to a manner in which one or more capabilities of the printer device are configured, one or more print settings for a print job are manipulated, or to how information relating to printing by the printer device is presented to a user. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions also cause the system to:
 resolve an overlap and/or conflict in the new configuration data for at least two features.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions also cause the system to:
 make the one or more new features that are added and/or the one or more existing features that are enhanced available for use by an application that prints.   
     
     
         36 . A method for modifying a printer driver of a computing device, the method comprising:
 determining that new configuration data for adding a new feature to a printer driver already installed on the computing device and/or for enhancing an existing feature of the printer driver was made available;   obtaining the new configuration data for adding the new feature to the printer driver and/or for enhancing the existing feature of the printer driver; and   modifying the printer driver that is already installed on the computing device according to the new configuration data, wherein the modification of the printer driver adds the new feature to the printer driver and/or enhances the existing feature of the printer driver.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the computing device is executing an operating system comprising at least one component, and wherein the method is performed by the at least one component. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one component forms part of a print subsystem of the operating system. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein:
 determining that the new configuration data for adding the new feature to the printer driver and/or for enhancing the existing feature of the printer driver, includes:
 querying a printer device for new configuration data associated with the printer device; and 
   obtaining the new configuration data for adding the new feature to the printer driver and/or for enhancing the existing feature of the printer driver includes:
 receiving the new configuration data from the printer device in response to the query. 
   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the one or more new features that are added and/or the one or more existing features that are enhanced relate to a manner in which one or more capabilities of the printer device are configured, one or more print settings for a print job are manipulated, and to how information relating to printing by the printer device is presented to a user.