Patent ID: 9317225
Filing Date: 2016-04-19
CPC Classification: G06F

Claim Text:
1. A method for managing filters in a filter pipeline, the method comprising: using a print driver having a set of print processing filters and a configuration file which describes selection and order of the processing filters when processing a print job; wherein the print driver is certified and digitally signed due to the selection and the order of the processing filters being defined and fixed; configuring in a processor by using the print driver with a plurality of generic proxy filters and configuration data associated with a print job submission a filter pipeline, wherein each of the plurality of generic proxy filters including logic to invoke at least one of a set of separate associated processing filters to form a combination that provides a necessary printing feature and wherein each of the separate associated processing filters in the set performing functions corresponding to those performed by standard processing filters alone; at least one of certifying and digitally signing the print driver with the plurality of generic proxy filters without any of the set of separate associated processing filters being known or present; wherein when a proxy filter is associated with a processing filter, the processing filter is loaded, and the proxy filter passes all calls to the processing filter; wherein the print driver is built with a sufficient number of proxy filters to accommodate the print driver's built-in features plus a desired number of add-in features; updating the set of separate associated processing filters associated with the plurality of generic proxy filters; and using the print driver with the plurality of generic proxy filters and the updated set of separate associated processing filters without having to at least one of re-certify and digitally re-sign the print driver; wherein each of the plurality of generic proxy filters being associated with a unique identification, and at least one of the plurality of generic proxy filters not being associated with any of a set of filter codes when the print driver is certified or digitally signed; wherein at least one of the plurality of generic proxy filters and a corresponding at least one of the set of separate associated processing filters are defined in compliance with a same specification for filters.