Patent ID: 8970862
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A function expansion method that executes a process that expands the function of an application on a computer that operates according to an operating system on the operating system kernel layer, executes a specific process according to the application on an application layer, and has one or more communication ports, the function expansion method characterized by comprising: a virtual driver step in which the computer acquires print data output from the application to a printer driver before the print data is received by the printer driver, and sends the print data to the communication port specified in the print data; a virtual port step in which the computer acquires on the OS kernel layer print data sent to the communication port, or print data output from the application to the communication port, before the print data is received by the communication port, and relays the acquired print data to the application layer; and a function expansion step in which the computer applies a process that expands the function of the relayed print data on the application layer, and outputs the print data after processing to the communication port suited to the data.