Abstract: Various kinds of value can be easily added to print data output from an existing application without modifying the existing application program. A value-adding method executes a process of adding value to print data output from an application on a computer that has one or more communication ports and executes a specific process by means of an application, and includes a data acquisition step of acquiring the print data at the operating system kernel layer before the print data is received at the communication port, and a data processing step that applies at the application layer a process of adding and/or deleting print content in the print data based on previously registered information, and outputs the data after processing to the specified communication port.

Abstract: An integrated device control service acquires output data, information related to the address of a first receiver and a first style sheet for the first receiver, and information related to the address of a second receiver and a second style sheet for the second receiver from an application and a style sheet database that stores a plurality of style sheets describing information conversion rules. In accordance with the success or failure of first conversion data distribution, the integrated device control service sends second conversion data, which is the output data converted according to the second style sheet, to the second receiver.

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.

Abstract: Various kinds of value can be easily added to print data output from an existing application without modifying the existing application program. A value-adding method executes a process of adding value to print data output from an application on a computer that has one or more communication ports and executes a specific process by means of an application, and includes a data acquisition step of acquiring the print data at the operating system kernel layer before the print data is received at the communication port, and a data processing step that applies at the application layer a process of adding and/or deleting print content in the print data based on previously registered information, and outputs the data after processing to the specified communication port.

Abstract: Data output from an existing application to specific devices can be easily distributed to plural devices. A method of distributing device-specific data output from an application on a computer that executes a specific process according to an application and has two or more communication ports causes the computer to execute a step of acquiring device-specific data output by an executed program to one specific communication port at the operating system kernel layer before the device-specific data is received at the communication port; and a step of analyzing the device-specific data acquired at the application layer, determines the device to which the device-specific data, and outputs the device-specific data to the communication port to which the device is connected.

Abstract: A first printer 60 has a connection unit to which data is input and which outputs print data based on the input data; a first printer print unit 71 that prints; a detection unit 62B that detects if the input printing result contains an error when the printing result of the print data output from the connection unit is input; a reprint storage unit 65A that stores print data when the detection unit 62B detects an error; and a reprint control unit 62F that outputs print data stored in the reprint storage unit 65A from the connection unit when a predetermined specific condition is met.

Abstract: A first printer 60 has a connection unit that receives print data input from a POS terminal 10, and outputs the print data to and receives the result of printing the output print data from a second printer 20, and a first printer print unit 71 that prints the received print data or data based on the received print data. When the result of printing the print data input to the connection unit is an error, the first printer 60 uses the first printer print unit 71 to print the print data, and outputs the result of printing by the first printer print unit 71 from the connection unit.

Abstract: A POS system 1 includes a POS terminal 10, first printer 60, and second printer 20. The first printer 60 includes a USB interface 64 to which a POS terminal 10 connects, and a first printer print unit 71 that prints, and can output information related to the second printer 20 through the USB interface 64 to the POS terminal 10.

Abstract: A first printer 30 in a printing system 1 has USB interfaces 40, 45. A first printer print unit 60 operates as a target device to the device connected to USB interface 40 and operates as a host to the device connected to the USB interface 45. The first printer print unit 60 prints based on the data received when operating as either a target or host device.

Abstract: A printer can be connected to a computer or other host device without being limited by the type of data processed by the printer. A POS system 1 has a POS terminal 10 connected to a first printer 60 that has a print unit 71. The print data acquisition unit 66 of the first printer 60 acquires data output by the POS terminal 10. A conversion unit 67 applies at least one of a process of converting graphic data to text data, and a process of converting text data to graphic data, to the data acquired by the data acquisition unit 66, and the conversion unit 67 outputs the resulting converted data.

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.

Abstract: An information distribution system reduces the effort required to change an application in conjunction with changes in process content and changes in the receiver type or specifications while also accommodating broadcast processes. A style sheet database stores a plurality of output style sheets, which are information conversion rules including conditional expressions related to information distribution. An integrated device control service acquires output data and receiver information specifying the address of the receiver and the output style sheet corresponding to said receiver. When the output data satisfies the conditional expression contained in the output style sheet, the integrated device control service distributes converted output data, which is the output data converted based on the output style sheet, to the address of the receiver.

Abstract: An information distribution system reduces the effort required to change an application in conjunction with changes in process content and changes in the receiver type or specifications while also accommodating broadcast processes. A style sheet database stores a plurality of output style sheets, which are information conversion rules including conditional expressions related to information distribution. An integrated device control service acquires output data and receiver information specifying the address of the receiver and the output style sheet corresponding to said receiver. When the output data satisfies the conditional expression contained in the output style sheet, the integrated device control service distributes converted output data, which is the output data converted based on the output style sheet, to the address of the receiver.

Abstract: The effort of changing an application in conjunction with a change in process content or change in the type or specifications of a receiver can be reduced, and a cooperative process involving a plurality of receivers without going through an application can be achieved. An integrated device control service acquires output data, information related to the address of a first receiver and a first style sheet for the first receiver, and information related to the address of a second receiver and a second style sheet for the second receiver from an application and a style sheet database that stores a plurality of style sheets describing information conversion rules. In accordance with the success or failure of first conversion data distribution, the integrated device control service sends second conversion data, which is the output data converted according to the second style sheet, to the second receiver.

Abstract: The effort of changing an application in conjunction with a change in process content or change in the type or specifications of a receiver can be reduced, and a cooperative process involving a plurality of receivers without going through an application can be achieved. An integrated device control service acquires output data, information related to the address of a first receiver and a first style sheet for the first receiver, and information related to the address of a second receiver and a second style sheet for the second receiver from an application and a style sheet database that stores a plurality of style sheets describing information conversion rules. In accordance with the success or failure of first conversion data distribution, the integrated device control service sends second conversion data, which is the output data converted according to the second style sheet, to the second receiver.

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.

Abstract: The effort of changing an application in conjunction with a change in process content or change in the type or specifications of a receiver can be reduced, and a cooperative process involving a plurality of receivers without going through an application can be achieved. An integrated device control service acquires output data, information related to the address of a first receiver and a first style sheet for the first receiver, and information related to the address of a second receiver and a second style sheet for the second receiver from an application and a style sheet database that stores a plurality of style sheets describing information conversion rules. In accordance with the success or failure of first conversion data distribution, the integrated device control service sends second conversion data, which is the output data converted according to the second style sheet, to the second receiver.

Abstract: An information distribution system reduces the effort required to change an application in conjunction with changes in process content and changes in the receiver type or specifications while also accommodating broadcast processes. A style sheet database stores a plurality of output style sheets, which are information conversion rules including conditional expressions related to information distribution. An integrated device control service acquires output data and receiver information specifying the address of the receiver and the output style sheet corresponding to said receiver. When the output data satisfies the conditional expression contained in the output style sheet, the integrated device control service distributes converted output data, which is the output data converted based on the output style sheet, to the address of the receiver.

Abstract: Various kinds of value can be easily added to print data output from an existing application without modifying the existing application program. A value-adding method executes a process of adding value to print data output from an application on a computer that has one or more communication ports and executes a specific process by means of an application, and includes a data acquisition step of acquiring the print data at the operating system kernel layer before the print data is received at the communication port, and a data processing step that applies at the application layer a process of adding and/or deleting print content in the print data based on previously registered information, and outputs the data after processing to the specified communication port.

Abstract: Data output from an existing application to specific devices can be easily distributed to plural devices. A method of distributing device-specific data output from an application on a computer that executes a specific process according to an application and has two or more communication ports causes the computer to execute a step of acquiring device-specific data output by an executed program to one specific communication port at the operating system kernel layer before the device-specific data is received at the communication port; and a step of analyzing the device-specific data acquired at the application layer, determines the device to which the device-specific data, and outputs the device-specific data to the communication port to which the device is connected.