Printer, printer controller, and method of proofing a document

• US 20030174357A1
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sfaelos, Jimmy, Lester, Samuel M.
• Application Number:
  US10/099,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20030174357A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1256 User feedback, e.g. print preview, test print, proofing, pre-flight checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00222 details of image data generation or reproduction, e.g. scan-to-email or network printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00233 details of image data reproduction, e.g. network printing or remote image display using an image reproducing device as a local output from a computer H04N1/00238; digital output from computer to printer unit G06F3/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6011 with simulation on a subsidiary picture reproducer H04N1/622 takes precedence; matching two or more picture reproducers H04N1/6052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

A controller for a printer is provided, being accessible using a web browser, configured to render an image of at least a portion of a print job, prior to printing, in a format viewable on a web browser; receive instructions from a user, via a web browser, as to whether or not to proceed with printing of the print job; and effect printing of the print job in response to receiving an instruction to do so via the web browser. Also provided is a printer capable of generating a proof image or images, viewable via a web browser, of a document file prior to printing. Further provided is a method of proofing a document prior to printing by accessing a printer web page using a web browser.

Claims

1. A controller for a printer, accessible using a web browser, configured to:

render an image of at least a portion of a print job, prior to printing, in a format viewable on a web browser;

receive instructions from a user, via a web browser, as to whether or not to proceed with printing of the print job; and

effect printing of the print job in response to receiving an instruction to do SO via the web browser.

2. A controller in accordance with claim 1 and further configured to receive and store information from the user as to whether or not the user wants an image to be rendered by the controller, when the user requests printing, prior to printing.

3. A controller in accordance with claim 1 and further configured to request, via the web browser, instructions from a user as to whether or not to proceed with printing of the print job after rendering the image of at least a portion of the print job.

4. A controller in accordance with claim 1 wherein rendering the image comprises rendering a WYSIWYG image.

5. A controller in accordance with claim 1 wherein the printer further comprises a color management system.

6. A controller in accordance with claim 5 and further configured to manipulate the color management system in response to receiving an instruction from the user via the web browser.

7. A method of proofing a print job, comprising:

providing a printer with a controller configured to be accessible using a web browser;

rendering an image of at least a portion of a print job, prior to printing, in a format viewable on a web browser, using the controller;

receiving instructions from a user, via a web browser, as to whether or not to proceed with printing at least a portion of the print job; and

printing the print job in response to receiving an instruction to do so via the web browser.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein information from the user is selectively received and stored in the controller, via a web browser, as to whether or not the user wants an image to be rendered by the controller, prior to printing, in response to the user requesting printing.

9. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein instructions from a user are requested, via a web browser, as to whether or not to proceed with printing the print job after rendering the image of at least a portion of the print job.

10. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein rendering the image comprises rendering a WYSIWYG image.

11. A method in accordance with claim 7, and further comprising performing color management, using the printer.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the color management is performed by the controller, and wherein the color management is performed in response to receiving an instruction from the user via the web browser.

13. A printer comprising:

a housing;

a print mechanism supported in the housing;

a controller coupled to the print mechanism to control the print mechanism; and

a web server coupled to the controller and configured to render a proof image of at least a portion of a print job, prior to printing, in a format viewable on a web browser, to receive instructions from a user, via a web browser, as to whether or not to proceed with printing of the print job, and to effect printing of the print job in response to receiving an instruction to proceed with printing via the web browser.

14. A printer in accordance with claim 13 wherein the web server is further configured to receive and store information from the user as to whether or not the user routinely wants a proof image to be rendered, prior to printing, by the web server.

15. A printer in accordance with claim 13 wherein the web server is further configured to request, via the web browser, instructions from a user as to whether or not to proceed with printing of the print job after rendering the proof image.

16. A printer in accordance with claim 13 wherein rendering the proof image comprises rendering a WYSIWYG image.

17. A printer in accordance with claim 13 wherein the printer further comprises a color management system.

18. A printer in accordance with claim 17 wherein the web server is further configured to effect manipulation of the color management system in response to receiving an instruction from the user via the web browser.

19. A controller for a printer, accessible using a web browser, comprising:

means for rendering an image of at least a portion of a print job, prior to printing, in a format viewable on a web browser;

means for receiving instructions from a user, via a web browser, as to whether or not to proceed with printing of the print job; and

means for effecting printing of the print job in response to receiving an instruction to do so via the web browser.

20. A controller in accordance with claim 19 and further comprising means for receiving and storing information from the user as to whether or not the user wants an image to be rendered by the controller, when the user requests printing, prior to printing.

21. A controller in accordance with claim 19 and further comprising means for requesting, via the web browser, instructions from a user as to whether or not to proceed with printing of the print job after rendering the image of at least a portion of the print job.

22. A controller in accordance with claim 19 wherein the means for rendering an image comprises means for rendering a WYSIWYG image.

23. A controller in accordance with claim 19 wherein the printer further comprises means for managing color.

24. A controller in accordance with claim 23 and further comprising means for manipulating the color management means in response to receiving an instruction from the user via the web browser.