Systems and methods for providing support to a user regarding media usage

• US 20050050448A1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Dehart, Dave R.
• Application Number:
  US10/652,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20050050448A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00432 using tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00466 displaying finishing information, e.g. position of punch holes or staple or orientation references
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00472 using a pop-up window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for providing media usage support to a device user. In one embodiment, a system and a method pertain to presenting a link to media usage support in a device driver user interface, and providing media usage support to the user when the link is selected by the user.

Claims

1. A method for providing media usage support to a device user, the method comprising:

presenting a link to media usage support in a device driver user interface; and

providing media usage support to the user when the link is selected by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a link comprises presenting a hyperlink to a network file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein presenting a hyperlink to a network file comprises presenting a hyperlink to one or more of a web document, a web site, and a web page.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a link comprises presenting a link in association with a media tab of the device driver user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing media usage support comprises providing media usage support information in a network browser that retrieves the support information from a network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing media usage support comprises providing media usage support information retrieved from a web server by an Internet browser via the Internet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing media usage support comprises presenting information regarding media types, sizes, and weights for each input tray of a device.

8. A system for providing media usage support to a device user, the system comprising:

means for controlling a peripheral device from a user computer;

means for interfacing with the means for controlling;

means, included within the means for interfacing, for presenting media usage support information obtained via a network.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for controlling comprise a peripheral device driver that executes on the user computer.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for interfacing comprise a device driver user interface that is presented to the user in a display of the user computer.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for presenting media usage support information comprise a hyperlink to a network file.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for presenting media usage support information further comprise a network browser with which the information may be viewed.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for presenting media usage support information comprise means for presenting information including one or more of suitable media types, sizes, and weights for each input tray of the peripheral device.

14. A system stored on a computer-readable medium, the system comprising:

logic configured to operate and control a peripheral device;

logic configured to support interaction between a user and the logic configured to operate and control;

logic configured to enable provision of information regarding what media can be used with the peripheral device retrieved from a network, the logic configured to support interaction being contained within the logic configured to operate and control a peripheral device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the logic configured to operate and control comprises a peripheral device driver.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein logic configured to support interaction comprises a device driver user interface.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the logic configured to enable provision of information comprises a hyperlink to a network file.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the logic configured to enable provision of information further comprises a network browser.

19. A peripheral device driver user interface, the interface comprising:

a window that is viewable in a computer display;

information and options associated with the peripheral device and its operation presented within the window; and

a link to network-accessible media support information that explains what types, sizes, and weights of media may be used with the peripheral device.

20. The interface of claim 19, wherein the hyperlink is associated with a media tab presented in the window.

21. The interface of claim 19, wherein the link is associated with information that explains what types, sizes, and weights of media that can be used with various input trays of the peripheral device.