Systems and methods for providing support to a user regarding print quality

• US 20050066013A1
• Filed: 09/10/2003
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2003
• 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:
  US10/659,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20050066013A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• 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 3/121 Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1235 caused by end of consumables, e.g. paper, ink, toner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server

Abstract

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

Claims

1. A method for providing print quality support to a device user, the method comprising:

presenting a link to print quality support in a device driver user interface; and

providing print quality support information 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 at least one 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 color tab of the device driver user interface.

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

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

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing print quality support information comprises presenting information regarding at least one of proper device operation and troubleshooting tips.

8. A system for providing print quality 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; and

means, included within the means for interfacing, for presenting print quality 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 print quality support information comprise a hyperlink to a network file.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for presenting print quality 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 print quality support information comprise means for presenting information regarding at least one of proper device operation and troubleshooting tips.

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; and

logic configured to enable provision of information regarding print quality issues retrieved from a network, the logic configured to enable provision of information being contained within the logic configured to support interaction.

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 print quality Support information that aids a user in identifying the cause of a print quality problem.

20. The interface of claim 19, wherein the link comprises a hyperlink to a web file.

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

22. The interface of claim 19, wherein the link is configured to take the user to information regarding at least one of the proper operation of the peripheral device and how to troubleshoot print quality problems.