Method to dynamically perform document layout functions

• US 6,894,804 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2001
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Wu, Vincent, Nguyen, Truc D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, DOUGLAS Q
• Application Number:
  US09/970,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.2, 358/1.9, 358/1.6, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/307, 358/3.12, 358/3.21, 358/504, 358/537, 358/538, 358/452, 358/488
• US Class Current: 358/1.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/151 Transformation

Abstract

A method and system are provided for formatting documents for printing in a selected format and resolution upon determination that the software program generating the print job is incapable of creating a document in the selected layout and at the selected resolution. The process of formatting the document involves causing the software program to generate a print job at a resolution lower than that selected by the user. Images of pages generated by the software program are then formed and printed at a higher resolution, such that the images formed on the printed pages are resized to fit multiple images on one printed page.

Claims

1. A method of formatting a document to be printed from a software program in a selected format and at a selected resolution, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving formatting data representative of a selected format and a selected resolution for an print image;

b) determining if the software program is independently capable of creating the document in the selected format and at the selected resolution;

c) receiving data representative of a selected output resolution for at least a portion of the document based upon the formatting data;

d) altering the resolution for at least a portion of the document prior to the generation of the document for printing by the software program upon a negative determination in step b);

e) generating, via the software program, at least a portion the document at the altered resolution and in a format different than the selected format;

f) receiving the altered resolution output from the software program and assembling the same such that when the altered resolution document is printed at the selected resolution, the format of the printed document matches the selected format; and

g) generating final print data from step f) adapted for printing the document at the selected resolution.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected format is n-up format, where n is an integer greater than 1.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the appropriate output resolution is the selected resolution divided by n.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the selected format is booklet format.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating images of pages of the altered resolution output of the software program.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising collecting the generated images of pages and reassembling the generated images of pages onto a new page.

7. A system for formatting a document for printing from a software program in a selected format and at a selected resolution comprising:

a) testing means for determining whether a software program is capable of independently creating a document in a preselected format and preselected resolution;

b) means for determining the appropriate resolution for at least a portion of the document based upon the selected format and the selected resolution;

c) means for altering the resolution for at least a portion of the document prior to the generation of the document for printing by the software program;

d) means for generating at least a portion the document at the altered resolution and in a format different than the selected format;

e) assembling means for receiving the altered resolution output from the software program and assembling the output such that when the altered resolution document is printed at the selected resolution, the format of the printed document matches the selected format; and

f) means adapted for communicating final print data received from the assembling means, which final print data is adapted for printing the document at the selected resolution.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the testing means is comprised of a printer driver.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the means for determining the appropriate resolution for at least a portion of the document is comprised of a printer driver.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the means for altering the resolution for at least a portion of the document prior to the generation of the document for printing by the software program is accomplished in accordance an instruction communicated by a printer driver to the software program.

11. The system of claim 7 further comprising a means for determining whether a printer controller is capable of formatting the document for printing at the selected format and at the selected resolution.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the means for reformatting the output is comprised of the printer controller.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the means for reformatting the output is comprised of the printer driver.