Print output control apparatus, print output control method, and computer-readable recording medium recording program having print output control capability

• US 6,947,158 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2000
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawamura, Yuji, Kitamura, Yoshio
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, DOUGLAS Q
• Application Number:
  US09/484,668
• Time in Patent Office: 2,072 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.14, 358/1.13, 358/1.16, 358/1.18, 358/1.9
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1256 User feedback, e.g. print preview, test print, proofing, pre-flight checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00238 using an image reproducing device as a local output from a computer output via network, e.g. network printing H04N1/00233
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device

Abstract

A print output control apparatus, a print output control method, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program having print output control capabilities. Print preview is displayed by use of print data to enhance user interface. A print output control apparatus comprises: a printer driver for converting data in the file into print data recognizable by the printer; a print data storage unit for storing the print, data supplied from the printer driver; a window display unit, executed by the printer driver, for acquiring the print data from the print data storage unit and displaying, onto a display device coupled to the computer, a preview window having a preview box for displaying the print data and a print data processing box operable by a user for changing the print data; and a print data processing unit, executed by the window display unit, for changing the print data when the user operates the print data processing box.

Claims

1. A print output control apparatus for outputting content of a file created by an application program to a printer coupled to a computer, comprising:

a printer driver for converting data in said file into print data recognizable by said printer;

a print data storage means for storing said print data supplied from said printer driver;

a window display means, executed by said printer driver, for acquiring said print data from said print data storage means and displaying, onto a display device coupled to said computer, a preview window having a preview box for displaying said print data and a print data processing box operable by a user for changing said print data; and

a print data processing means, executed by said window display means, for changing said print data when the user operates said print data processing box.

2. The print output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said print data processing means includes a capability of adjusting color of said print data.

3. The print output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said print data processing means includes a capability of adjusting print size of said print data.

4. The print output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said window display means having a capability of displaying said print data before being changed through said print data processing box and said print data after being changed through said print data processing box.

5. A print output control method for outputting content of a file created by an application program to a printer coupled to a computer, comprising the steps of:

converting data in said file into print data recognizable by said printer;

storing said print data;

displaying, onto a display device coupled to said computer, a preview window having a preview box for displaying said print data and a print data processing box operable by a user for changing said print data;

changing said print data when the user operates said print data processing box, storing the changed print data, and displaying said changed print data into said preview box; and

if requested for printing by the user, executing printing on said printer on the basis of the stored print data.

6. The print output control method according to claim 5, wherein, when said print data is processed in a predetermined manner for change, the print data before change and the print data after change are stored and these pieces of print data are displayed in said preview box.

7. A computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program having a print output control capability for outputting content of a file created by an application program onto a printer coupled to a computer, said computer program having capabilities of:

converting data in said file into print data recognizable by said printer;

storing said print data;

displaying, onto a display device coupled to said computer, a preview window having a preview box for displaying said print data and a print data processing box operable by a user for changing said print data;

changing said print data when the user operates said print data processing box, storing the changed print data, and displaying said changed print data into said preview box; and

if requested for printing by user, executing printing on said printer on the basis of the stored print data.

8. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 7, wherein said computer program further having capabilities of, when said print data is processed in a predetermined manner for change, storing the print data before change and the print data after change and displaying these pieces of print data into said preview box.