Automatic adaptive document printing help system

• US 7,096,424 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Graham, Jamey, Hart, Peter E.
• Primary Examiner(s): BASHORE, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US10/402,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20040083431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 715512-513, 715/526, 707 2- 4
• US Class Current: 715/274
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/216 using statistical methods
• 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 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00427 using a menu list H04N1/00421, H04N1/00424, H04N1/00429 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0045 vertically
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00458 Sequential viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. browsing or scrolling
• 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 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

An automatic printing assistant application for documents in electronic form is provided by virtue of the present invention. In certain embodiments, an elongated thumbnail image of all or part of an electronically stored document is displayed. A section of the document of interest to the reader is emphasized. Movement of the emphasized area in the elongated thumbnail image assists the user with the selection of sections or pages of the document for printing. The operation of the assistant is personalizable for a particular user by setting of a sensitivity level and selection of relevant topics of interest. Some embodiments of the assistant are also capable of improved performance over time by both automatic and manual feedback. The assistant is usable with many popular electronic document formats.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling printing of an electronically stored document comprising:

receiving a user input requesting the electronically stored document;

in response to the user input, determining a plurality of concepts of interest associated with the user;

determining, from the plurality of determined concepts of interest, at least one of a plurality of keywords relating the concepts of interest to contents of the electronically stored document;

analyzing the electronically stored document to identify locations of discussion of the plurality of concepts of interest in the electronically stored document, wherein the identified locations comprise a first location of discussion corresponding to a first concept of interest and a second location of discussion corresponding to a second concept of interest;

displaying visual indications of the identified locations;

receiving user input requesting printing the locations of discussion of the plurality of concepts of interest in the electronically stored document; and

in response to the user input, printing portions of the electronically stored document comprising the locations of discussion of the plurality of concepts of interest in the electronically stored document, wherein the printed portions of the electronically stored document comprise the first location of discussion and the second location of discussion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting an interface that is configured to receive the user input requesting the electronically stored document.

3. The method of 2, wherein the outputted interface is included in an Internet browser.