Approach for managing printer driver settings
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for managing printer driver settings, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- at a client device, a printer driver causing a graphical user interface to be displayed, wherein the graphical user interface allows users to specify printer driver settings values for a particular printing device;
receiving, from a first user via the graphical user interface, particular printer driver settings values for the particular printing device;
receiving, from the first user via the graphical user interface, an indication to save the particular printer driver settings values specified by the first user;
in response to receiving the indication from the first user to save the particular printer driver settings values, generating printer driver settings data that specifies the particular printer driver settings values;
the printer driver validating the particular printer driver settings data values contained in the printer driver settings data with respect to the particular printing device by determining whether any of the particular printer driver settings values contained in the printer driver settings data are not currently supported by the particular printing device based on current capabilities of the particular printing device;
in response to determining that any of the particular printer driver settings values contained in the printer driver settings data are not currently supported by the particular printing device based on current capabilities of the particular printing device, then the printer driver performing one or more of i) notifying the user via the graphical user interface that one or more printer driver settings values contained in the printer driver settings data are not currently supported by the particular printing device and allowing the first user to correct incompatibilities and ii) automatically using one or more substitute printer driver settings values in place of the printer driver settings values that are not currently supported by the particular printing device, wherein the one or more substitute printer driver settings values are currently supported by the particular printing device;
causing the printer driver settings data to be stored;
receiving, from the first user via the graphical user interface, an indication to retrieve the printer driver settings data;
in response to receiving the indication from the first user to retrieve the printer driver settings data, retrieving the printer driver settings data and causing the particular printer driver settings values of the printer driver settings data to be displayed on the graphical user interface, wherein the first user can modify the particular driver settings values of the printer driver settings data via the graphical user interface to generate modified particular driver settings values; and
the printer driver using the modified particular printer driver settings values to process electronic data and cause a printed version of the electronic data to be printed at the particular printing device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An approach is provided for managing printer driver settings. According to the approach, printer driver settings specified by a user for electronic data are maintained as a “print tag”. Print tags may be stored, either local to a client device or remotely to a client device, and later retrieved when electronic data is to be printed again. This allows printer driver settings to be maintained on a per electronic data, e.g., electronic document, basis and re-used any number of times. It also allows printer driver settings to be persistently maintained when the execution of application programs and print drivers is terminated or in the event of failures. Print tags may be shared among different users to allow multiple users to easily and conveniently use the same printer driver settings to print the same electronic data, without each user having to manually enter the printer driver settings.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for managing printer driver settings, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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at a client device, a printer driver causing a graphical user interface to be displayed, wherein the graphical user interface allows users to specify printer driver settings values for a particular printing device; receiving, from a first user via the graphical user interface, particular printer driver settings values for the particular printing device; receiving, from the first user via the graphical user interface, an indication to save the particular printer driver settings values specified by the first user; in response to receiving the indication from the first user to save the particular printer driver settings values, generating printer driver settings data that specifies the particular printer driver settings values; the printer driver validating the particular printer driver settings data values contained in the printer driver settings data with respect to the particular printing device by determining whether any of the particular printer driver settings values contained in the printer driver settings data are not currently supported by the particular printing device based on current capabilities of the particular printing device; in response to determining that any of the particular printer driver settings values contained in the printer driver settings data are not currently supported by the particular printing device based on current capabilities of the particular printing device, then the printer driver performing one or more of i) notifying the user via the graphical user interface that one or more printer driver settings values contained in the printer driver settings data are not currently supported by the particular printing device and allowing the first user to correct incompatibilities and ii) automatically using one or more substitute printer driver settings values in place of the printer driver settings values that are not currently supported by the particular printing device, wherein the one or more substitute printer driver settings values are currently supported by the particular printing device; causing the printer driver settings data to be stored;
receiving, from the first user via the graphical user interface, an indication to retrieve the printer driver settings data;in response to receiving the indication from the first user to retrieve the printer driver settings data, retrieving the printer driver settings data and causing the particular printer driver settings values of the printer driver settings data to be displayed on the graphical user interface, wherein the first user can modify the particular driver settings values of the printer driver settings data via the graphical user interface to generate modified particular driver settings values; and the printer driver using the modified particular printer driver settings values to process electronic data and cause a printed version of the electronic data to be printed at the particular printing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A machine-readable medium method for managing printer driver settings, the machine-readable medium carrying instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, causes:
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at a client device, a printer driver causing a graphical user interface to be displayed, wherein the graphical user interface allows users to specify printer driver settings values for a particular printing device; receiving, from a first user via the graphical user interface, particular printer driver settings values for the particular printing device; receiving, from the first user via the graphical user interface, an indication to save the particular printer driver settings values specified by the first user; in response to receiving the indication from the first user to save the particular printer driver settings values, generating printer driver settings data that specifies the particular printer driver settings values; the printer driver validating the particular printer driver settings data values contained in the printer driver settings data with respect to the particular printing device by determining whether any of the particular printer driver settings values contained in the printer driver settings data are not currently supported by the particular printing device based on current capabilities of the particular printing device; in response to determining that any of the particular printer driver settings values contained in the printer driver settings data are not currently supported by the particular printing device based on current capabilities of the particular printing device, then the printer driver performing one or more of i) notifying the user via the graphical user interface that one or more printer driver settings values contained in the printer driver settings data are not currently supported by the particular printing device and allowing the first user to correct incompatibilities and ii) automatically using one or more substitute printer driver settings values in place of the printer driver settings values that are not currently supported by the particular printing device, wherein the one or more substitute printer driver settings values are currently supported by the particular printing device; causing the printer driver settings data to be stored;
receiving, from the first user via the graphical user interface, an indication to retrieve the printer driver settings data;in response to receiving the indication from the first user to retrieve the printer driver settings data, retrieving the printer driver settings data and causing the particular printer driver settings values of the printer driver settings data to be displayed on the graphical user interface, wherein the first user can modify the particular driver settings values of the printer driver settings data via the graphical user interface to generate modified particular driver settings values; and the printer driver using the modified particular printer driver settings values to process electronic data and cause a printed version of the electronic data to be printed at the particular printing device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for managing printer driver settings, the apparatus comprising:
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a printer driver configured to; at a client device, cause a graphical user interface to be displayed, wherein the graphical user interface allows users to specify printer driver settings values for a particular printing device; receive, from a first user via the graphical user interface, particular printer driver settings values for the particular printing device; receive, from the first user via the graphical user interface, an indication to save the particular printer driver settings values specified by the first user; in response to receiving the indication from the first user to save the particular printer driver settings values, generate printer driver settings data that specifies the particular printer driver settings values; the printer driver validating the particular printer driver settings data values contained in the printer driver settings data with respect to the particular printing device by determining whether any of the particular printer driver settings values contained in the printer driver settings data are not currently supported by the particular printing device based on current capabilities of the particular printing device; in response to determining that any of the particular printer driver settings values contained in the printer driver settings data are not currently supported by the particular printing device based on current capabilities of the particular printing device, then the printer driver performing one or more of i) notifying the user via the graphical user interface that one or more printer driver settings values contained in the printer driver settings data are not currently supported by the particular printing device and allowing the first user to correct incompatibilities and ii) automatically using one or more substitute printer driver settings values in place of the printer driver settings values that are not currently supported by the particular printing device, wherein the one or more substitute printer driver settings values are currently supported by the particular printing device; cause the printer driver settings data to be stored;
receiving, from the first user via the graphical user interface, an indication to retrieve the printer driver settings data;in response to receiving the indication from the first user to retrieve the printer driver settings data, retrieving the printer driver settings data and causing the particular printer driver settings values of the printer driver settings data to be displayed on the graphical user interface, wherein the first user can modify the particular driver settings values of the printer driver settings data via the graphical user interface to generate modified particular driver settings values; and the printer driver using the modified particular printer driver settings values to process electronic data and cause a printed version of the electronic data to be printed at the particular printing device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification