Systems and methods for segmenting pages and changing settings for graphical elements in printing

• US 8,014,013 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ferlitsch, Andrew R., Owen, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins; Twyler L
• Assistant Examiner(s): REINIER, BARBARA DIANE
• Application Number:
  US10/876,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20050286063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,630 Days
• Field of Search: 715/274
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2206/1514 Sub-job
• 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 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1256 User feedback, e.g. print preview, test print, proofing, pre-flight checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1257 by using pre-stored settings, e.g. job templates, presets, print styles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server

Abstract

A method for modifying settings in printing a document is disclosed. Document data is provided that comprises multiple graphical elements. The document data is converted into printing instructions. At least one setting is applied to the printing instructions. A preview is presented of the printing instructions to a user through a graphical display. The method enables the user to select a specific graphical element from the preview and to change the setting to a new setting. A device specific rendering is simulated using the new setting. The user is provided with the option of saving the new setting.

Claims

1. A method for modifying settings in printing a document, the method comprising:

providing document data that comprises multiple graphical elements;

converting the document data into printing instructions by a printer driver, wherein the printing instructions comprise Render Independent elements (Graphics Device Interface (GDI) instructions) or Device Dependent elements (DDI Instructions);

applying at least one setting to the printing instructions;

presenting a first preview of the printing instructions to a user through a graphical display, the first preview comprising the multiple graphical elements, wherein the first preview is presented after the document data has been converted into printing instructions by the printer driver;

presenting a second, different preview, the second preview comprising a subset of the multiple graphical elements, the subset having less than all of the multiple graphical elements presented in the first preview, wherein each of the multiple graphical elements in the subset is presented to the user in the second preview based on device specific information, and wherein the second preview is displayed at a changed quality than the first preview, wherein the second preview is presented after the document data has been converted into printing instructions by the printer driver;

enabling the user to change the setting associated with the subset of the multiple graphical elements to a new setting;

converting the new setting into modified printing instructions, wherein the modified printing instructions comprise the same format as the printing instructions, wherein the modified printing instructions are provided to the printer driver; and

using the modified printing instructions when printing the document.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a plurality of global settings to the printing instructions.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising enabling the user to change the global settings.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing page segmentation by the Render Independent elements or by the Device Dependent elements.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing page segmentation by region.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing page segmentation by object.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising automatically highlighting individual graphical elements for the user that exceed a predefined threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the new setting is localized to the specific graphical element and does not apply to the entire document.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising simulating a device specific rendering using the new setting, wherein inputs are displayed to the user as part of the second preview that enable the user to establish the new setting, wherein the inputs consist of inputs to change the half-tone of an image, inputs to change the resolution of the image, inputs to change the color tables of the image, inputs to change the color calibration of the image and inputs to remove red eye from the image.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing the user with the option of saving the new setting.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the user to select all the graphics in one or more pages from the first preview.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising enabling the user to select a specific graphical element from the first preview and to apply a security setting for controlling access to the specific graphical element.

37. The method of claim 10, wherein the second preview is presented by a viewer that (a) receives a viewer renderer format generated by a viewer driver, (b) receives the change of the setting, and (c) provides a modified viewer renderer format with the new setting.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein a converter performs the converting of the new setting into the modified printing instructions using the modified viewer renderer format from the viewer.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the first and second previews are displayed as a thumbnail image.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the second preview comprises an individual bitmap.

13. A computing device configured for modifying settings in printing a document, the computing device comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

access document data that comprises multiple graphical elements;

convert the document data into printing instructions by a printer driver, wherein the printing instructions comprise Render Independent elements (Graphics Device Interface (GDI) instructions) or Device Dependent elements (DDI Instructions);

apply at least one setting to the printing instructions;

present a first preview of the printing instructions to a user through a graphical display, the first preview comprising the multiple graphical elements, wherein the first preview is presented after the document data has been converted into printing instructions by the printer driver;

present a second, different preview, the second preview comprising a subset of the multiple graphical elements, the subset having less than all of the multiple graphical elements presented in the first preview, wherein each of the multiple graphical elements in the subset is presented to the user in the second preview based on device specific information, and wherein the second preview is displayed at a changed quality than the first preview, wherein the second preview is presented after the document data has been converted into printing instructions by the printer driver;

enable the user to change the setting associated with the subset of the multiple graphical elements to a new setting;

convert the new setting into modified printing instructions, wherein the modified printing instructions comprise the same format as the printing instructions, wherein the modified printing instructions are provided to the printer driver; and

use the modified printing instructions when printing the document.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the instructions are also executable to apply a plurality of global settings to the printing instructions.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the instructions are also executable to enable the user to change the global settings.

16. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the instructions are also executable to perform page segmentation by the Render Independent elements or by the Device Dependent elements.

17. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the instructions are also executable to perform page segmentation by region.

18. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the instructions are also executable to perform page segmentation by object.

19. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the instructions are also executable to automatically highlight graphical elements for the user that exceed a predefined threshold.

20. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the new setting is localized to the specific graphical element and does not apply to the entire document.

21. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the instructions are also executable to simulate a device specific rendering using the new setting, wherein inputs are displayed to the user as part of the second preview that enable the user to establish the new setting, wherein the inputs comprise inputs to change the half-tone of an image, inputs to change the resolution of the image, inputs to change the color of the image, and inputs to remove red eye from the image.

22. The computing device of claim 21, wherein the instructions are also executable to provide the user with the option of saving the new setting.

23. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the instructions are also executable to enable the user to select all the graphics in one or more pages from the first preview.

24. The computing device of claim 21, wherein the instructions are also executable to enable the user to select a specific graphical element from the first preview and to apply a security setting for controlling access to the specific graphical element.

25. A computer-readable medium for storing program data, wherein the program data comprises executable instructions for:

accessing document data that comprises multiple graphical elements;

converting the document data into printing instructions by a printer driver, wherein the printing instructions comprise Render Independent elements (Graphics Device Interface (GDI) instructions) or Device Dependent elements (DDI Instructions);

applying at least one setting to the printing instructions;

presenting a first preview of the printing instructions to a user through a graphical display, the first preview comprising the multiple graphical elements, wherein the first preview is presented after the document data has been converted into printing instructions by the printer driver;

presenting a second, different preview, the second preview comprising a subset of the multiple graphical elements, the subset having less than all of the multiple graphical elements presented in the first preview, wherein each of the multiple graphical elements in the subset is presented to the user in the second preview based on device specific information, and wherein the second preview is displayed at a changed quality than the first preview, wherein the second preview is presented after the document data has been converted into printing instructions by the printer driver;

enabling the user to change the setting associated with the subset of the multiple graphical elements to a new setting;

converting the new setting into modified printing instructions, wherein the modified printing instructions comprise the same format as the printing instructions, wherein the modified printing instructions are provided to the printer driver; and

using the modified printing instructions when printing the document.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the program data further comprises executable instructions for applying a plurality of global settings to the printing instructions.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the program data further comprises executable instructions for enabling the user to change the global settings.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the program data further comprises executable instructions for performing page segmentation by the Render Independent elements or by the Device Dependent elements.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the program data further comprises executable instructions for performing page segmentation by region.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the program data further comprises executable instructions for performing page segmentation by object.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the program data further comprises executable instructions for automatically highlighting graphical elements for the user that exceed a predefined threshold.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the new setting is localized to the specific graphical element and does not apply to the entire document.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the program data further comprises executable instructions for simulating a device specific rendering using the new setting, wherein inputs are displayed to the user as part of the second preview that enable the user to establish the new setting, wherein the inputs comprise inputs to change the half-tone of an image, inputs to change the resolution of the image, inputs to change the color of the image, and inputs to remove red eye from the image.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the program data further comprises executable instructions for providing the user with the option of saving the new setting.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the program data further comprises executable instructions for enabling the user to select all the graphics in one or more pages from the first preview.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the program data further comprises executable instructions for enabling the user to select a specific graphical element from the first preview and to apply a security setting for controlling access to the specific graphical element.