The present embodiments relate to the field of printing and printer drivers, and more particularly to systems and methods for adding information to an N-Up document.
The use of printer drivers that serve as a gateway between an application and a printing device is well established. With a print driver, an application such as a word processor does not need to be aware of the technical details of the printer from which the user desires to print a document. When a user chooses to print a document, a relevant print driver user interface can display on a display device, allowing the user to select options relating to the print job such as, for example, duel-side printing, stapling, punching, sort/stack, paper size, number of copies, output tray, and the like.
A further option offered by some existing printer drivers is N-Up printing, which allows a user to condense a multiple page document into a smaller number of printed pages. To accomplish this, the size of the pages of the document is reduced such that multiple page images are printed on a single sheet. A user can specify a number for “N” to be the number of page images per sheet, which is usually a value between 2 and 16. One benefit of N-Up printing is to reduce the amount of used paper. For example, the amount of paper is reduced 50% with 2-Up printing, and 75% with 4-Up printing. N-Up printing can be particularly useful for producing handouts and presentation notes.
However, a drawback of N-Up printing is that, because of the reduced size of the page images, an N-Up document can be difficult to read. This can be particularly the case if the page images contain small text or image details, or if a high value is specified for N. If an N-Up document is difficult to read, then a viewer of the document may not be able to decipher the document or even know the subject matter to which the document refers. Further, the viewer may not be able to gauge which page of the original document to navigate to based on a glance of the N-Up document.
A need, therefore, exists for systems and methods to add functionality to the N-Up printing feature. Specifically, a need exists for systems and methods to help a user decipher the contents of an N-Up document.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of one or more embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview, nor is it intended to identify key or critical elements of the embodiments nor to delineate the scope of the embodiments. Rather, its primary purpose is merely to present one or more concepts in simplified form as a prelude to the detailed description presented later.
In accordance with the present teachings, a method of adding information to an N-Up output document is provided. The method comprises detecting a selection for one or more pages of the N-Up output document and one or more images of the one or more selected pages, receiving an image description for each of the one or more selected images; and appending, to the N-Up output document, the corresponding image description for each of the one or more selected images.
In accordance with the present teachings, a system for adding information to an N-Up output document is provided. The system comprises a printer driver configured to detect a selection for one or more pages of the N-Up output document and one or more images of the one or more selected pages, receive an image description for each of the one or more selected images; and append, to the N-Up output document, the corresponding image description for each of the one or more selected images.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the embodiments. In the figures:
It should be noted that some details of the drawings have been simplified and are drawn to facilitate understanding of the inventive embodiments rather than to maintain strict structural accuracy, detail, and scale.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present and exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
Various embodiments provide systems and methods that allow a user to add textual information to an N-Up document. Options relating to the functionality of the N-Up printing feature can be selected via a user interface of a printer driver, as known in the art. In particular, a printer driver user interface dialogue can allow a user to add information to each page image on a multi-image printed page, to each printed page, and to an entire N-Up document.
As described herein, an original document can refer to the document sent to a printer driver for printing; an original page can refer to a page of the original document as it appears before N-Up printing; an N-Up output document can refer to the original document after processed as N-Up; an N-Up page can refer to a sheet of the N-Up output document comprising reduced-size images of one or more original pages; and an image or a page image can refer to a reduced-size version of an original page as it appears on the N-Up page.
N-Up printing, as it is known in the art, refers to the ability to print multiple original pages on a single N-Up page. A user can specify a number for “N” to be the number of original pages per N-Up page, which is usually a value between 2 and 16. A print driver can reduce the size of the original pages such that page images of the original pages can fit on an N-Up page, according to the selected “N” value. For example, if a user chooses to print an original document with 18 original pages as 9-Up, then the print driver can create an N-Up output document comprising 2 N-Up pages with 9 page images per page. The page images can be reduced in size accordingly to fit on the N-Up pages.
In the present embodiments, a user can be given the option to add a description or other textual information about any or all of the page images, the N-Up pages, or the N-Up output document. The descriptions can function to give a viewer of the N-Up output document a brief summary or snapshot of the page images, N-Up pages, and/or N-Up output document. In particular, for example, if one or more images of an N-Up page are difficult to read, the description(s) can provide a relevant summary to what the images refer. Further, the viewer can use the description(s) to quickly locate or reference a corresponding original page in the original document.
The printer driver can format the N-Up output document to include the added descriptions when printed. In embodiments, if there isn't enough room for both the descriptions and the page images as originally specified by the selection of “N,” then the printer driver can reformat the N-up pages with more white space by reducing the number of page images per N-Up page. For example, if a 9-Up page does not have enough space for 9 page images and associated descriptions, then the printer driver can format the 9-Up output document to comprise 6 images per 9-Up page, with the extra 3 images being moved to the next 9-Up page in a cascading manner. Similar formatting can be made to the rest of the N-Up output document.
In embodiments, the added description of, for example, the N-Up output document can, in addition to describing the N-Up output document, comprise a reference to the original document. For example, the N-Up output document description can indicate a location where the original document is stored.
Referring to
As shown in
The printing apparatus 110 can be a printer for performing print processing in accordance with a print request from the PC 105. As shown in
The PC 105 can comprise a printer driver 125 that can receive a print request for a document from a user. For example, the user can open a document in an application and submit a print request for the document through the application. The printer driver 125 can query the user for print settings relating to the print request. For example, the print settings can comprise settings related for dual-side printing, N-Up, staple, punch, color, sort/stack, paper size, number of copies, printing device, and the like.
Once the user sets desired settings for the print request and confirms the settings, the printer driver 125 can create a job ticket 130 which can comprise the data and settings necessary for the printing apparatus 110 to complete the requested print job. The printer driver 125 can send the job ticket 130 to the controller 120 of the printing apparatus 110. The controller 120 can receive and process the job ticket 130 and the print section 115 can complete the print request according to the job ticket 130 by printing an output document.
Once the user enters values into the page number box 232 and the image number box 234, a snapshot image 236 of the corresponding original page can be displayed. In embodiments, the snapshot image 236 can be an actual image or a representation of the corresponding original page. The user can enter a text description of the snapshot image 236 into a text box 238. For example, as shown in
The image tab 230 can further comprise an OK button 242, a cancel button 244, and a new button 246. Upon selection of the OK button 242, the corresponding program can attach the description in text box 238 to the corresponding page image as indicated boxes 232 and 234, and return to a print option or document program, or navigate to other tabs, such as a page tab 250 or a document tab 252. Upon selection of the cancel button 244, the corresponding program can exit the image tab 230 functionality without saving or attaching any entered text, and return to a print option or document program. Upon selection of the new button 246, the corresponding program can attach the description in text box 238 to the corresponding page image as indicated in boxes 232 and 234, re-display the image tab 230 with blank fields in boxes 232, 234, and 238, and allow the user to enter in new values and descriptions for desired page images. In embodiments, upon selection of the new button 246, the corresponding program can pre-fill input boxes 232 and 234 with the next sequential page image in relation to the previously-entered page image.
The page tab 250 and the document tab 252 of the N-Up information box can be visible and selectable when the image tab 230 is selected.
Once the user enters a value into the page number box 254, an N-Up page image 256 of the corresponding N-Up page can be displayed. In embodiments, the N-Up page image 256 can be an actual image depicting the original pages in the corresponding N-Up page, or a representation of the original pages in the corresponding N-Up page. The user can enter a text description of the N-Up page image 256 into a text box 258. For example, as shown in
The page tab 250 can further comprise an OK button 264, a cancel button 262, and a new button 260. Upon selection of the OK button 264, the corresponding program can attach the description in text box 258 to the corresponding N-Up page as indicated in box 254, and return to a print option or document program, or navigate to other tabs such as the image tab 230 or the document tab 252. Upon selection of the cancel button 262, the corresponding program can exit the page tab 250 functionality without saving or attaching any entered text, and return to a print option or document program. Upon selection of the new button 260, the corresponding program can attach the description in text box 258 to the corresponding N-Up page as indicated in box 254, re-display the page tab 250 with a blank field in box 254, and allow the user to enter in new values and descriptions for desired N-Up pages. In embodiments, upon selection of the new button 260, the corresponding program can pre-fill input box 254 with the next sequential N-Up page in relation to the previously-entered N-Up page.
The document tab 252 can further comprise an OK button 274 and a cancel button 272. Upon selection of the OK button 274, the corresponding program can attach the description in text box 270 to the N-Up output document, and return to a print option or document program, or navigate to a tab such as the image tab 230 or the page tab 250. Upon selection of the cancel button 272, the corresponding program can exit the document tab 252 functionality without saving or attaching any entered text, and return to a print option or document program. In embodiments, a print button (not shown in figures) can be accessed to directly print the N-Up output document.
Referring to
The document summary window 305 can comprise a document summary comprising a description of the N-Up document as entered by the user and described herein, in particular with respect to
The N-Up page 310 can further comprise an N-Up page description 325 as entered by the user and described herein, in particular with respect to
In embodiments, if there isn't enough room on the N-Up page 310 for both the descriptions and the page images as originally specified by the selection of “N,” then the printer driver can reformat the N-up page 310 with more white space by reducing the number of page images 315 per N-Up page 310. For example, if a 9-Up page does not have enough space for 9 page images and associated descriptions, then the printer driver can format the 9-Up output document to comprise 6 images per 9-Up page, with the extra 3 images being moved to the next 9-Up page in a cascading manner. Similar formatting can be made to the rest of the N-Up pages in the N-Up output document.
The summary window 405 can comprise a document summary section 406, an N-Up page summary 408, and a page image list 410. The document summary section 406 can comprise a description of the N-Up document as entered by the user and described herein, in particular with respect to
The page image list 410 can comprise a description of one or more of the page images of the N-Up document as entered by the user and described herein, in particular with respect to
The page image array 415 can comprise page images as displayed on an outputted N-Up page, as described herein. Each of the page images in the page image array 415 can have a corresponding image indicator 416 that can have a corresponding indicator in the page image list 410. For example, as shown in
Referring to
In 505, a user can select to add information to an N-Up document as well as select an N-Up variable. In embodiments, the user can select the function from a user interface of a printer driver, for example as described with respect to
In 520, the user can enter information about one or more individual N-Up pages of the N-Up document. In embodiments, the user can specify an N-Up page number about which to enter information. Further, the user interface can display an actual image of the specified N-Up page, complete with corresponding page images, as a reference for the user. In 525, the user can enter information about the N-Up document. In embodiments, the information can be a summary of the N-Up document that can be used as a reference for the user.
In 530, the entered information of the page images, N-Up pages, and N-Up document can be formed into an N-Up output document. In embodiments, the N-Up document information can appear as a separate cover sheet to the rest of the N-Up output document. Further, in embodiments, the page image information and N-Up page information can appear on the same output sheet as the actual page images. Still further, in embodiments, the page image information and N-Up page information can appear with the N-Up document information on the cover sheet, where page image and N-Up page indicators can reference corresponding page images and N-Up pages in the N-Up output document.
While the embodiments have been illustrated with respect to one or more implementations, alterations and/or modifications can be made to the illustrated examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In addition, while a particular feature of the embodiments may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular function. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including,” “includes,” “having,” “has,” “with,” or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description and the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” The term “at least one of” is used to mean one or more of the listed items can be selected. Further, in the discussion and claims herein, the term “on” used with respect to two materials, one “on” the other, means at least some contact between the materials, while “over” means the materials are in proximity, but possibly with one or more additional intervening materials such that contact is possible but not required. Neither “on” nor “over” implies any directionality as used herein. The term “conformal” describes a coating material in which angles of the underlying material are preserved by the conformal material. The term “about” indicates that the value listed may be somewhat altered, as long as the alteration does not result in nonconformance of the process or structure to the illustrated embodiment. Finally, “exemplary” indicates the description is used as an example, rather than implying that it is an ideal. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the embodiments being indicated by the following claims.
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