U.S. patent application number 10/600523 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-15 for computer implemented printer control system.
Invention is credited to Livingston, Kris R..
Application Number | 20040008217 10/600523 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23707335 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040008217 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Livingston, Kris R. |
January 15, 2004 |
Computer implemented printer control system
Abstract
A method of displaying multiple printer options in a graphical
user interface includes dividing a viewing window into first and
second portions separated by a first divider including a first
visible affordance and displaying a scrollable list of features in
the first portion together with a scroll bar. A currently selected
one of the features is differentiated from non-selected features in
the list in a first visually distinct manner and other selected
features of the list are differentiated from non-selected features
in the list in a second visually distinct manner. The method also
includes dividing the second portion into first and second
sub-portions separated by a second divider including a second
visible affordance and displaying a print preview image of a
selected page in a document that is to be printed in the first
sub-portion. The selected page includes the currently selected one
of the features. The method also includes displaying controls for
the currently selected feature in the second sub portion.
Inventors: |
Livingston, Kris R.; (Boise,
ID) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY
Intellectual Property Administration
P.O. Box 272400
Fort Collins
CO
80527-2400
US
|
Family ID: |
23707335 |
Appl. No.: |
10/600523 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10600523 |
Jun 19, 2003 |
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09430383 |
Oct 29, 1999 |
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6614454 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/700 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/1259 20130101;
G06F 3/1205 20130101; G06F 3/1255 20130101; G06F 3/1232 20130101;
G06F 3/1285 20130101; G06F 3/1284 20130101; G06F 3/1256
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/700 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An article of manufacture comprising: a computer usable medium
having computer readable code embodied therein to cause a display
to depict a graphical user interface for setting printer options,
the graphical user interface including a first portion showing a
scrollable list of print features, a second portion and a first
divider separating the first and second portions, the second
portion including a first sub portion displaying a print preview
image, a second sub portion displaying controls for a selected
feature from the scrollable list and a second divider separating
the first and second sub portions, the computer readable program
code in the article of manufacture being configured to: adjust
relative sizes of the first and second portions in response to user
adjustment of the first affordance; adjust relative sizes of the
first and second sub portions in response to user adjustment of the
second affordance; cause a newly user-selected feature in the
scrollable list to be displayed in a first visually distinctive
manner; display a print preview image corresponding to the newly
user-selected feature in the first sub portion; and display
controls corresponding to the newly user-selected feature in the
second sub portion.
2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, the computer readable
program code further being configured to display a first affordance
in conjunction with the first divider, the first affordance
allowing user adjustment of relative sizes of the first and second
portions.
3. The article of manufacture of claim 2, the computer readable
program code further being configured to display a second
affordance in conjunction with the second divider, the second
affordance allowing user adjustment of relative sizes of the first
and second sub portions, and to concurrently adjust relative sizes
of the first and second portions and the first and second sub
portions in response to user adjustment of a third affordance
located at a juncture between the first and second dividers.
4. The article of manufacture of claim 1, the computer readable
program code further being configured to display a horizontal
scroll bar in association with the scrollable list when size
adjustment of the first portion causes a width of the scrollable
list to be too narrow to allow full display of the list of
features.
5. The article of manufacture of claim 1, the computer readable
program code further being configured to display a scroll bar in
association with the print preview image when size adjustment of
the first sub portion causes the first sub portion to become too
small to effectively display the print preview image entirely.
6. The article of manufacture of claim 1, the computer readable
program code further being configured to display a scroll bar in
association with the print preview image and to select a page
within a document, the page to be displayed in the print preview
image in response to user selection of the page using the scroll
bar.
7. The article of manufacture of claim 1, further being configured
to display one or more scroll bars in association with the controls
to allow a user to browse more control functions than can be
simultaneously effectively displayed in the second sub portion.
8. The article of manufacture of claim 1, the computer readable
program code further being configured to visually differentiate
features in the scrollable list that have been altered, from
default settings.
9. A computer implemented printer control system comprising: memory
configured to provide an operating system and operative to store
files representing at least one document to be printed; circuitry
configured to drive a display and provide an image of a graphical
user interface in a viewing window, the graphical user interface
configured to allow user selection and modification of print engine
options for printing the document; and processor circuitry
configured to divide the viewing window into first and second
portions separated by a first divider including a first visible
affordance, display a scrollable list of features in the first
portion together with a scroll bar, differentiate a currently
selected one of the features from the list in a first visually
distinct manner, differentiate other selected features of the list
from the list in a second visually distinct manner, divide the
second portion into first and second sub-portions separated by a
second divider including a second visible affordance, display a
print preview image of a selected page in a document in the first
sub-portion and display controls for the currently selected feature
in the second sub portion.
10. The printer control system of claim 9, wherein the processing
circuitry comprises a processor configured to visually
differentiate features in the scrollable list that have been
altered from default settings from other features in the list that
have not been altered from default settings.
11. The printer control system of claim 9, wherein the processing
circuitry comprises a processor configured to display a scroll bar
in association with the print preview image when size adjustment of
the first sub portion causes the first sub portion to become too
small to effectively display the print preview image entirely.
12. The printer control system of claim 9, wherein the processing
circuitry comprises a processor configured to visually
differentiate a user-selected feature in the scrollable list from
other features in the list.
13. The printer control system of claim 9, wherein the processing
circuitry comprises a processor configured to display a third
affordance at a juncture of the first and second dividers and to
simultaneously adjust relative sizes of the first and second
portions and the first and second sub portions in response to user
adjustment of the third affordance.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/430,383, which was filed on Oct. 29, 1999, titled "Scheme for
Presentation of Multiple Print-Job Modification Elements in a
Printing Software User Interface", naming Kris R. Livingston, as
inventor, which is incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to printers and computer networks.
More particularly, the invention relates to selection of print
features.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Over the last several decades, computer systems have become
increasingly complex, and, at the same time, have been modified to
provide increasing numbers of options, capabilities and
customization features for specific tasks. Printer technology is a
dramatic example of the increased capabilities that even modest
modern computer systems offer compared to those of a few decades
ago. Widespread adoption of features allowing on-the-fly
modification of print parameters (e.g., font, print size, mixed
graphic/text output, selection of multiple printers, paper sources
etc.) permit very complex printer operations to be carried out with
relative ease, compared to what is possible with older print
technologies, such as those using daisy-wheel printing systems.
[0004] The increased capabilities found within modern printer
systems requires increased sophistication in the commands that are
sent to the printer in order to carry out the user's desired print
options. In turn, the user has a larger number of options to select
in composing a document to be printed. As a result, the need to be
able to organize and to display printer options in a compact,
organized and user-friendly fashion has grown dramatically.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a
method of displaying multiple printer options in a graphical user
interface includes dividing a viewing window into first and second
portions separated by a first divider including a first visible
affordance and displaying a scrollable list of features in the
first portion together with a scroll bar. A currently selected one
of the features is differentiated from the list in a first visually
distinct manner and other selected features of the list are
differentiated from the list in a second visually distinct manner.
The method also includes dividing the second portion into first and
second sub-portions separated by a second divider including a
second visible affordance and displaying a print preview image of a
selected page in a document in the first sub-portion. The selected
page includes the currently selected one of the features. The
method also includes displaying controls for the currently selected
feature in the second sub portion.
[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
an article of manufacture includes a computer usable medium having
computer readable code embodied therein to cause a display to
depict a graphical user interface for setting printer options. The
graphical user interface includes a first portion showing a
scrollable list of print features, a second portion and a first
divider separating the first and second portions. The second
portion includes a first sub portion displaying a print preview
image, a second sub portion displaying controls for a selected
feature from the scrollable list and a second divider separating
the first and second sub portions. The computer readable program
code in the article of manufacture is configured to adjust relative
sizes of the first and second portions in response to user
adjustment of the first affordance, adjust relative sizes of the
first and second sub portions in response to user adjustment of the
second affordance, cause a newly user-selected feature in the
scrollable list to be displayed in a first visually distinctive
manner, display a print preview image corresponding to the newly
user-selected feature in the first sub portion and display controls
corresponding to the newly user-selected feature in the second sub
portion.
[0007] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
invention, a computer implemented printer control system includes
memory configured to provide an operating system and operative to
store files representing at least one document to be printed, a
print engine responsive to commands and configured to print a
document corresponding to a selected one of the files and a display
configured to provide an image of a graphical user interface in a
viewing window. The graphical user interface is configured to allow
user selection and modification of print engine options for
printing the document. The printer control system also includes
processing circuitry configured to divide the viewing window into
first and second portions separated by a first divider including a
first visible affordance, display a scrollable list of features in
the first portion together with a scroll bar, differentiate a
currently selected one of the features from the list in a first
visually distinct manner, differentiate other selected features of
the list from the list in a second visually distinct manner, divide
the second portion into first and second sub-portions separated by
a second divider including a second visible affordance and display
a print preview image of a selected page in a document in the first
sub-portion. The selected page includes the currently selected one
of the features. The processing circuitry is also configured to
display controls for the currently selected feature in the second
sub portion.
[0008] Other features and advantages of the invention will become
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the
following detailed description, claims, and drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a computer system
and printer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a process, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIGS. 3A and 3B are simplified views of a graphical user
interface for controlling the printer of FIG. 1 using the process
shown in the flow chart of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a simplified flowchart of a process for updating
information for the graphical user interface of FIGS. 3A and 3B, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a computer system 10
and printer 12 coupled together via a bus 13, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. The computer system 10
includes a central processing unit (CPU) 14 that is coupled to a
data and address bus 16. The data and address bus 16 is coupled to
a memory system 18. In one embodiment, the computer system 10
includes the memory system 18 or other computer readable medium
bearing software that will be described below. The memory system 18
includes nonvolatile mass data storage device 20. The nonvolatile
mass storage device 20 may include a CD ROM, floppy drive, hard
drive, zip drive, floptical storage, optical storage, tape storage
or any other forms of data storage and retrieval devices known in
the art. The memory system 18 also includes read only memory 22 and
random access memory (RAM) 24. A display 26 and a user interface 28
are also coupled to the CPU 14 through the data and address bus 16.
The computer system 10 includes I/O devices 30 coupled to the data
and address bus 16 to promote data communications between the
computer system 10 and external data processing and conditioning
devices, including the printer 12.
[0014] The user interface 28 includes a keyboard and a cursor
manipulating tactile input device, such as a mouse or a touchpad.
However, it is understood that other forms of input devices can
also be used including voice recognition systems, joysticks,
graphics tablets, data readers, card readers, magnetic and optical
readers, other computer systems etc. The user receives visual
feedback via the display 26. According to one construction, the
display 26 comprises a graphics display terminal, such as a CRT
display or a liquid crystal display. The user enters commands and
text via the user interface 28 and observes feedback from the
computer system 10 using the display 26. The CPU 14 operates on
data using modules composed of lines of code that may or may not be
defined by a subroutine separate from a main program and that
typically is stored in RAM 24, in response to the commands from the
user, and provides results that may be stored in the memory system
18, displayed on the display 26 or that may be communicated to
other devices external to the computer system 10, such as the
printer 12. It will be understood that while the invention is
described in terms of a computer system 10 and a printer 12 for
clarity of explanation and ease of understanding, it may also be
practiced in systems that include multiple computers, such as
servers and the like.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a process P1
in accordance with one aspect of the invention. The process P1
begins with a step S1. In step S1, a viewing window is divided into
two portions by a first divider, the second portion is divided into
first and second sub portions by a second divider and a scrollable
list of features and a scroll bar are displayed in the first
portion. In one embodiment, the first divider includes a first
visible affordance (shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B). As used herein, the
term "affordance" is defined to mean a visible feature having a
characteristic from which the user infers (imagines) the operation
method. In one embodiment, the second divider includes a second
affordance.
[0016] In a query task S2, the process P1 determines if a printer
feature from the scrollable list has been selected by the user.
When no printer feature has been selected from the scrollable list
by the user, control passes back to the step S1. When a printer
feature has been selected from the scrollable list by the user,
control passes to a step S3. In response to a user selecting one of
the features from the scrollable list, a currently selected feature
is displayed in a first visually distinct manner in the scrollable
list in the step S3. For example, the currently selected feature
may be displayed as light letters on a dark background, in contrast
to a list of features spelt in dark letters on a light background.
Other forms of distinctive display, such as bold, underlining,
colors, font choice or size and the like may be used to visually
distinguish the currently selected feature from other features in
the list.
[0017] In a step S4, controls for the selected feature are
displayed in the second sub portion. In a step S5, a print preview
image corresponding to changes made to the controls in the second
sub portion is displayed in the first sub portion. The print
preview image includes features that have been selected by the
user, such as watermarks and the like. When either the controls or
the print preview image require more space than is available in the
second or first sub portions, scroll bars are provided to allow the
user easy access to all portions of these images without
compromising the viewability of the images. The process P1 then
ends.
[0018] FIGS. 3A and 3B are simplified views of a graphical user
interface for controlling the printer 12 of FIG. 1 using the
process P1 shown in the flow chart of FIG. 2, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows a first screen
portion 50 and a second screen portion 52 separated by a first
divider 54.
[0019] In one embodiment, a first affordance 55 is provided at a
midpoint of the first divider. In the illustrated example, the
first affordance 55 is formed by vertical lines suggesting ridges
that are intended to suggest to the user that the first divider 54
may be moved by the user. In one embodiment, the first affordance
55 includes the entire first divider 54. In one embodiment, the
first affordance 55 includes less than the entire first divider 54.
In one embodiment, the first affordance 55 may be positioned at any
position along the first divider 54. In one embodiment, the
position of the first affordance 55 may be adjusted by the
user.
[0020] In one embodiment, the second screen portion 52 is separated
into a first sub portion 56 and a second sub portion 58 separated
from one another by a second divider 60 having a second affordance
61 located at a midpoint of the second divider 60. In one
embodiment, the second affordance 61 includes the entire second
divider 60. In one embodiment, the second affordance 61 includes
less than the entire second divider 60. In one embodiment, the
second affordance 61 may be positioned at any position along the
second divider 60. In one embodiment, the position of the second
affordance 61 may be adjusted by the user.
[0021] In the views shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first divider 54
and the second divider 60 are shown as bars having a width great
enough to facilitate easy positioning of, for example, a
mouse-driven cursor, on either of the first 55 or second 61
affordances. This allows the user to be able to "click and drag"
the dividers 54 or 60 to new locations, using, for example, a
mouse-driven cursor.
[0022] A third affordance 62 is formed at the intersection of the
first 54 and second 60 dividers. In the illustrated examples, the
third affordance 62 is denoted by a square positioned at a junction
of the first 54 and second 60 dividers. Relative sizes of the first
50 and second 52 portions, as well as the first 56 and second 58
sub portions, may be simultaneously adjusted by a user by clicking
on and then dragging the third affordance 62 in any direction. In
one embodiment, an input device in the user interface 28 of FIG. 1,
such as a mouse, may be used to "click and drag" the first divider
54 or the first affordance 55 left or right to adjust relative
sizes of the first 50 and second 52 portions. Other devices for
user input, such as touch screens, joy sticks or graphics tablets,
may be used instead of or in addition to a mouse. In one
embodiment, the input device may be used to click and drag the
second divider 60 or the second affordance 61 to adjust relative
sizes of the first 56 and second 58 sub portions. When the amount
of information that is to be shown in the first 56 or second 58 sub
portions exceeds what may be displayed without compromise of
readability, scroll bars are generated to allow portions of the
information to be clearly viewed under user control. In one
embodiment, the third affordance 62 may be adjusted by the user to
simultaneously adjust the relative sizes of the first 50 and second
52 portions and the first 56 and second 58 sub portions.
[0023] A list 64 of printer features is displayed in the first
portion 50, together with a scroll bar 66. This allows the user to
rapidly scan features in the list 64 and to select features in the
list 64 for modification from their default settings, using, for
example, a mouse-driven cursor. When the user selects a feature
from the list 64, that feature is shown in a first visually
distinct manner in the list of features 64. In the example of FIG.
3A, the "Staple" feature is selected, and is shown as a negative
image (represented in FIG. 3A by a box surrounding the entry
"Staple" in the list of features 64). When a feature is selected
from the list 64, the second sub portion 58 is used to display
controls for that feature. In the example shown in FIG. 3A, the
controls for the "Staple" feature include "Staple this Job Using"
(allowing selection of stapling or not stapling the printed
document). When the "Staple this Job Using" feature is selected,
choices are offered between one staple, two staples, three staples,
six staples or custom staples. This allows the user to select the
number of staples and their placement. When the "one staple" option
is selected, the user also is allowed to choose whether to place
the staple at an angle or parallel to one side of the document that
is to be printed.
[0024] Other kinds of options that may be selected include
"Watermarks," "Print on Both Sides," "Multiple Pages per Sheet,"
"Booklet Printing," "Copies" and "Colored Text." Printer options
include selection of a target printer, selection of a paper source
(or size), selection of an output bin and the like. Selection of
these options will cause the controls displayed in the second sub
portion 58 to change to the controls appropriate for the option
that is currently selected.
[0025] The first sub portion 56 displays a print preview image 68
showing placement of the three staples 69. The first sub portion 56
also displays a page selector such as a scroll bar 70. The scroll
bar 70 allows the user to select a specific page in the document,
using, for example, a mouse-driven cursor. The print preview image
68 shows the selected page as it will appear when it is printed. In
the example of FIG. 3A, the list 64 includes the "Watermark"
feature displayed in a second visually distinctive fashion. In the
example of FIG. 3A, the second visually distinctive fashion
displays the feature in bold text to indicate that the "Watermark"
feature has been modified from the default value for at least one
page of the document that is being previewed in the print preview
image 68. It will be appreciated that other visually distinctive
displays may also be used, such as underlining, colors, choice of
font and the like.
[0026] FIG. 3B shows the first 50 and second 52 portions of the
viewing screen, but with the "Watermarks" feature selected on the
list of features 64. As a result, the second sub portion 58
displays controls for the "Watermarks" feature. Additionally, the
"Multiple Pages Per Sheet" feature is also displayed, but in a
third visually distinct fashion, in this case using underlining.
This indicates that the mouse-driven cursor is positioned so that
it is ready to select that feature, but the user has not yet
selected the feature.
[0027] In both FIGS. 3A and 3B, a watermark feature is represented
in the print preview image 68 as "hollow" text (appearing as a
transparent outline). In practice, a light gray watermark might be
both displayed in the print preview image 68 and on the printed
document.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a simplified flowchart of a process P2 for
updating information for the graphical user interface of FIGS. 3A
and 3B, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
The process P2 begins with a query task S6 in which the process P2
determines if the user is selecting a different feature from the
list of features 64 of FIGS. 3A and 3B or is modifying control
options for a previously-selected feature on the list of features
64. When the query task S6 determines that a new feature is to be
selected, control passes to a step S7. The feature list 64 is
updated in the step S7 to visually distinguish the selected feature
from other features on the list 64. In either case, control then
passes to a step S8. The controls or their settings are updated in
the step S8. When a different feature is being selected from the
list of features 64, the updates to the controls in the sub portion
58 are linked to the newly-selected feature. When new control
settings are being selected for a selected feature, the new control
settings are applied to that feature. In either case, any updates
to the print preview image 68 are made in a step S9 and the process
P2 then ends.
[0029] Benefits of the graphical display include providing more
space per feature than is possible with a tab-type of display.
Additionally, as features are added or expanded with tab-type
displays, the tabs become smaller and are more crowded. This makes
it more difficult for the user to determine what feature is being
selected. Because space on the scrollable list is unlimited,
features may be easily added to the list without adverse usability
impact and do not have to be arbitrarily grouped as they are in
tab-type displays. A scrollable list allows more descriptive titles
than are appropriate for tab-type displays, because more space is
available for each title in the list of features than in a tab-type
display. The three affordances allow the user to easily adjust the
display in accordance with the features that the user is selecting.
The print preview image 68 is always displayed in a consistent
fashion to provide visual feedback reflecting the current settings
of the printing features. Displaying only the controls for the
currently selected feature in the second sub portion 58 allows
those controls to be viewed without distracting the user with
controls for other features. Additionally, selection of a new
feature is less disruptive for the user because only the control
portion of the display changes when a new feature is selected.
Inclusion of scroll bars when a feature or control display requires
more space than is available allows complex features to be fully
accessible to the user, even on very small screens.
[0030] The protection sought is not to be limited to the disclosed
embodiments, which are given by way of example only, but instead is
to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *