Cloud Print Server Pseudo Preview Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing technologies face challenges in providing user-friendly and intuitive interfaces for selecting printing options, especially in cloud printing environments where immediate access to document data is limited, leading to difficulties in rendering suitable print previews and user interactions.
Innovation Solution
A cloud print server with an application manager and pseudo preview generator that provides a pseudo print preview during actual preview generation, allowing users to select and adjust printing options directly within the print dialog, and generates and transmits the final print preview over the network for display, enabling intuitive option selection and preview updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cloud printing is used to enable printing from any device, then printing versatility is improved, but access to document data for preview generation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud print server as an intermediary between the user device and the document storage. The server receives print requests, retrieves document data from storage, generates previews, and manages the printing process. This mediator enables cloud printing versatility while maintaining access to document data through centralized server management.
2Device complexity
If print preview is generated remotely over network, then local printer driver requirements are reduced, but preview generation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by generating a pseudo print preview immediately and displaying it while the actual print preview is being generated in the background. This allows the user to see something immediately (reducing perceived waiting time) while the complete preview with all printing options is being prepared remotely by the server.
3Device complexity
If conventional user interface elements are used for printing options, then interface simplicity is maintained, but user-friendliness and intuitiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms traditional checkbox/radio button printing options into interactive elements overlaid directly on the print preview image. Users can select printing options by interacting with visual representations on the preview itself (e.g., clicking on pages to select ranges, dragging to rotate), making the interface more intuitive and user-friendly while maintaining simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments provide a print server including an application manager configured to receive, over a network, a print request for content to be printed in accordance with at least one selected printing option from an application associated with a device, and configured to provide a print dialog, over the network, to a user of the application in response to the print request, a pseudo preview generator configured to provide a pseudo print preview for display within the print dialog while a print preview is being generated, and a print preview generator configured to access the content in response to the print request and generate the print preview providing the at least a portion of the content displayed in accordance with at least one selected printing option, and further configured to transmit the print preview, over the network, for display within the print dialog thereby replacing the pseudo print preview.