Logical Cell Orientation in N-up Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current N-up printing technologies lack the ability to change the orientation of pages with varying sizes and orientations on a single print medium, leading to inappropriate processing and a need for efficient methods to alter page orientations during or after the printing process.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for logical cell-based orientation in N-up printing, where a multi-function device receives instructions to alter the orientation of selected pages, performs N-up operations, and rasterizes the pages to convert them into a ready-to-print format, allowing for printing with altered orientations while maintaining pre-defined orientations for other pages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If N-up printing is performed with multiple document pages having various sizes and orientations, then paper and toner/ink usage is reduced, but the size and orientation of some pages do not fit into the allocated surface area on the print medium
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the orientation of individual logical cells during the N-up printing process. Instead of fixing all pages in their original orientations, the system allows selective rotation of logical cells to optimize space utilization and ensure proper fit on the print medium while maintaining the environmental benefits of N-up printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the orientation parameter of selected logical cells from their pre-defined orientations to altered orientations. This parameter modification enables pages that originally did not fit properly to be reoriented and fit correctly on the print medium, resolving the manufacturing precision issue while preserving the paper-saving advantage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the orientation of pages is changed during N-up printing, then flexibility and user control are improved, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the N-up print job into individual logical cells, each representing a page or portion of a page. This segmentation allows independent orientation control for each logical cell without affecting others, providing flexibility while managing complexity through modular processing of discrete units rather than treating the entire print job as a single complex operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces logical cells as an intermediary layer between the original document pages and the final print output. This intermediary structure enables orientation modification without directly altering the original document data, simplifying the processing by working with standardized logical cell representations that can be independently manipulated before rendering.
3Adaptability or versatility
If orientation alteration is performed after rasterization, then user control and flexibility are improved, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs orientation determination and logical cell configuration in advance during the preprocessing stage, before the actual printing execution. By establishing the orientation of each logical cell beforehand, the system avoids time-consuming orientation calculations during the printing process itself, reducing processing time while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic orientation adjustment that can occur at multiple stages (before or after rasterization) based on user needs. The capability to alter orientations after rasterization is provided through a user interface that allows users to modify logical cell orientations in the rendered preview, with the system then applying these changes efficiently without requiring complete re-processing of the entire print job.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and systems for altering an orientation of a logical cell at a multi-function device. In one embodiment, before rasterization, a user submits a job having multiple pages and an initial instruction to arrange ‘n’ number of pages on a single medium. Each page has a pre-defined orientation. Another instruction is received to alter a pre-defined orientation of a selected page in the corresponding logical cell. An N-up operation is performed to arrange the ‘n’ number of pages on the single medium. Each page arranged on the single medium represents a logical cell. While performing the N-up operation, the pre-defined orientation of a logical cell corresponding to the selected page is altered. The logical cell with the altered orientation is printed and the remaining logical cells with respective pre-defined orientation are printed on the single medium.