Preview Control Module for Accurate Page Restoration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing print preview systems do not effectively allow users to restore deleted pages without affecting other print settings, leading to unintended changes during the restoration process.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that includes a preview control module within a printer driver system, allowing users to visually identify and restore deleted pages by displaying them separately in a thumbnail area, preventing changes to other settings during the restoration process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an initialization function or Undo function is used to restore a deleted page, then the deleted page can be restored, but other settings are also restored or the undoing cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepage restoration accuracyVSAvoidsetting change complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the restoration operation into two independent parts: (1) restoring the deleted page content, and (2) preserving current print settings. The preview window displays deleted pages as separate selectable items, allowing the user to restore only the specific page without triggering a global initialization or undo operation that would affect other settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The preview window acts as an intermediary interface between the user and the restoration function. It displays deleted pages as visual thumbnails that can be selected for restoration, providing a controlled mechanism that restores only the selected page while leaving other settings unchanged, rather than using coarse-grained initialization or undo functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If a print preview function allowing page deletion is employed, then users can delete unnecessary pages, but necessary pages may be deleted by mistake

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepage editing efficiencyVSAvoidpage deletion accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides a safety mechanism by displaying deleted pages in the preview window before permanent deletion occurs. Users can visually identify deleted pages as separate selectable items and restore them if needed, preventing accidental permanent deletion while maintaining efficient page editing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The preview window provides visual feedback by displaying deleted pages as distinct selectable items. This feedback mechanism allows users to confirm whether a page was intentionally deleted or accidentally removed, enabling corrective action before the deletion becomes permanent and irreversible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2424208B1Information processing apparatus, output control method, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2021.03.10 CANON KK

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Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

A page (231) included in a preview page is deleted from an output target document. A logical page (221) corresponding to the deleted page (231) and logical pages (222) corresponding to undeleted pages (232) are represented in different formats on display means. A preview page representing one of the undeleted pages (232) is displayed on the display means. The deleted page (231) is restored as an output target page in the output target document.