Print Preview Page Numbering for Multi-Page Layouts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of publishing systems face difficulty in determining the correct page numbers and orientations of pages in a print preview, especially when pages are printed at various positions and orientations on a sheet, making it hard to ensure accurate layout and orientation for folding complex documents like greeting cards.

Innovation Solution

A sheet preview system that overlays page numbers on the print preview images, allowing users to specify transparency levels, ensuring page numbers are visible without obscuring the content, and optionally displaying borders to help identify page boundaries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If page numbers are displayed on the print preview to help users identify pages, then users can easily determine page numbers and orientations, but the page numbers may obscure the content of the pages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of identifying page numbersVSAvoidobscuration of page content

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies transparency changes (similar to color changes) to the page numbers displayed on the print preview. By making the page numbers transparent rather than completely opaque, the system allows users to see both the page numbers and the underlying page content simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between visibility of page numbers and obscuration of content

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the transparency parameter of the page numbers in the print preview display. This parameter modification allows the page numbers to be visible while maintaining transparency to show underlying content, solving the problem of page number identification without complete obscuration of page content

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If multiple pages are printed on a single sheet with various orientations, then productivity increases by reducing the number of sheets needed, but it becomes difficult to determine the correct layout and orientation for each page

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of pages per sheetVSAvoiddifficulty of determining layout and orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces page numbers as an intermediary element in the print preview display. These page numbers serve as markers that help users identify and locate each page's correct position and orientation on the sheet, making it easier to verify the layout without actually printing the pages first

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the final printed layout in the print preview, including page numbers that will appear on the actual printed pages. This copy allows users to verify the layout and orientation before printing, ensuring correctness without requiring physical trial prints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS9207894B2Print preview with page numbering for multiple pages per sheet

Publication Date: 2015.12.08 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A sheet preview system generates a print preview of a sheet that has a layout specifying a position and orientation for each page. To generate the print preview of the sheet, the sheet preview system displays a representation of the sheet that includes an image of each page of the sheet. The sheet preview system positions and orients the images in accordance with the layout of the sheet. The sheet preview system then displays in association with each displayed image of a page the page number of that page. The sheet preview system may orient the page number of the page in accordance with the orientation of the page.