Spread Attribute Preview Warnings for Bookbinding Layout Errors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bookbinding techniques fail to intuitively indicate page spreads when data is allocated to the front and back surfaces of a sheet, making it difficult to recognize failures in the spread layout.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with a display unit showing a preview screen and a setting unit for setting spread attributes, which displays warnings if the page data does not satisfy the spread condition, allowing users to easily recognize spread failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a warning is simply displayed on a list of contents when spread fails, then the system can notify users of the issue, but it is difficult to intuitively grasp which specific pages have spread failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation about spread failure locationVSAvoidintuitive recognition of spread failure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the book data into individual page units, each with its own preview image. When a spread failure occurs, the warning is segmented and displayed specifically next to the affected page's preview image rather than in a generic list, allowing users to immediately identify which specific pages have spread issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces preview images as an intermediary visual element between the page data and the warning message. The preview image serves as a mediator that visually represents the page layout status, making the spread failure information more intuitive and easier to understand at a glance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If detailed information about each page is displayed, then users can identify spread failures, but the display complexity and information overload increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification accuracy of spread failureVSAvoiddisplay system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by displaying detailed warning information only at the specific locations where spread failures occur (next to affected page preview images), while other pages maintain their normal simple display. This localized approach provides necessary detail without creating overall information overload.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial action by selectively displaying warnings only for pages that have spread failures, rather than displaying information for all pages. This partial display approach maintains simplicity for normal pages while providing necessary detail for problematic pages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11029901B2Information processing apparatus, system, display method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program

Publication Date: 2021.06.08 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus comprises: a first display unit configured to display a preview screen including a preview image based on page data included in book data; a setting unit configured to set a spread attribute for laying out one page data included in the book data over a plurality of pages; and a display unit configured to display, if the page data set with the spread attribute does not satisfy a spread condition, information indicating that the spread condition is not satisfied in association with a preview image based on the page data set with the spread attribute together with the preview image based on the page data set with the spread attribute.