User-Defined Document Boundaries for Selective MFD Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-function devices (MFDs) lack the ability to efficiently print or save user-defined boundaries for documents, leading to unnecessary paper and ink usage when printing portions of documents that span across pages, and require users to create new documents or cut and paste content, which is time-consuming and cluttered.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for MFDs that allow users to select custom-defined boundaries within documents, enabling the processor to identify and generate jobs that exclude unwanted content, printing only the desired portions on a single page, and saving these boundaries for future use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If users print portions of documents that span across pages using conventional MFD methods, then the desired content can be printed, but unnecessary paper and ink are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the document into selectable portions using user-defined boundaries (such as bookmarks, headers, footers, or custom markers) that segment the document content. This allows users to select and print only specific segments rather than entire pages, directly reducing paper and ink consumption while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive boundary-based selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining boundaries and markers within the document before printing. These boundaries (such as predefined sections, chapters, or custom markers placed during document creation) are prepared in advance, allowing the MFD to automatically identify and print only the desired portions without requiring manual page selection, thus reducing waste while simplifying the printing process.
2Productivity
If users create new documents or cut and paste content to print desired portions, then printing can be performed, but additional time is required and files become cluttered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining boundaries and markers within the original document before printing. These boundaries (such as predefined sections, chapters, or custom markers placed during document creation) are prepared in advance, allowing the MFD to automatically identify and print only the desired portions without requiring manual page selection, thus reducing waste while simplifying the printing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of boundary markers and selection criteria that mediate between the user's printing intent and the document content. Instead of requiring users to manually create new documents or cut/paste content, the system uses these intermediary markers to automatically identify and extract the desired portions for printing, significantly reducing time loss and file clutter.
3Loss of substance
If conventional MFD methods are used without user-defined boundaries, then the entire document or full pages are printed, but this wastes resources on unwanted content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the document into selectable portions using user-defined boundaries (such as bookmarks, headers, footers, or custom markers) that segment the document content. This allows users to select and print only specific segments rather than entire pages, directly reducing paper and ink consumption while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive boundary-based selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by allowing users to modify document parameters such as boundary positions, marker locations, and selection criteria. By changing these parameters, the system can dynamically adjust which portions of the document are printed, enabling precise control over resource consumption without significantly increasing device complexity through standardized boundary definition methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for printing a document with user-defined boundaries is disclosed. For example, a method is executed by a processor of a multi-function device (MFD) and includes receiving a user-defined boundary of a document that excludes a portion of at least one page, identifying content within the user-defined boundary, generating an MFD job with the content, and executing the MFD job.