Webpage Print Controller Merging Linked Pages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing devices complicate the printing of webpages with hierarchical structures, making it difficult for users to grasp associations between linked webpages and organize printouts effectively.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device that acquires and displays a first webpage, allows user selection of links, navigates to corresponding link target webpages, and generates a print image combining both the panel image and link target image upon user instruction, enabling easy printing and organization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the web browser displays and prints each webpage separately following hierarchical navigation, then the printing operation can be performed systematically, but the user cannot easily grasp the associations between webpages and the printouts become difficult to organize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate webpage printouts into a single integrated printout. The print controller generates one printout that includes both the link source webpage image and the link target webpage image, merging what would otherwise be separate documents. This allows users to grasp associations between webpages by viewing them together on one sheet, eliminating the need to organize multiple separate printouts.
2Productivity
If the image forming device prints only the currently displayed webpage, then the printing process is simple, but the user must perform multiple print operations to obtain both link source and link target webpages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary acquisition of the link target webpage image before printing. When a print instruction is given for the link source webpage, the system automatically acquires the link target webpage image in advance, stores it, and then prints both images together. This preliminary action eliminates the need for users to manually navigate and print each webpage separately, improving printing efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Productivity
If the system automatically prints all link target webpages when printing a link source webpage, then printing efficiency is improved, but the user cannot selectively control what gets printed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic printing system where the printing behavior adapts based on user input. The system can print both link source and link target webpages together when that is what the user needs, but the user maintains control over the printing process. The system dynamically adjusts between printing one webpage or multiple webpages based on the specific printing instruction given, providing both efficiency and flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing device prints a link source webpage and a link target webpage so that (i) it is easy to grasp, from a printout of these webpages, that these webpages are associated with each other, and (ii) the printout can be easily organized. MFP displays a webpage using a web browser, stores image data of the webpage currently displayed, and detects whether this webpage has been switched to another webpage upon a user operation (e.g., a click operation). Upon this page switch, MFP stores image data of the other webpage, which is now currently displayed. When a print instruction is issued, MFP enlarges/reduces images of the webpages previously and currently displayed so they can be printed on the same sheet in proper sizes, generates a print image showing the enlarged/reduced images of these webpages, and prints the generated print image.