Patent US5579446A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5579446A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Manual/automatic user option for color printing of different types of objects

Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1994-01-27
•
Granted: 1996-11-26
•
Expires: 2014-01-27
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract In a color printer system, an interactive user interface allows a choice between one-"button" automatic control of color output or multibutton control of color output, with both automatic and manual options providing independent control for color halftoning and for color correction based on the types of objects to be printed. The preferred form allows independent print-rendering options for text, graphics and photo images.

Inventors

  • 👤 Sachin S. Naik
  • 👤 Frank A. Kurucz

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 22:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim 53 words
A printing system for use in printing objects of any of plural different color-object types; said system comprising: a color printer; and a printer control device with a user interface having an option for controlling two separate print-quality characteristics based on the type of color object to be printed by said color printer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 53 words
A printing system for use in printing objects of any of plural different color-object types; said system comprising: a color printer; and a printer control device with a user interface having an option for controlling two separate print-quality characteristics based on the type of color object to be printed by said color printer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
The printing system of claim 1, wherein: said user interface includes a dialog screen having a control for invoking said option of controlling two separate print-quality characteristics with said two separate print-quality characteristics being based on the type of color object to be printed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
The printing system of claim 2, wherein: said control includes a visual representation of a single control button; and means responsive to physical interaction with said visual representation of a single control button for invoking said option.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
The printing system of claim 1, wherein: said two-characteristic-controlling option is for controlling said two characteristics, based on the type of object, automatically.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
The printing system of claim 4, wherein: said user interface includes another option for manually controlling said two separate print-quality characteristics based on the type of object to be printed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
The printing system of claim 5, wherein: said another option includes a dialog screen means for enabling manual selection of two separate print-quality characteristics based on the type of color object to be printed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 72 words
The printing system of claim 4, wherein said user interface includes a dialog screen having: a first control for invoking said option of automatically controlling two separate print-quality characteristics with said two separate print-quality characteristics being based on the type of color object to be printed; and a second control for invoking another option for manually controlling said two separate print-quality characteristics based on the type of color object to be printed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
The printing system of claim 7, wherein: said user interface includes a third control for invoking a further option for choosing monochrome printing of the various types of color objects to be printed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
The printing system of claim 7, wherein: said user interface displays manual default settings for said two separate print-quality characteristics when said second control is actuated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 28 words
The printing system of claim 9, wherein: said printer control device has predetermined automatic default settings for said two separate print-quality characteristics when said first control is actuated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
The printing system of claim 10, wherein: said predetermined automatic default settings are the same as said manual default settings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 49 words
The printing system of claim 7, wherein: said user interface allows the creation of new default settings for said two separate print-quality characteristics when said second control is actuated, which new default settings are different from original default settings which exist at the time said second control is actuated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 26 words
The printing system of claim 12, wherein: said user interface includes a fourth control for returning from said new default settings to said original default settings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 152 words
A printing system for use in printing objects of any of plural different color-object types; said system comprising: a color printer; and a printer control device with a user interface having an option for controlling two separate print-quality characteristics based on the type of color object to be printed by said color printer; and wherein: said two-characteristic-controlling option is for controlling said two characteristics, based on the type of object, automatically; said user interface includes another option for manually controlling said two separate print-quality characteristics based on the type of object to be printed; said another option includes a dialog screen means for enabling manual selection of two separate print-quality characteristics based on the type of color object to be printed; and said dialog screen means enable manual selection of a halftone technique as well as manual selection of a color correction based on the type of color object to be printed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 152 words
A printing system for use in printing objects of any of plural different color-object types; said system comprising: a color printer; and a printer control device with a user interface having an option for controlling two separate print-quality characteristics based on the type of color object to be printed by said color printer; and wherein: said two-characteristic-controlling option is for controlling said two characteristics, based on the type of object, automatically; said user interface includes another option for manually controlling said two separate print-quality characteristics based on the type of object to be printed; said another option includes a dialog screen means for enabling manual selection of two separate print-quality characteristics based on the type of color object to be printed; and said dialog screen means enable manual selection of a halftone technique as well as manual selection of a color correction based on the type of color object to be printed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 31 words
The printing system of claim 14, wherein: said user interface includes a further option to enable manual control of the lightness range for various types of color objects to be printed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 29 words
The printing system of claim 14, wherein: said user interface includes an additional option to enable printing of various types of color objects based on a preloaded lookup table.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 77 words
A method of allowing a user to control the quality of printing of a composite document having different types of objects; said method comprising the steps of: providing a user interface with a first option for choosing automatic control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and allowing a second option for choosing a manual control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 77 words
A method of allowing a user to control the quality of printing of a composite document having different types of objects; said method comprising the steps of: providing a user interface with a first option for choosing automatic control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and allowing a second option for choosing a manual control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 17, further comprising the additional step of: providing a third option of choosing monochrome printing of various color objects to be printed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 17, wherein: said allowing step includes displaying a plurality of additional choices including a choice for controlling the lightness of the printout of various color objects.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 17, wherein: said allowing step includes displaying a plurality of additional choices including a choice for controlling the color characteristics of the printout of various color objects based on a preloaded lookup table.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 17, wherein: said providing step includes automatic control of two different print-rendering characteristics.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 21, wherein: said allowing step includes manual control of two different print-rendering characteristics.
Claim 26
Independent Claim 110 words
A method of allowing a user to control the quality of printing of a composite document having different types of objects; said method comprising the steps of: providing a user interface with a first option for choosing automatic control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and allowing a second option for choosing a manual control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and wherein: said allowing step includes displaying a plurality of choices for halftoning different types of color objects as well as displaying a plurality of choices for color-correcting different types of color objects.
Claim 27
Independent Claim 110 words
A method of allowing a user to control the quality of printing of a composite document having different types of objects; said method comprising the steps of: providing a user interface with a first option for choosing automatic control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and allowing a second option for choosing a manual control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and wherein: said allowing step includes displaying a plurality of choices for halftoning different types of color objects as well as displaying a plurality of choices for color-correcting different types of color objects.
Claim 28
Independent Claim 105 words
A method of allowing a user to control the quality of printing of a composite document having different types of objects; said method comprising the steps of: providing a user interface with a first option for choosing automatic control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and allowing a second option for choosing a manual control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and wherein: said allowing step includes displaying a plurality of additional choices including a choice for calibrating a screen on which the document to be printed is viewed.
Claim 29
Independent Claim 105 words
A method of allowing a user to control the quality of printing of a composite document having different types of objects; said method comprising the steps of: providing a user interface with a first option for choosing automatic control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and allowing a second option for choosing a manual control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and wherein: said allowing step includes displaying a plurality of additional choices including a choice for calibrating a screen on which the document to be printed is viewed.
Claim 30
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of allowing a user to control the quality of printing of a composite document having different types of objects; said method comprising the steps of: providing a user interface with a first option for choosing automatic control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and allowing a second option for choosing a manual control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and wherein: said providing step includes automatic control of two different print-rendering characteristics; and said providing step includes automatic control of halftoning and automatic control of color correction based on the type of color object to be printed.
Claim 31
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of allowing a user to control the quality of printing of a composite document having different types of objects; said method comprising the steps of: providing a user interface with a first option for choosing automatic control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and allowing a second option for choosing a manual control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and wherein: said providing step includes automatic control of two different print-rendering characteristics; and said providing step includes automatic control of halftoning and automatic control of color correction based on the type of color object to be printed.
Claim 32
Independent Claim 126 words
A method of allowing a user to control the quality of printing of a composite document having different types of objects; said method comprising the steps of: providing a user interface with a first option for choosing automatic control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and allowing a second option for choosing a manual control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and wherein: said providing step includes automatic control of two different print-rendering characteristics; said allowing step includes manual control of two different print-rendering characteristics; and said allowing step includes manual control of halftoning and manual control of color correction based on the type of color object to be printed.
Claim 33
Independent Claim 126 words
A method of allowing a user to control the quality of printing of a composite document having different types of objects; said method comprising the steps of: providing a user interface with a first option for choosing automatic control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and allowing a second option for choosing a manual control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and wherein: said providing step includes automatic control of two different print-rendering characteristics; said allowing step includes manual control of two different print-rendering characteristics; and said allowing step includes manual control of halftoning and manual control of color correction based on the type of color object to be printed.
Claim 34
Independent Claim 118 words
A method of allowing a user to control the quality of printing of a composite document having different types of objects; said method comprising the steps of: providing a user interface with a first option for choosing automatic control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and allowing a second option for choosing a manual control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and wherein: said providing step includes automatic control of two different print-rendering characteristics; and said providing step includes automatic control of two different printing characteristics based on whether the color objects to be printed are photograph-like images or graphics or text.
Claim 35
Independent Claim 118 words
A method of allowing a user to control the quality of printing of a composite document having different types of objects; said method comprising the steps of: providing a user interface with a first option for choosing automatic control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and allowing a second option for choosing a manual control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and wherein: said providing step includes automatic control of two different print-rendering characteristics; and said providing step includes automatic control of two different printing characteristics based on whether the color objects to be printed are photograph-like images or graphics or text.
Claim 36
Independent Claim 129 words
A method of allowing a user to control the quality of printing of a composite document having different types of objects; said method comprising the steps of: providing a user interface with a first option for choosing automatic control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and allowing a second option for choosing a manual control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and wherein: said providing step includes automatic control of two different print-rendering characteristics; said allowing step includes manual control of two different print-rendering characteristics; and said allowing step includes manual control of two different printing characteristics based on whether the color objects to be printed are photograph-like images or graphics or text.
Claim 37
Independent Claim 129 words
A method of allowing a user to control the quality of printing of a composite document having different types of objects; said method comprising the steps of: providing a user interface with a first option for choosing automatic control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and allowing a second option for choosing a manual control of printer output based on the type of a color object to be printed; and wherein: said providing step includes automatic control of two different print-rendering characteristics; said allowing step includes manual control of two different print-rendering characteristics; and said allowing step includes manual control of two different printing characteristics based on whether the color objects to be printed are photograph-like images or graphics or text.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4649502A Cited
US4724431A Cited
US5334992A Cited
US5140674A Cited
US5103407A Cited
US5235677A Cited
US5249263A Cited
US5371844A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-11-26 2000-05-27 2000-11-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-11-26 2004-05-27 2004-11-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-11-26 2008-05-27 2008-11-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag