US6694487B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-column page preview using a resizing grid
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1998-12-10
•
Granted: 2004-02-17
•
Expires: 2018-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A method of previewing an electronic document using display device forming part of a computer system intended for printing is disclosed. An electronic document having at least one printable page is provided and formed into a print preview representation of at a default preview size. A grid is formed and associated with the representation, the grid having cells corresponding to individual pages at said default preview size. The representation is displayed on the display device with the grid overlying said representation. Using at least one input device of the computer system, a part of the arid is selected. The selected part is moved to cause a change in size of the grid such that an aspect ratio of said cells formed by said grid remains constant. On de-selecting the grid, a further print preview representation of the page is formed at a preview size corresponding to that of the change in the grid.
Inventors
- 👤 Eyal David Ilsar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/103; G06F40/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 72
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of altering the image presentation of a visual object comprising one or more object components arranged in a predetermined layout, said method comprising the steps of: establishing a matrix of display cells in a first configuration within at least one of which the visual object is displayable; selecting a component of the image presentation at a first position within the matrix and moving the component to a second position in the matrix; determining from the movement of the component an extent of change of the first configuration; and applying the extent of change to the matrix of display cells to alter the image presentation of the visual object to a second configuration while maintaining the predetermined layout of the object components.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of altering the image presentation of a visual object comprising one or more object components arranged in a predetermined layout, said method comprising the steps of: establishing a matrix of display cells in a first configuration within at least one of which the visual object is displayable; selecting a component of the image presentation at a first position within the matrix and moving the component to a second position in the matrix; determining from the movement of the component an extent of change of the first configuration; and applying the extent of change to the matrix of display cells to alter the image presentation of the visual object to a second configuration while maintaining the predetermined layout of the object components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the display cells are smaller than the visual object and the second position lies within the image presentation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the matrix is visible within the image presentation and defines boundaries of the display cells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein the boundaries form a grid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein the selected component comprises one of the boundaries.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the selected component comprises a point location within one of the cells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the visual object comprises an electronic document and the first configuration comprises a first print preview display of the electronic document in which each of the display cells corresponds to a printable page of the document and the second configuration comprises a second print preview display, different from the first, of the electronic document.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of previewing an electronic document intended for printing, said method comprising the steps of: providing an electronic document having a predetermined layout and at least one printable page; creating a print preview representation of the one page and displaying the representation in a first format on a display; creating a boundary at an edge of the one page and displaying the boundary over the representation; and selecting a component of the representation and moving the component within the display to cause an alteration of the representation of the one page to a second format while maintaining the predetermined layout of the electronic document.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of previewing an electronic document intended for printing, said method comprising the steps of: providing an electronic document having a predetermined layout and at least one printable page; creating a print preview representation of the one page and displaying the representation in a first format on a display; creating a boundary at an edge of the one page and displaying the boundary over the representation; and selecting a component of the representation and moving the component within the display to cause an alteration of the representation of the one page to a second format while maintaining the predetermined layout of the electronic document.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 8 , wherein the first format includes a first tiling of a plurality of printable pages of the document and the second format includes a second tiling, different from the first, of the plurality of pages.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second tilings include the same relative positioning between pages in the respective formats.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second tilings include different relative positioning between pages in the formats.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 9 , wherein each tiling includes an integral number of pages in a first display direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 8 , wherein at least one page not displayed entirely by the tiling is viewable via scrolling in a second display direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 8 , wherein said creating steps are substantially simultaneously performed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 8 , wherein said creating steps are unitarily performed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 8 , wherein the alteration comprises a proportional resizing of the boundary and a consequential corresponding resizing of the one page to the second format and each other of the pages to the second format.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 8 , wherein the component comprises part of the boundary.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 17 , wherein the boundary comprises orthogonally arranged portions and the selected one of the portions requires movement in a direction parallel to the other of the portions to cause resizing of the boundary and the page.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 8 , wherein the boundary comprises part of an orthogonally arranged grid that extends beyond the one page in the first format, and the component comprises part of the grid not forming part of the boundary of the one page, and the movement of the component requires movement in a direction aligned with the component to cause resizing of the boundary and the page.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 8 , wherein the component comprises a window boundary within which the print preview representation is displayed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 20 , wherein a display page size within the print preview representation is maintained between the first and second formats.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of previewing an electronic document intended for printing using a display device forming part of a computer system, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electronic document having at least one printable page; (b) forming a print preview representation of the one page at a default preview size; (c) forming a grid associated with the representation and having cells corresponding to individual pages at the default preview size; (d) displaying on the display device the representation and the grid with the grid overlying the representation; (e) selecting, using at least one input device of the computer system, a part of the grid and moving the selected part to cause a change in size of the grid such that an aspect ratio of the cells formed by the grid remains constant; and (f) de-selecting the grid and forming a further print preview representation of the one page at a preview size corresponding to that of the change in the grid.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of previewing an electronic document intended for printing using a display device forming part of a computer system, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electronic document having at least one printable page; (b) forming a print preview representation of the one page at a default preview size; (c) forming a grid associated with the representation and having cells corresponding to individual pages at the default preview size; (d) displaying on the display device the representation and the grid with the grid overlying the representation; (e) selecting, using at least one input device of the computer system, a part of the grid and moving the selected part to cause a change in size of the grid such that an aspect ratio of the cells formed by the grid remains constant; and (f) de-selecting the grid and forming a further print preview representation of the one page at a preview size corresponding to that of the change in the grid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 22 , comprising the further step, after step (f), of: (g) iteratively repeating steps (e) and (f) until the displayed print preview is of a desired representation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus for altering the image presentation by a display of a visual object comprising one or more object components arranged in a predetermined layout, said apparatus comprising: means for establishing a matrix of display cells in a first configuration within at least one of which said visual object is displayable; means for selecting a component of said image presentation at a first position within said matrix and moving said component to a second position in said matrix; means for determining from the movement of said component an extent of change of said first configuration; and means for applying the extent of change to the matrix of display cells to alter the image presentation of said visual object to a second configuration whilst maintaining said pre-determined layout of said object components.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus for altering the image presentation by a display of a visual object comprising one or more object components arranged in a predetermined layout, said apparatus comprising: means for establishing a matrix of display cells in a first configuration within at least one of which said visual object is displayable; means for selecting a component of said image presentation at a first position within said matrix and moving said component to a second position in said matrix; means for determining from the movement of said component an extent of change of said first configuration; and means for applying the extent of change to the matrix of display cells to alter the image presentation of said visual object to a second configuration whilst maintaining said pre-determined layout of said object components.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein said second position lies within said image presentation and said matrix is visible within said image presentation and defines boundaries of said display cells.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein said boundaries form a grid.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein said selected component comprises one of said boundaries.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein said selected component comprises a point location within one of said cells.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein said visual object comprises an electronic document and said first configuration comprises a first print preview display of said electronic document in which each of said display cells corresponds to a printable page of said document and said second configuration comprises a second print preview display, different from the first, of said electronic document.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for previewing an electronic document intended for printing, said apparatus comprising: means for providing an electronic document having a predetermined layout and at least one printable page; means for creating a print preview representation of at least said one page and displaying the representation in a first format; means for creating a boundary at an edge of said one page and displaying said boundary over said representation; and means for selecting a component of the representation and moving the component within the display to cause an alteration of said representation of said one page to a second format whilst maintaining said predetermined layout of said electronic document.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for previewing an electronic document intended for printing, said apparatus comprising: means for providing an electronic document having a predetermined layout and at least one printable page; means for creating a print preview representation of at least said one page and displaying the representation in a first format; means for creating a boundary at an edge of said one page and displaying said boundary over said representation; and means for selecting a component of the representation and moving the component within the display to cause an alteration of said representation of said one page to a second format whilst maintaining said predetermined layout of said electronic document.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein said first format includes a first tiling of a plurality of printable pages of said document and said second format includes a second tiling, different from the first, of said plurality of pages.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein said first and second tilings include the same relative positioning between pages in the respective formats.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein said first and second tilings include different relative positioning between pages in the formats.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein each said tiling includes an integral number of pages in a first display direction.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein at least one page not displayed entirely by said tiling is viewable via scrolling in a second display direction.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein said means for creating said print preview representation and said means for creating said boundary operate substantially simultaneously.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein said means for selecting said component implements a proportional resizing of the boundary and a consequential corresponding resizing of said one page to said second format and each other of said pages to said second format.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein said component comprises part of said boundary.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 38 , wherein said boundary comprises orthogonally arranged portions and said selected one of said portions requires movement in a direction parallel to the other of said portions to cause resizing of said boundary and said page.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein said boundary comprises part of an orthogonally arranged grid that extends beyond said one page in said first format, and said component comprises part of said grid not forming part of said boundary of said one page, and said movement of said component requires movement in a direction aligned with said component to cause resizing of said boundary and said page.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein said component comprises a window boundary within which said print preview representation is displayed.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 41 , wherein a display page size within said print preview representation is maintained between said first and second formats.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for previewing an electronic document intended for printing using a display device forming part of a computer system, said apparatus comprising: a source of said electronic document, said electronic document having at least one printable page; print preview means for forming a print preview representation of said one page at a default preview size; grid means for forming a grid associated with said print preview representation and having cells corresponding to individual pages at said default preview size; display means for displaying on said display device said print preview representation and said grid with said grid overlying said print preview representation; selecting means for selecting, using at least one input device of said computer system, a part of said grid and moving the selected part to cause a change in size of said grid such that an aspect ratio of said cells formed by said grid remains constant; and de-selecting means for de-selecting said grid and forming a further print preview representation of said one page at a preview size corresponding to that of said change in said grid.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for previewing an electronic document intended for printing using a display device forming part of a computer system, said apparatus comprising: a source of said electronic document, said electronic document having at least one printable page; print preview means for forming a print preview representation of said one page at a default preview size; grid means for forming a grid associated with said print preview representation and having cells corresponding to individual pages at said default preview size; display means for displaying on said display device said print preview representation and said grid with said grid overlying said print preview representation; selecting means for selecting, using at least one input device of said computer system, a part of said grid and moving the selected part to cause a change in size of said grid such that an aspect ratio of said cells formed by said grid remains constant; and de-selecting means for de-selecting said grid and forming a further print preview representation of said one page at a preview size corresponding to that of said change in said grid.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
137 words
A computer readable medium incorporating a computer program product for altering the image presentation of a visual object comprising one or more object components arranged in a predetermined layout, said computer program product comprising: means for establishing a matrix of display cells in a first configuration within at least one of which said visual object is displayable; means for selecting a component of said image presentation at a first position within said matrix and moving said component to a second position in said matrix; means for determining from the movement of said component an extent of change of said first configuration; and means for applying the extent of change to the matrix of display cells to alter the image presentation of said visual object to a second configuration whilst maintaining said pre-determined layout of said object components.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
137 words
A computer readable medium incorporating a computer program product for altering the image presentation of a visual object comprising one or more object components arranged in a predetermined layout, said computer program product comprising: means for establishing a matrix of display cells in a first configuration within at least one of which said visual object is displayable; means for selecting a component of said image presentation at a first position within said matrix and moving said component to a second position in said matrix; means for determining from the movement of said component an extent of change of said first configuration; and means for applying the extent of change to the matrix of display cells to alter the image presentation of said visual object to a second configuration whilst maintaining said pre-determined layout of said object components.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
34 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 44 , wherein said second position lies within said image presentation and said matrix is visible within said image presentation and defines boundaries of said display cells.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 45 , wherein said boundaries form a grid.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 45 , wherein said selected component comprises one of said boundaries.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 44 , wherein said selected component comprises a point location within one of said cells.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 44 , wherein said visual object comprises an electronic document and said first configuration comprises a first print preview display of said electronic document in which each of said display cells corresponds to a printable page of said document and said second configuration comprises a second print preview display, different from the first, of said electronic document.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
121 words
A computer readable medium incorporating a computer program product for previewing an electronic document intended for printing, said computer program product comprising: means for providing an electronic document having a predetermined layout and at least one printable page; means for creating a print preview representation of at least said one page and displaying the representation in a first format on a display; means for creating a boundary at an edge of said one page and displaying said boundary over said representation; and means for selecting a component of the representation and moving the component within the display to cause an alteration of said representation of said one page to a second format whilst maintaining said pre-determined layout of said electronic document.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
121 words
A computer readable medium incorporating a computer program product for previewing an electronic document intended for printing, said computer program product comprising: means for providing an electronic document having a predetermined layout and at least one printable page; means for creating a print preview representation of at least said one page and displaying the representation in a first format on a display; means for creating a boundary at an edge of said one page and displaying said boundary over said representation; and means for selecting a component of the representation and moving the component within the display to cause an alteration of said representation of said one page to a second format whilst maintaining said pre-determined layout of said electronic document.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 50 , wherein said first format includes a first tiling of a plurality of printable pages of said document and said second format includes a second tiling, different from the first, of said plurality of pages.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 51 , wherein said first and second filings include the same relative positioning between pages in the respective formats.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 51 , wherein said first and second tilings include different relative positioning between pages in the formats.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 51 , wherein each said tiling includes an integral number of pages in a first display direction.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 50 , wherein at least one page not displayed entirely by said tiling is viewable via scrolling in a second display direction.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 50 , wherein said means for creating said print preview representation and means for creating said boundary operate substantially simultaneously.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
46 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 50 , wherein said means for selecting said component implements a proportional resizing of the boundary and a consequential corresponding resizing of said one page to said second format and each other of said pages to said second format.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 50 , wherein said component comprises part of said boundary.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
44 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 58 , wherein said boundary comprises orthogonally arranged portions and said selected one of said portions requires movement in a direction parallel to the other of said portions to cause resizing of said boundary and said page.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
71 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 50 , wherein said boundary comprises part of an orthogonally arranged grid that extends beyond said one page in said first format, and said component comprises part of said grid not forming part of said boundary of said one page, and said movement of said component requires movement in a direction aligned with said component to cause resizing of said boundary and said page.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 50 , wherein said component comprises a window boundary within which said print preview representation is displayed.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 61 , wherein a display page size within said print preview representation is maintained between said first and second formats.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
188 words
A computer readable medium incorporating a computer program product for previewing an electronic document using a display device forming part of a computer system, said computer program product comprising: source means for providing said electronic document, said electronic document having at least one printable page; print preview means for forming a print preview representation of said one page at a default preview size; grid means for forming a grid associated with said print preview representation and having cells corresponding to individual pages at said default preview size; display means for displaying on said display device said print preview representation and said grid with said grid overlying said print preview representation; selecting means for selecting, using at least one input device of said computer system, a part of said grid and moving the selected part to cause a change in size of said grid such that are aspect ratio of said cells formed by said grid remains constant; and de-selecting means for de-selecting said grid and forming a further print preview representation of said one page at a preview size corresponding to that of said change in said grid.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
188 words
A computer readable medium incorporating a computer program product for previewing an electronic document using a display device forming part of a computer system, said computer program product comprising: source means for providing said electronic document, said electronic document having at least one printable page; print preview means for forming a print preview representation of said one page at a default preview size; grid means for forming a grid associated with said print preview representation and having cells corresponding to individual pages at said default preview size; display means for displaying on said display device said print preview representation and said grid with said grid overlying said print preview representation; selecting means for selecting, using at least one input device of said computer system, a part of said grid and moving the selected part to cause a change in size of said grid such that are aspect ratio of said cells formed by said grid remains constant; and de-selecting means for de-selecting said grid and forming a further print preview representation of said one page at a preview size corresponding to that of said change in said grid.
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