US7047490B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Displaying the appearance of a printed and assembled document
Assignee: Adobe Inc
•
Filing: 1997-11-26
•
Granted: 2006-05-16
•
Expires: 2017-11-26
Abstract
Abstract A method of depicting a hard copy document, in which a user generates an electronic document and then selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document. The visual appearance of the electronic document once printed and assembled in accordance with the instruction is determined in the computer, and this visual appearance is produced as output. For example, the visual appearance of the electronic document may depict a printing media used in the hard copy document, such as the weight, color, texture, or transparency of the printing media, a preexisting image on the printing media, a cover to be used in the hard copy document, a binding to be used in the hard copy document, such as a velo tape, spiral, multi-ring, comb, magazine style, or stapling binding, or a physical modification of a printing media used in the hard copy document, such hole punching, folding or cutting.
Inventors
- 👤 Ivan Markovic
- 👤 Ivor Durham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/103; G06F40/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 70
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of depicting a hard copy document, comprising: receiving in a computer a first electronic document having a content; receiving in the computer a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document; determining in the computer indicia of assembly and a visual appearance of the first electronic document as if printed and assembled in accordance with the instruction; and displaying the determined visual appearance with the indicia of assembly overlaid with the content.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of depicting a hard copy document, comprising: receiving in a computer a first electronic document having a content; receiving in the computer a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document; determining in the computer indicia of assembly and a visual appearance of the first electronic document as if printed and assembled in accordance with the instruction; and displaying the determined visual appearance with the indicia of assembly overlaid with the content.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: generating a second electronic document which depicts the first electronic document once printed and assembled in accordance with the instruction; and displaying the second electronic document.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising receiving a second user input that selects a second instruction for assembling the hard copy document, and generating a modified second electronic document which depicts the first electronic document once printed and assembled in accordance with the first and second instructions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising: modifying a copy of the first electronic document to generate the second electronic document.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising extracting information from the first electronic document.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein modifying the copy of the first electronic document includes adding a tile depicting a change in the visual appearance resulting from the instruction to a page of the first electronic document.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the instruction identifies a binding option and the tile obscures a portion of the first electronic document where pages of the assembled document would be bound.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the instruction identifies the position of the tile.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the instruction identifies the size of the tile.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the computer receives user input that selects a plurality of instructions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the second electronic document includes a plurality of layers to determine the order in which effects associated which the plurality of instructions are applied to the first document.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of layers includes an organizational information layer, a background layer, a printed content layer, a virtual proof annotations layer, and a finishing options layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising retrieving the tile from a database which associates a plurality of instruction identifiers with a plurality of tiles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the database includes an entry for each instruction identifier, each entry including a instruction name and at least one tile.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein each entry includes a first tile associated with a front page of the hard copy document, a second tile associated with an inside right page of the hard copy document, a third tile associated with an inside left page of the hard copy document, and a fourth tile associated with a final page of the hard copy document.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein retrieving the tile includes determining whether the page of the first electronic document is a first page, an inside right page, an inside left page, or a final page, and selecting the tile based on this determination.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein modifying the copy of the first electronic document includes inserting a page into the first electronic document, and adding a tile depicting a change in the visual appearance resulting from the instruction to the inserted page of the copy of the first electronic document.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising adding a tile depicting a change in the visual appearance resulting from the instruction to the inserted page of the first electronic document.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the inserted page is a cover sheet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein retrieving the tile includes determining whether the cover sheet is a first page or a final page, and selecting the tile based on this determination.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input is received from an electronic file.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the instruction identifies a printing media to be used in the hard copy document.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein the instruction identifies the weight, color, texture, or transparency of the printing media.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein the instruction identifies a pre-existing image on the printing media.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the instruction identifies a cover to be used in the hard copy document.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the instruction identifies a binding to be used in the hard copy document.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the instruction identifies a velo™, tape, spiral, multi-ring, comb, magazine style, or stapling binding.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the instruction identifies a physical modification of a printing media used in the hard copy document.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein the instruction identifies hole punching, folding or cutting of the printing media.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein the instruction identifies cutting of the printing media.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein the instruction identifies folding of the printing media.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input is received through an interactive user interface.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein receiving the user input includes displaying a plurality of instruction identifiers in a document assembly form on a display, and receiving a user input selecting one of the instruction identifiers.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein producing the determined visual appearance as output includes displaying the determined visual appearance on a computer monitor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the visual appearance of the first electronic document includes obscuring a portion of the output in areas corresponding to a portion of the hard copy document that would be obscured when the hard copy document is printed and assembled in accordance with the instruction.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein the instruction identifies a stapling binding, and the obscured portion is located where the staple will be placed in the hard copy document.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the visual appearance of the first electronic document includes providing a visual indication of the thickness of the assembled document.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of displaying a finished form of a hard copy document, comprising: receiving and storing an electronic document in a computer; receiving in the computer a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document corresponding to the electronic document; generating a second electronic document which depicts the visual appearance of the first electronic document once printed and assembled in accordance with the instruction; and displaying the second electronic document.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of displaying a finished form of a hard copy document, comprising: receiving and storing an electronic document in a computer; receiving in the computer a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document corresponding to the electronic document; generating a second electronic document which depicts the visual appearance of the first electronic document once printed and assembled in accordance with the instruction; and displaying the second electronic document.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
58 words
A computer-assisted method of creating a hard copy document, comprising: receiving an electronic document; receiving user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document; depicting a visual appearance of the electronic document as if printed and assembled in accordance with the instruction; and providing the electronic document and the user input to a document assembler.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
58 words
A computer-assisted method of creating a hard copy document, comprising: receiving an electronic document; receiving user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document; depicting a visual appearance of the electronic document as if printed and assembled in accordance with the instruction; and providing the electronic document and the user input to a document assembler.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 39 , wherein the document assembler prints the electronic document to create the hard copy document, and assembles the hard copy document after printing in accordance with the instructions corresponding to the user input.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 39 , further comprising creating a second electronic document which depicts the visual appearance of the hard copy document assembled in accordance with the instruction.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer program, tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computer to: receive a first electronic document; receive a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document; determine in the computer the visual appearance of the first electronic document once printed and assembled in accordance with the instruction; and produce as output the determined visual appearance.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer program, tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computer to: receive a first electronic document; receive a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document; determine in the computer the visual appearance of the first electronic document once printed and assembled in accordance with the instruction; and produce as output the determined visual appearance.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of depicting a hard copy document, comprising: receiving in a computer an electronic document; receiving in the computer a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document by selecting pre-printing physical characteristics of a print media material on which the electronic document will be printed; determining in the computer a visual appearance of the first electronic document as if assembled in accordance with the instruction and then printed; and producing as output the determined visual appearance.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of depicting a hard copy document, comprising: receiving in a computer an electronic document; receiving in the computer a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document by selecting pre-printing physical characteristics of a print media material on which the electronic document will be printed; determining in the computer a visual appearance of the first electronic document as if assembled in accordance with the instruction and then printed; and producing as output the determined visual appearance.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of depicting a hard copy document, comprising: receiving in a computer an electronic document; receiving in the computer a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document by physically modifying a print media on which the electronic document will be printed; determining in the computer a visual appearance of the first electronic document as if printed and then assembled in accordance with the instruction; and producing as output the determined visual appearance.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of depicting a hard copy document, comprising: receiving in a computer an electronic document; receiving in the computer a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document by physically modifying a print media on which the electronic document will be printed; determining in the computer a visual appearance of the first electronic document as if printed and then assembled in accordance with the instruction; and producing as output the determined visual appearance.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of depicting a hard copy document, comprising: receiving in a computer a first electronic document; receiving in the computer a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document by binding a plurality of pages of print media on which the electronic document will be printed; determining in the computer a visual appearance of the first electronic document as if printed and then assembled in accordance with the instruction; and producing as output the determined visual appearance.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of depicting a hard copy document, comprising: receiving in a computer a first electronic document; receiving in the computer a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document by binding a plurality of pages of print media on which the electronic document will be printed; determining in the computer a visual appearance of the first electronic document as if printed and then assembled in accordance with the instruction; and producing as output the determined visual appearance.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of depicting a hard copy document, comprising: receiving in a computer an electronic document having content and formatting information; receiving in the computer a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document; determining in the computer a visual appearance of the electronic document once printed with the content arranged according to the formatting information and assembled in accordance with the instruction; and producing as output the determined visual appearance.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of depicting a hard copy document, comprising: receiving in a computer an electronic document having content and formatting information; receiving in the computer a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document; determining in the computer a visual appearance of the electronic document once printed with the content arranged according to the formatting information and assembled in accordance with the instruction; and producing as output the determined visual appearance.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of generating an assembled hard copy document, comprising: receiving an electronic document having content and formatting information; receiving a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document; determining a visual appearance of the electronic document once printed with the content arranged according to the formatting information and assembled in accordance with the instruction; displaying the determined visual appearance; receiving a user input accepting the determined visual appearance; printing the electronic document with the content arranged according to the formatting information to generate a hard copy document; and assembling the hard copy document in accordance with the instruction.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of generating an assembled hard copy document, comprising: receiving an electronic document having content and formatting information; receiving a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document; determining a visual appearance of the electronic document once printed with the content arranged according to the formatting information and assembled in accordance with the instruction; displaying the determined visual appearance; receiving a user input accepting the determined visual appearance; printing the electronic document with the content arranged according to the formatting information to generate a hard copy document; and assembling the hard copy document in accordance with the instruction.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
76 words
A computer program, tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computer to: receive a first electronic document having a content; receive a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document; determine indicia of assembly and a visual appearance of the first electronic document as if printed and assembled in accordance with the instruction; and display the determined visual appearance with the indicia of assembly overlaid with the content.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
76 words
A computer program, tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computer to: receive a first electronic document having a content; receive a user input that selects an instruction for assembling a hard copy document; determine indicia of assembly and a visual appearance of the first electronic document as if printed and assembled in accordance with the instruction; and display the determined visual appearance with the indicia of assembly overlaid with the content.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
40 words
The program of claim 48 , further comprising instructions for causing the computer to: generate a second electronic document which depicts the first electronic document once printed and assembled in accordance with the instruction; and display the second electronic document.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
55 words
The program of claim 49 , further comprising instructions for causing the computer to: receive a second user input that selects a second instruction for assembling the hard copy document, and generate a modified second electronic document which depicts the first electronic document once printed and assembled in accordance with the first and second instructions.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
57 words
The program of claim 49 , further comprising instructions for causing the computer to: modify a copy of the first electronic document to generate the second electronic document, including instructions for causing the computer to add a tile depicting a change in the visual appearance to a page of the first electronic document resulting from the instruction.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
18 words
The program of claim 51 , wherein the computer receives user input that selects a plurality of instructions.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
35 words
The program of claim 52 , wherein the second electronic document includes a plurality of layers to determine the order in which effects associated which the plurality of instructions are applied to the first document.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
33 words
The program of claim 53 , wherein the plurality of layers includes an organizational information layer, a background layer, a printed content layer, a virtual proof annotations layer, and a finishing options layer.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
21 words
The program of claim 48 , wherein the instructions identifies a printing media to be used in the hard copy document.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
20 words
The program of claim 55 , wherein the instruction identifies the weight, color, texture, or transparency of the printing media.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
17 words
The program of claim 55 , wherein the instruction identifies a pre-existing image on the printing media.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
20 words
The program of claim 48 , wherein the instruction identifies a binding to be used in the hard copy document.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
23 words
The program of claim 48 , wherein the instruction identifies a physical modification of a printing media used in the hard copy document.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
61 words
The program of claim 48 , wherein: the user input is received through an interactive user interface; and the instructions for causing the computer to receive the user input include instructions for causing the computer to display a plurality of instruction identifiers in a document assembly form on a display, and receive a user input selecting one of the instruction identifiers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4174175A
Cited
US4558373A
Cited
US4667248A
Cited
US5752053A
Cited
US5150458A
Cited
US5410649A
Cited
US5191440A
Cited
US5017963A
Cited
US5268717A
Cited
US5696605A
Cited
US5394517A
Cited
US5467202A
Cited
US5377019A
Cited
US5442432A
Cited
US5515144A
Cited
US5774232A
Cited
US5511148A
Cited
US5634064A
Cited
US5652901A
Cited
US5903905A
Cited
US5822080A
Cited
US6012890A
Cited
US6014528A
Cited
US5864742A
Cited
US6026417A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-05-15 | 2009-11-14 | 2010-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-05-15 | 2013-11-14 | 2014-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-05-15 | 2017-11-14 | 2018-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |