Abstract:
A system is provided for supporting multiple platforms with common personal preferences for printer drivers. The set preferences for the printer driver are therefore reusable and may be moved from one driver to another. The system involves the provision of a common format for printer driver preferences. When a new printer is brought to a system or a user moves to a station that uses a different printer, the preferences are readily moved to that location. Further, an MIS department may provide a corporate wide printer preference solution, for example for printing a particular page or printing in a particular style. The preferences may not be identical for each printer due to differences in the capabilities of various platforms. The printer preferences overwrite a default value in printers with preferences, to the extent that each printer has the options available. To the extent that these options are not available, the printer reverts to its default setting.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/236,137, filed Sep. 27, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/360,861, filed 23 July 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,967,728. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of printer driver preference systems. More particularly, this invention relates to apparatus and methods for transferring printer driver preferences across a network between client computers. 
         [0003]    In the prior art, printer driver preferences are typically defined within an open file in an active application on a client computer, based upon the available print options for a currently chosen connected output device, such as a printer. The user selects from a varied list of selectable options within a printer driver preferences menu, pertaining to the file to be printed, and to the available options for the selected printer. Selected file specific options may be selected paper size (e.g., letter, legal, A4), reduction or enlargement, page orientation (e.g., vertical or horizontal), or font substitution. Specific printer options may be color quality, resolution enhancement, selected paper tray, and printing order. 
         [0004]    The process of defining such printer driver preferences is typically complicated and time consuming, and has to be performed for most files to be printed (default printer driver preferences occasionally allow adequate printing of basic business documents, such as black and white text printing having a vertical orientation on letter size paper from a default paper tray). 
         [0005]    In a work environment having more than one printer and more than one client computer, it is presently difficult and time consuming to define printer driver preferences repeatedly. A single user, having access to multiple client computers, commonly has to repeatedly configure one or more sets of printer driver preferences for each of the machines, even for the same document file. As well, for a business in which multiple users operate multiple client computers, there are often collaborative work projects which require a consistent format for portions of the project. 
         [0006]    Russell et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,046 (“Russell”) discloses a circuit board coupled to a printer for interfacing the printer to a LAN. A bi-directional printer interface on the board transmits print data to the printer and receives printer status data from the printer. A processor on the board executes both application programs and status and control programs. Although Russell discloses a circuit board to couple a printer to a LAN to permit the printer to be “responsive, intelligent member” of a network, there is no disclosure of a the transfer, translation, modification or reuse of sets of printer driver preferences. 
         [0007]    Brindle et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,801 discloses a network “wherein a plurality of independent computers having various page description languages (PDL&#39;s) interface with a central computer through a plurality of lines, a system allows the user or administrator of a computer on each line to elect whether the line shall have the property of persistence of a PDL for all jobs coming through the line, or whether a new PDL shall be activated as necessary depending on the particular line.” 
         [0008]    Saulpaugh et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,076 (“Saulpaugh”) and Kathail et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,365 (“Kathail”) disclose a “method and mechanism for automatically correlating a device to its appropriate driver within a computer system utilizing candidate matching. A device tree indicating devices coupled to a computer system is available from an operating system. Within the device tree are device nodes which specify a particular device&#39;s name and a property which indicates compatible device names to the particular device. Drivers can include a data field indicating a driver name indicative of a corresponding device with which they operate. For a particular device, the system constructs a candidate list of drivers by comparing (1) the device name and 2) the compatible names from the device tree against all the driver names of data fields of known drivers.” Although Saulpaugh and Kathail disclose methods and mechanisms for automatically correlating a devices to their appropriate drivers within computer systems, they fail to disclose the reuse or transfer of drivers within a networked environment. As well, they fail to disclose any translation of one or more preferences between drivers. 
         [0009]    Motoyama et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,388 discloses a document processing system which “controls the printing of documents represented in page description language form. Documents are represented by a page description language which is structured so that definition and declaratory commands are positioned only at the beginning of each distinct document segment.” 
         [0010]    Kageyama et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,757 (“Kageyama”) discloses a printing system having a plurality of terminal equipment, a plurality of printers that can be shared by the terminal equipment, and one or more printer/spooler control servers for receiving a print from the terminal equipment, and for controlling the print job by a printer. The system also includes a distributed printing management server, for various errors that occur in the printers. Although Kageyama discloses a networked printing system, print jobs are transferred through the print server. 
         [0011]    Barrett et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,056 disclose a method and apparatus for interfacing a peripheral to a LAN with an interactive network board connected to the peripheral device. An access management program establishes direct communication between a network client and the network board. The board may also execute a peripheral server program such as a print server. 
         [0012]    In some recent prior art systems (such as Printer Driver Model No. CLJ8500, from Hewlett Packard Corporation, of Palo Alto Calif.), within a single computer, a user can store and retrieve a set of printer driver preferences, for a single output device. Although the set of printer driver preferences is storable and retrievable, the defined set is specific to a particular printer, and to a particular computer. For example, from within a word processing program, a user can navigate to a printer driver set up interface, select options, save the selected options as a defined set, and save the defined set. Subsequently, the user may selectively retrieve the saved defined set of printer driver options, from a different file within the same application on the computer, or from another application on the same computer. 
         [0013]    As a further example, a user may store a printer driver preference set for a document design, designating document specific options, and printer specific options to produce the document. Within the application in which the user creates the document design, upon creating a set of printer driver preferences, the user may save the settings (e.g., “My Document Settings”). The user may then retrieve those options within the same computer, and use the retrieved set to print a different file, such as a new document file, at the same destination printer. 
         [0014]    However, there are currently no means by which one or more sets of printer driver preferences can be directly transferred or reused between client computers. It would be advantageous to provide a system by which a user can define a set of printer driver preferences at a first client computer, and then transfer the defined set of printer driver preferences across a network, such as to another client computer, a printer, a print server, or other network device. As well, it would be advantageous to selectively retrieve a set of printer driver preferences for a first printer, and use or modify the set, as necessary, as a set of printer driver preferences for a different printer. 
         [0015]    When a user creates a set of printer driver preferences, such as for a type of printed document that the user commonly creates (e.g., a horizontal format transparency), the user often has to recreate the same set of printer driver preferences when creating another similar document. It would therefore be advantageous to reuse the same set of printer driver preferences. It also would be advantageous to provide a method to transfer printer driver preferences across a network, and provide a method to merge or modify transferred printer driver preferences, or to create new sets of transferable printer driver preferences. Although the disclosed prior art systems and methodologies provide basic printer driver preference systems, they fail to provide transferable, reusable, and modifiable sets of printer driver preferences. The development of such a transferable printer driver preference system would constitute a major technological advance. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0016]    A system is provided for supporting multiple platforms with common personal preferences for printer drivers. The set of preferences for the printer driver are therefore reusable and may be moved from one printer driver to another. The system involves the provision of a common format for printer driver preferences. When a new printer is brought into a system, or when a user moves to a station that uses a different printer, the preferences are readily moved to that location. Further, in a networked environment were a plurality of computers operate in collaboration, an MIS department may provide a corporate wide printer preference solution, for example printing a particular page or printing in a particular style. Although preferences may not be identical for each printer, due to differences in the capabilities of various platforms, the system typically translates preferences between different printers, to the extent that each printer has the different options available. To the extent that one or more options within a set of preferences are not available at a destination printer, the system typically reverts to default settings for the destination printer, or allows the user to selectively modify the set of preferences. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a reusable and transferable printer driver system, wherein a set of printer driver preferences is transferable between client computers; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a second embodiment of a reusable and transferable printer driver system, in which a plurality of client computers are connected across a network to each other and to a print server, and wherein a set of printer driver preferences is located on a first client computer; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a second view of the reusable and transferable printer driver system of  FIG. 2 , in which the set of printer driver preference settings is sent from the first client computer to the print server; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a third view of the reusable and transferable printer driver system of  FIG. 2 , in which the stored set of printer driver preference settings is distributed to other client computers; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  shows a set of selected printer driver preference values, based upon printer driver categories; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a user interface of a printer driver for reusable and transferable printer preferences, located on a client computer; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is detailed view of a user interface for a printer driver for the reusable and transferable printer preference system; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of an active application on a client computer linked to a printer driver for reusable and transferable printer preferences; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a detailed view of a user interface for a printer driver for the reusable and transferable printer preference system linked to an active application on a client computer; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a settings submenu of a user interface for a printer driver for the reusable and transferable printer preference system linked to an active application on a client computer; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  shows a multiple printer embodiment of the transferable and reusable printer preference system; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a translation diagram typically used by the multiple printer embodiment of the transferable and reusable printer preference system; 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  shows keyword matching between different sets of printer preferences; 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  shows selective merging of selected preferences between a plurality of sets of reusable and transferable printer preferences to create a new set of reusable and transferable printer preferences; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is a schematic diagram a multiple printer embodiment of the transferable and reusable printer preference system, wherein sets of reusable and transferable preferences are established, stored and maintained at a central administrative workstation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a reusable and transferable printer driver system  10   a , wherein a set  16  of printer driver preferences  18   a - 18   n  is transferable  32  between a first client computer  12   a  and a second client computer  12   b . The client computers  12   a ,  12   b  are connected across a network  22  to each other (e.g., such as through computer network connections  33 ), and to a printer  26  (e.g., such as through printer network connections  19 ). The set  16  of printer driver preferences  18  is used by the first computer  12   a  to define a printing process at the connected printer  26 , such as when sending  24   a  a print job  21  from an application  20  to the printer  26 . 
         [0033]    In the embodiment shown, a first set  16  of printer driver preference settings  18  is located on the first client computer  12   a . The set  16  of printer driver settings  18  is sent  32  from the first client computer  12   a  to one or more other client computers (e.g., client computer  12   b ), across the network  22 . The transfer of sets  16  of preferences  18  between computers  12  can be accomplished by several means, such as file transfers, direct transfers, e-mail, or by any other electronic export  32  or import  34  methods. The network  22  between connected devices, such as client computers, may be any sort of direct connection, or may even be a wireless or PSTN based connection, such as an Internet or intranet connection. 
         [0034]    Although the set  16  of printer driver preferences  18  is defined before being sent to the second client computer  12   b , the preference set  16  provides a valuable resource to a user at the second client computer  12   b . A significant portion of a set  16  of printer driver preferences  18  often relates to a characteristic feature set  28  of a connected output device (e.g., a printer  26 ). As well, many printer driver preferences  18  are similar between similar print jobs  21 , such as defined color attributes for documents produced at one or more client computers  12   a ,  12   b . Therefore, although a single set  16  of printer driver preferences  18  may take considerable time for a user to initially create (such as at the first client computer  12   a ), it is often advantageous to reuse all or part of a previously defined set  16  of printer driver preferences  18  (such as at a second client computer  12   b ). 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  is a first view of  40   a  of a second embodiment of a reusable and transferable printer driver system  10   b . A plurality of client computers  12   a - 12   n  are connected across a network  22 , to each other, and to a print server  42 , having storage  44 , which is connected  45  to a printer  26 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the set  16  of printer driver preference settings  18  is initially located on a first client computer  12   a . For example, a user at the first client computer  12   a  may define a detailed set  16  of printer driver preference settings  18 , in the course of sending print jobs  21  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) to the print server  42  for printing at the printer  26 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  is a second view  40   b  of the second embodiment of a reusable and transferable printer driver system  10   b  shown in  FIG. 2 , in which the set  16  of printer driver preference settings  18  is downloaded  46  from the first client computer  12   a , across the network  22 , and is stored within storage  44  of the print server  42 . As described above, a significant portion of a set  16  of printer driver preferences  18  often relates to a characteristic feature set  28  of the connected output device (e.g., the printer  26 ), and many client computers  12   a - 12   n  connected across a network  22  often have print jobs  21  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) which require similar preferences  18 . Therefore, the stored set  16  of printer driver preference settings  18  is often useful for other client computers  12   b - 12   n.    
         [0037]      FIG. 4  is a third view  40   c  of the second embodiment of a reusable and transferable printer driver system  10   b  shown in  FIG. 2 , in which the stored set  16  of printer driver preference settings  18  is then sent  48  (i.e., distributed or selectably uploaded) from the print server  42  to other client computers  12   b , . . . ,  12   n . The uploaded set  16  of printer driver preference settings  18  is subsequently used by the other client computers  12   b , . . . ,  12   n  in the process of printing files  21  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) at the printer  26  connected to the print server  42 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  shows a set  16  of selected printer driver preference values  18   a - 18   n , based upon printer driver categories  47   a - 47   n . The set  16  of printer driver preferences  18   a - 18   n  are set values which are required to successfully print a print job  21  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) at a networked printer  26 . Within the entire set of printer driver categories  47   a - 47   n  is typically a common category subset  49   a  of settings  47   a - 47   i  which are common to most printers  26  (e.g., such as selected page size, input tray, orientation, and media type). As well, within the entire set of printer driver categories  47   a - 47   n  is typically a printer specific subset  49   b  of settings  47   j - 47   n  which are specific to a particular printer  26 , based on the feature set  28  (i.e., the capabilities) of that printer  26  (e.g., duplex, sorting, finishing options). A specified reusable and transferable set  16  of printer preferences  18  typically includes a set name  51  (preferably user-selectable or MIS department selectable), which allows users at different client computers  12   a - 12   n  to easily identify and use one or more sets  16  of printer preferences  18  for different print jobs  21 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a user interface  50  for a printer driver  14  for the reusable and transferable printer preference systems  10   a  and  10   b  (described in reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4  above), located on a client computer  12 . The client computer  12  typically comprises a processing unit  52 , a monitor  54  having a display screen  56 , and input devices, such as a keyboard  58  and a mouse  60 . Within the user interface  50  of the printer driver  14  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), a user views, defines or modifies a set  16  of selectable printer driver preferences  18 . In basic embodiments of the reusable and transferable set of printer preferences systems  10   a  and  10   b  (described in reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4  above), the user interface  50  allows sets  16  to be defined and reused for a particular connected printer  26 . However, preferred embodiments of the systems  10   a  and  10   b  (described in reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4  above) allow sets  16  of transferable printer preferences  18  to be readily defined, transferred and modified for use with different printers  26 , and even for different printers  26  having different feature sets  28   a - 28   n  ( FIG. 11 ). 
         [0040]    The user interface  50  has a general settings interface  62 , providing a general set of all the preferences  18  which the user can specify. The user interface  50  preferably includes a set name interface, in which a user may enter a desired name  51  (e.g., “Newsletter  1 ”) for a given set  16  of preferences  18 , such as by using the keyboard  58 . The top level settings  64   a - 64   c  typically include setting group controls, such as for color options  64   a , scale options  64   b , and finishing options  64   c.    
         [0041]    When the user activates a general setting choice, such as activating a group button  70   a ,  70   b , or  70   c , the user interface  50  typically displays a related preference selection window or expanded submenu  72   a , as shown in  FIG. 7 , whereby the user may specify detailed preference settings  18 . In  FIG. 7 , the user has activated the expanded color settings submenu  72   a  by selecting the color setting button  70   a  in  FIG. 6 . The color settings submenu  72   a  includes detailed selectable color settings. For color settings, typical option groups of preferences are business color  74   a , expert color  74   b , or grayscale  74   c . For example, business color  74   a  is typically defined by preset color preferences  18 , wherein the user interface  50  specifies basic color settings (e.g., typically specifying an adequate color palette that is reproducible by a color printer  26  for general business documents). As well, basic grayscale printing output  74   c  may be selected. 
         [0042]    In contrast to more generic grayscale settings or business color settings  74   a , expert color output  74   b  may optionally be selected, whereby a user has the option to manually specify more detailed color settings (e.g., such as for color calibration and specified PANTONE 1 ™ color matching (by Pantone Incorporated, of Moonachie, N.J.)). In  FIG. 7 , if expert color output  74   b  is activated, a secondary submenu would typically be presented to the user within the user interface  50 , so that the user may select detailed expert color preferences  18 . 
         [0043]    In a similar manner to the selection of color preferences  18 , other preferences  18  may be selected within the user interface  50 , such as printing media selection (e.g., substrate type selection, such as paper or transparency, tray selection, and paper size selection), or other processing preferences, such as finishing, orientation, duplex, stapling, binding, and/or hole punching preferences. 
         [0044]    The user interface  50  shown  FIG. 7  also includes a graphic representation of a plurality of defined sets  16   a - 16   c  of printer preferences  18 . The currently displayed set  16  is selectable, such as by activation of layered sets  16  by tabs  75   a - 75   c . For example, the displayed set  16   a  is currently displayed in  FIG. 7 . When a user selects a preference set tabs  75   a - 75   c , the selection windows for the selected set  16  is displayed, and presents the selected preference options to the user, such as a detailed set view ( FIG. 5 ), a general control interface  62  ( FIG. 6 ), or more specific option submenus  72   a  ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0045]    The resulting set  16  of printer preferences  18  is based upon the chosen preference  18  for each setting  47  ( FIG. 5 ). A user may create a plurality of sets  16   a - 16   n  of preferences  18 , typically for different types of print jobs  21 , from within the printer driver control interface  50 . Although a user may create a set  16  of preferences  18  by individually selecting each preference  18 , the user may also modify a previously defined set  16  (e.g., modifying the selected preferences  18  for “Newsletter  1 ”), or may modify a previously defined set  16  and save the modified set as a new set  16  (e.g., modifying the selected page size and finishing preferences  18  for “Newsletter  1 ” and retaining the color preferences for “Newsletter  1 ,” and saving the modified set  16  as “Proposal  1 ”). 
         [0046]    In this example, different print jobs  21  created by one or more client computers  12   a - 12   n , using either the first set  16   a , named “Newsletter  1 ,” or the second set  16   b , named “Proposal  1 ,” may quickly be processed. For detailed print jobs  21 , such as where color preferences  18  are quite complicated, the resulting print jobs  21  may be processed with strict color preferences  18 , whereas other printer preferences  18  may differ. For example, a newsletter print job  21  commonly involves a two-page, two-sided folded layout, whereas a business proposal print job  21  is commonly printed on single-sided letter size paper. However, related documents often incorporate coordinated color palettes. The reusable and transferable printer preference systems  10   a  and  10   b  (described in reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4  above), thus allows sets  16  of preferences  18 , or portions of sets  16  of preferences  18  to be efficiently and accurately defined, transferred, and modified. 
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of an active application  20  on a client computer  12 , which is linked to a printer driver  14  for reusable and transferable printer preferences  18 . Within the active application  20 , the user typically accesses the transferable printer preference systems  10   a  or  10   b  through the a print control  83  on a file submenu  85 . Selection of the print control  83  typically displays a general print submenu  87  from within the active application  20 , wherein a print properties control  89  within the general print submenu  87  provides access to the general settings interface  62  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) of the transferable printer preference systems  10   a  or  10   b . 
         [0048]      FIG. 9  is a detailed view of a user interface  50  for a printer driver  14  for the reusable and transferable printer preference systems  10   a  or  10   b  linked to an active application  20  on a client computer  12 . When the user selects a defined set  16  from a set selection submenu  78 , such as by highlighting  80  the desired set  16 , the selected preferences  18  are changed to reflect the defined preferences  18 , and the user may quickly process a print job  21 . The general settings interface  62  includes an expandable preferences display  91 , which can be expanded by expand menu control  95   a , or compressed (showing only top level settings), by compress menu control  95   b . When the user activates a general setting choice  64 , such as activating a group button  70 , the control interface  50  typically displays a related preference selection window or expanded submenu shown as  72   a , in  FIG. 7 , whereby the user may specify detailed preference settings  18 . 
         [0049]    The general settings interface  62  also preferably includes a setting summary display  93 , and a page layout thumbnail preview  94 . The setting summary display  93  provides an overview of printer driver categories  47   a - 47   n , as explained in  FIG. 5  and selected settings  18   a - 18   n  for the current set  16  of preferences  18 . The page layout thumbnail preview  94  provides a graphic representation of the current page layout, as a print job would be printed to an output device  26  (e.g., the graphic representation in 
         [0050]      FIG. 9  currently shows a portrait orientation setting  18   c  on letter size paper setting  18   a , as shown in setting summary display  93 ). 
         [0051]    The general settings interface  62  also includes a settings selection control  92 , which provides access to a detailed settings submenu  98 , wherein a user can control the transfer of sets  16  of printer preferences  18 .  FIG. 10  is a settings submenu  98  of a user interface for a printer driver  14  for the reusable and transferable printer preference systems  10   a  or  10   b  linked to an active application  20  on a client computer  12 . The settings submenu  98  includes controls for exporting  32  ( FIG. 1 ) a selected set  16  of printer preferences  18 , importing  34  ( FIG. 1 ) a selected set  16  of printer preferences  18 , storing  46  a selected set  16  of printer preferences  18  ( FIG. 3 ), retrieving  48  a selected set  16  of printer preferences  18  ( FIG. 4 ), or saving a selected set  16  of printer preferences  18  as a new set  16 , through Save As control  99 . 
         [0052]    Within a network  22 , transferable and reusable sets  16  may therefore be defined at one or more client computers  12   a - 12   n , and may be distributed to other networked devices, such as to client computers  12   a - 12   n  or to print servers  42 . For users located at a plurality of client computers  12   a - 12   n , the distributed sets may readily be used, such as for multiple users working on one or more related project. Each user may send each project (i.e., a print job  21 ) to a printer  26 , and obtain similar printed outputs, since the set  16  of printer preferences  18  is equivalent across all client computers  12   a - 12   n.    
         [0053]    System Use for a Plurality Printers having Different Feature Sets. In basic embodiments of the transferable and reusable printer preference systems  10   a  or  10   b , sets  16  of printer driver preferences  18  can be transferred between multiple client computers  12   a - 12   n  for jobs which are sent to the same printer  26 . In preferred embodiments, sets  16  of printer driver preferences  18  are used to send print jobs  21  to different printers  26   a - 26   n , either from the same client computer  12 , or from different client computers  12   a - 12   n . Although sets  16  of printer preferences  18  are typically specified in terms of an available feature set  28  for a connected printer  26  (e.g., a first printer  26   a ), the sets  16  may be modified within the transferable and reusable printer preference systems  10   a  or  10   b  to function with different printers  26   a - 26   n  having different feature sets  28   a - 28   n.    
         [0054]      FIG. 11  shows a multiple printer embodiment of the transferable and reusable printer preference system  10   c , having a first client computer  12   a  in communication with a first printer  26   a , and a second client computer  12   b  in communication with a second printer  26   b . The set  16  of printer preferences  18  shown is defined on the first client computer  12   a , and is specified to perform a particular type of print job  21  at the first printer  26   a . As described above, a user at the first client computer  12   a  may selectably send  32  one or more sets  16  of printer driver preferences  18  to the second client computer  12   b . The transfer or distribution of sets  16  may be accomplished by several means, such as by e-mail, or by intermediate storage on a server (e.g., such as print server  42  ( FIGS. 2-4 )). 
         [0055]    Translation of Set Preferences.  FIG. 12  is a translation diagram  100  typically used by the multiple printer embodiment of the transferable and reusable printer preference system  10   c . When an initial set  16   x  of preferences  18 , having been specified for use at a first printer  26   a  having a first feature set  28   a , is used to print a print job  21  at a different printer  26   b , as shown in  FIG. 11 , having a different feature set  28   n  (sent from either the same computer  12   a  or a different computer  12   b ), the system  10   c  preferably modifies the initial set  16   x  of preferences  18  to create a modified set  16   y,  as needed, to accomplish the selected print job  21 . 
         [0056]    The multiple printer platform printer driver  14 , as shown in  FIG. 11  preserves the defined preferences  18  which are usable  102  for a different destination printer  26   b . Although the application  20  and multiple platform printer driver  14  preserves as many preferred settings  18  as possible (e.g., retains the main code of the initial set  16   x,  there are often features  30   a  . . .  30   i  and  30   a  . . .  30   k,  as shown in  FIG. 11  which are different between different printers, and preferences specified in an initial set  16   x  which are not directly usable for a new destination printer  26   b . For preferred preferences  18  which are not directly usable for the destination printer, the printer driver  14  uses default setting preferences  104  that are required to successfully print to the second printer  26   b.    
         [0057]    For example, a common printer preference  18  may be “duplex” printing. For different printers  26   b  which have a “duplex” printing preference  18  available within each their defined feature sets  28 , the printer driver  14  and translation control  100  matches  102  the “duplex” option  18 . Meanwhile, other non-matching settings  104 , which are not directly available to the new printer  26   b , are typically translated to default preferences  18  for the new destination printer  26   b . In a preferred embodiment, where more than one default setting preference is possible at a destination printer  26   b , translation control  100  provides controllable selection of the default preferences  104 . 
         [0058]    Conflict Resolution. When translating sets  16  of printer preferences  18 , or when merging sets  16  of printer preferences  18  ( FIG. 14 ), there are occasionally selected features from one set  16  which are not directly translated to an available selectable preference  18 , or an available feature  28  on a different output device  26   b . Therefore, when sets  16  of reusable and transferable printer preferences  18  are imported to a client computer  12 , retrieved from external storage  44  across a network, or are used to send a print job  21  to a different printer  26   b  than a set  16  was originally intended, detailed resolution between preferences  18  is sometimes required. 
         [0059]    Each set  16  includes a plurality of defined preferences  18 , and each preference has a defined preference name or keyword  107  as shown in  FIG. 13 . Although there may be equivalent or similar features  30   a  . . .  30   i,  as shown in  FIG. 11  within feature sets  28  of different printers, the terminology  107  used to describe a preference  18  related to each feature  30   a  . . .  30   i,  as shown in  FIG. 11  may be different for different printers  26   b . The printer driver  14  and translation control  100  attempts to match as many preferences as possible, substitutes default setting  104  where possible ( FIG. 12 ), and if needed, allows the user to match other non-matching preferences  18 , to correctly match preferences  18  which were incorrectly matched by the automated system (e.g., such as from differences in keywords  107 ), or to resolve other conflicts. 
         [0060]    The translation and modification of sets  16 , and comparison between preferences  18  and keywords  107  is accomplished internally to the printer driver application  14 . Alternatively, supplementary translation format applications, such as an XML format application, may be used in conjunction with the printer driver  14 , such as to store and transfer setting parameters  47   a - 47   n  and their values  18   a - 18   n  within a standardized XML format, and to compare and translate parameters  47 , keywords  107 , and preference values  18 . The use of XML formats provides simple key value pair association describing the settings  18  for a specific printer  26 . The transfer of settings  18  in XML format is preferred, since there are no additional page description language (PDL) specific commands that are required. 
         [0061]    Keyword Matching. Common features  30   a  . . .  30   i,  as shown in  FIG. 11  are often described using the same terminology preferences  18  for different printers  26   b  manufactured by the same company (e.g., using unified terminology and keywords for features  30   a  . . .  30   i,  as shown in  FIG. 11  and selectable preferences  18 ). However, an equivalent or similar feature  30   a  . . .  30   i,  as shown in  FIG. 11  provided on a printer  26  from a different manufacturer may have different terminology or keywords for features  30   a  . . .  30   i,  as shown in  FIG. 11  and selectable preferences  18 . 
         [0062]    The multiple platform printer driver  14  and translation control  100  therefore preferably provides keyword matching controls, whereby a user can match up preferences  18  between an initial set  16   x  ( FIG. 12 ), and non-matching  104  preferences  18  in the modified set  16   y.    
         [0063]      FIG. 13  shows keyword matching  106  between different sets  16  of preferences  18 . Through the user interface  50  or translation control interface  100 , a user may optionally resolve such conflicts in terminology by matching key words  107 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 13 , a first set  16   x  of preferences  18   a  . . .  18   n  is defined for a first printer  26   a , and describes a page layout option as “Two-page”  107 . However, the second printer  26   b  shown requires a similar layout option to be described as “Tabloid”  109 . In this scenario, the user may optionally resolve the conflict, by matching  108  the “Two-page” keyword  107  for preference  18   n  in the first set  16   x  to the “Tabloid” keyword  109  for preference  18   n  in the modified set  16   y.    
         [0064]    Selective Merging.  FIG. 14  shows selective merging  110  of selected preferences  18  between a plurality of sets  16   a ,  16   b  of reusable and transferable printer preferences  18 , to create a new set  16   n  of reusable and transferable printer preferences  18 . For example, a user may desire to create a new set  16   n , based on specific color preferences  18  from an earlier defined set (e.g., set  16   a ), and may also desire finishing preferences  18  based on a different set (e.g., set  16   b ) 
         [0065]    The selective merging window  110  allows a user to choose selected preferences  18  between two or more previously defined sets, to create a new set  16 . Within the selective merging window  110 , the user highlights  112   a ,  112   b  desired preferences  18  from existing sets  16   a ,  16   b . In an alternate embodiment, a user can slide over (i.e., drag)  113   a  the desired preferences  18  or groups of preferences (e.g., color output settings  18 ) from the first set  16   a  to the new set  16   n , and slide over  113   b  the desired preferences  18  or groups of preferences (e.g., finish settings) from the second set  16   b  to the new set  16   n.    
         [0066]    The user may also select other preferences  18  based upon choices other than those available, such as by a pop-up menu  114  of preferences  18 . The user may then save and use the new set  16   n , as merged from two or more prior sets, and may optionally modify the preferences  18  for the new set  16   n , by selecting preferences  18  from selection menus. 
         [0067]    Translated or selected preference options  18  which conflict with other selected preferences  18  in the new set  16   n  (i.e., the selected preference is not available, or cannot be performed) are preferably highlighted  118 . In a preferred embodiment, context-sensitive help provides a user with supplementary information regarding a potential conflict (e.g., a conflict resolution dialog). For a highlighted conflict  118 , a user preferably activates a pop-up menu  114  of preferences  18 , and chooses a preference  18  which is not conflict highlighted  118 . The user selectably pulls down the highlighted preference  118 , such as by opening a pop-up menu  114 , which shows which item choices  18  would still be conflicted  118 , and which would be acceptable. Pop-up menu  114  typically displays all selectable preferences  18 , such as preferences  18  defined by the initial sets  16  being merged (e.g., preference Opt N- 1  from a first set  16   a , and preference Opt N- 2  from a second set  16   b ), as well as other selectable preferences  18  (e.g., preference Opt N- 3 ) for the new destination printer  26 . 
         [0068]    In a preferred embodiment, a log is prepared for selected sets  16  of preferences  18  for a processed print job  21 . For imported printer driver sets  16  where preferences  18  were matched, such as by terminology resolution  106  or by conflict resolution  118 , the eventual output resulting from the selected set  16  may be fine, or may produce undesirable output, such as if one or more preferences  18  were improperly resolved. The job log therefore provides a convenient means to capture and provide feedback to the resolution process, based on successful or unsuccessful output. The user may preferably inspect the job log, to compare the chosen preferences  18  for the current print job  21  to the imported preferences  18 , such as to detect discrepancies. 
         [0069]    Master Sets of Printer Preferences. In the prior art, secondary users currently have to make each and every change to a printer driver, such as through sub-menus, before a print job  21  is printed, even if the user is printing to the same printer  26  as the first user. Such manual entry of detailed multiple settings is prone to error. For complicated color process printers  26  or large format plotters  26 , the resulting mistakes can be quite extensive and costly. 
         [0070]      FIG. 15  is a schematic diagram a multiple printer embodiment of the transferable and reusable printer preference system  10   d,  wherein sets  16  of reusable and transferable preferences  18  are established, stored and maintained at a central administrative workstation  120 . In a networked environment  22 , there are often collaborative efforts between a plurality of users at a plurality of client computers  12 . It is often desirable to specify and control the publication of documents from a single computer  12  or administrative workstation  120 , such as in a publishing or MIS environment, where multiple users are responsible for creating one or more documents requiring strictly controlled features, such as page layouts and color preferences. 
         [0071]    In contrast to the prior art, master sets  16  of preferences  18  are preferably established at a single location, such as at an administrative workstation  120 , and are then broadcast out to networked client computers  12   a - 12   n , to provide controlled output of print jobs  21  at one or more printers  26   a - 26   n.    
         [0072]    A user, such as an MIS administrator, at an administrative workstation  120  may establish sets of preferences  18 , and may preferably control the storage and modification of the defined sets  16 . In a publishing environment, therefore, print jobs  21  can be processed by any user at a client computer  12   a - 12   n , using the sets  16  defined and maintained by the administrative workstation  120 . The administrative user may also modify defined sets  16  of preferences  18  for operation at any of a plurality of print servers  42   a - 42   n  and output devices  26   a - 26   n , whereby a print job  21  sent from any client computer  12   a - 12   n  is processed similarly. Individual users at client computers  12  are not required to modify their own sets  16  of preferences  18 , since they are automatically supplied with a networked choice of available sets  16  of printer preferences  18 , such as through the user interface of their user applications  20 . 
         [0073]    For example, in a networked environment between client computers  12   a - 12   n  that is used for color graphics production, there are often detailed and complicated color calibrations within a specified set  16  of printer preferences  18 , by which a plurality of users are required to use the same specified set  16  of printer preferences  18  (e.g., often comprising as many as twenty different calibration steps, brightness values, swap simulation values, Hewlett Packard PCL® Configure Image Data (CID) command selection values, and International Color Consortium profile values). 
         [0074]    System Advantages. The transferable printer driver preferences system  10  and its methods of use provide reusable and transferable sets  16  of printer driver preferences  18 . For a single user working at one or more client computers  12   a - 12   n , defined sets  16  are always close at hand. Sets  16  can be easily merged to provide similar output and finishing at multiple output devices  26 . Different users at different client computers  12   a - 12   n  have access to defined sets, and can use them “as is,” or may modify them or merge them with other sets to quickly and efficiently create new printer driver preference sets  16 . In a master-client environment  10   d  ( FIG. 15 ), one or more sets  16  of printer driver preferences  18  are defined and controlled from a central location  120 , whereby the application files  21  produced or modified at one or more client computers  12   a - 12   n  are similarly formatted, using the pre-defined and selectable sets  16  of printer driver preferences  18 . 
         [0075]    Although the reusable and transferable printer driver preferences system  10  and its methods of use are described herein in connection with client computers  12 , networks  22 , print servers  42 , and printers  26 , the system and techniques can be implemented with other computers  12 , servers and image processing devices, such as print controllers, scanners and copiers, or any combination thereof, as desired. 
         [0076]    Accordingly, although the invention has been described in detail with reference to a particular preferred embodiment, persons possessing ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains will appreciate that various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.