Abstract:
A computer readable media for use with a computer, the computer readable media bearing software configured to present to a user of the computer an interface with which the user can select from a superset of print features provided by multiple printers; receive from the user data indicating print features selected by the user; and suggest a printer to the user based on print features selected by the user. A method of configuring a computer for printing, the method comprising presenting to a user an interface with which the user can select from a superset of print features provided by multiple printers; receiving from the user data indicating print features selected by the user; and suggesting a printer to the user based on print features selected by the user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to printers and computer networks. More particularly, the invention relates to selection of print features. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Personal computers, networks, and printers are known in the art. A personal computer user wanting to print a document is presented with a dialog of various options available for the selected printer. A simple example is the number of copies to print. In fact, unknown to the user, many printer specific capabilities are presented in the process of generating a document to printer. For example, the user typically can only select paper sizes supported by the currently selected (often called default) printer. To pick a different paper size, the user typically has to first pick a different printer. 
     Presenting the user only with options supported by the selected printer has several disadvantages. First the user tends to be task oriented, thus wants to specify the task and have the system perform it. By forcing the user to understand the capabilities of each printer, so the user knows which one to select, is awkward for the user. For example, selecting DesignJet 650C before the user can select D size paper is not obvious. Second, the system can&#39;t add much value, like using a faster printer if the user&#39;s job is long. Finally, the system isn&#39;t learning about the user&#39;s preferences. The system is simply doing exactly what it is told. If the user described the task, and then corrected the system when the system guessed wrong, the system could remember the user&#39;s preference. 
     Attention is directed to a product called JetAdmin (TM). JetAdmin is a product available from the assignee of the present invention that enumerates all printers on a network. 
     Attention is also directed to a product called Novell Distributed Print Services (TM). Novell Distributed Print Services is software available from Novell that makes it easier for users to find a printer and to print from their workstations in large enterprise network environments. A user can view printers on the network, see each printer&#39;s job status, and send an urgent printing job to the printer with the smallest workload. Novell Distributed Print Services also enable users to choose customized printer configurations from their workstations to, for example, specify that a notification is desired if a printer is busy, a paper tray is empty, or a print job is finished. 
     These products fail to solve the problems identified above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a computer readable media for use with a computer, the computer readable media bearing software configured to present to a user of the computer an interface with which the user can select from a superset of print features provided by multiple printers; receive from the user data indicating print features selected by the user; and suggest a printer to the user based on print features selected by the user. 
     In one aspect of the invention, a method of configuring a computer for printing comprises presenting to a user an interface with which the user can select from a superset of print features provided by multiple printers; receiving from the user data indicating print features selected by the user; and suggesting a printer to the user based on print features selected by the user. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a computer configured for use in a network including multiple printers, some of which are commonly used by a user of the computer and contained in a list of printers stored in the computer, comprises software configured to: 
     (a) combine description files of printers to define a superset of print features provided by multiple printers on the network; 
     (b) present to a user an interface with which the user can select from the defined superset of print features provided by multiple printers on the network; 
     (c) receive from the user data indicating print features selected by the user; 
     (d) determine if there is any printer commonly used by the user capable of all of the print features selected by the user and, if so, proceed to step (f); and, if not, proceed to step (e); 
     (e) determine if there is any printer elsewhere in the network capable of all of the print features selected by the user and, if so, proceed to step (f) and, if not, providing a message so indicating to the user; 
     (f) suggest printers to the user capable of all the print features selected by the user; 
     (g) receive a selection of a printer from the user; and 
     (h) send a print job for printing on the selected printer. 
     The set of printers the user typically uses can be called the commonly-used printers. The user is able to create a document and select printing features for the document based on any features supported by at least one of the commonly-used printers. 
     Specifically, in one embodiment, the set of description files characterizing the commonly-used printers are combined to create a new description file that contains a superset of capabilities supported by the commonly-used printers. There are several common formats for describing a printer&#39;s capabilities in a file. Adobe&#39;s Printer Description file (PPD) and Microsoft&#39;s Generic Printer Description file (GPD) are two examples. Other alternatives are possible. 
     For example, in one alternative embodiment, one or more of the printers are able to describe their features, and are interrogated directly if they can describe their features. More particularly, some printers have on-board MIBs (Management Information Base), one of which is a standard printer MIB, and the printer MIB is interrogated to determine the features of the printer using an appropriate protocol, such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). 
     In another alternative embodiment, information about a printer&#39;s features is obtained from a manufacturer&#39;s web site. 
     In addition, constraints can be included to keep the user from selecting features that are not possible. For example, if the user has a monochrome duplex printer and a color printer that only prints simplex, then the constraints would not allow the user to select automatic duplexing of a color document. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the approach to solving constraints is to check other printers the customer may find acceptable to use that supports the requested feature. In a large enterprise there may be a printer that meets the user&#39;s needs, but the user is unaware of the device and/or its capabilities. In this embodiment, the system adds the printer to the user&#39;s list of commonly used printers. This can occur, e.g., after prompting the user to determine if the user wants to add the printer to the user&#39;s list of commonly used printers. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims, and drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer network embodying one aspect of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method in accordance with one aspect of the invention, performed in preparation for a method illustrated in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a print method in accordance with one aspect of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a computer network  10  embodying one aspect of the invention. The network  10  comprises a server  12 , which can be a minicomputer, a microcomputer, a mainframe computer, a personal computer (PC), or any other appropriate server. In the illustrated embodiment, the server  12  runs a network operating system. More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, the server  12  has a multi-user, multi-tasking operating system such as UNIX (TM), LINUX (TM), etc. or is a Novell (TM) or Microsoft NT (TM) server. 
     The network  10  further includes a plurality of printers  14 ,  16 ,  18 , where at least some printers  14  and  16  are coupled to the server, e.g. via communications cable  32 . The printers and server respectively include network interface hardware. The printers  14 ,  16 , and  18  are different models and have different capabilities and features. 
     The network  10  further includes a plurality of user workstations or local computers coupled to the server  12  and to the printers  14 ,  16 ,  18 , e.g., via communications cable  32 . In the illustrated embodiment, the workstations comprise computers  20 ,  22 ,  24 , such as personal computers. The computers respectively include network interface hardware  26 . 
     The printer  18  is directly coupled to the computer  24 . The computer  24  has software that allows server  12  and other computers  20 , and  22  on the network to print to the printer  18  via the communications cable  32 . 
     In one embodiment, the computers respectively include memory  28  or other computer readable medium bearing software that will be described below. In the illustrated embodiment, the memory  28  comprises a CD-ROM or disk, such as a hard disk or floppy disk, but the memory could alternatively be defined, at least in part, by one or more of the following: random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), optical storage, floptical storage, tape storage, or any other appropriate data storage medium. The computers respectively have other typical components (not shown) such as a processor, input devices (e.g.; keyboard and mouse), output devices (e.g.; monitor, speaker), serial ports, parallel ports, communication hardware, etc. The computers  20  respectively further include a processor  30 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a software process that is performed before the process of FIG. 3 is performed. 
     At step S 1 , description files of printers are combined to create a new description file containing a superset of printer features or capabilities. The set of description files characterizing the commonly-used printers are combined to create a new description file containing a superset of capabilities of the set of the commonly-used printers. There are several common formats for describing a printer&#39;s capabilities in a file. Any appropriate description file format can be employed to create the new description file. Adobe&#39;s Printer Description file (PPD) and Microsoft&#39;s Generic Printer Description file (GPD) are two examples. The original description files are retained to be able to determine which printers are capable of all (or most) of the user&#39;s desired features. 
     At step S 2 , the new description file is stored. 
     In one embodiment, the steps S 1  and S 2  are repeated for multiple combinations of printers, e.g., for a user&#39;s commonly used printers as well as for all printers on the network or some other number of printers on the network. If they are performed for a user&#39;s commonly used printers, an additional step of determining what printers are commonly used by the user precedes step S 1 . 
     The process of FIG. 2 is a preparation or installation process that occurs prior to the process of FIG.  3 . The process of FIG. 2 is performed by a workstation or user&#39;s computer  20 ,  22 ,  24 , in the illustrated embodiment. In an alternative embodiment, it is at least partially performed by the server  12 . For example, in one embodiment, the server  12  is an NT server that has description files for multiple printers on the network. When a printer is installed to a computer  20 ,  22 , or  24 , a description file for that printer is transferred from the server  12  to the computer  20 ,  22 , or  24 . The combination of description files can be carried out on either the server  12  or the local computer  20 ,  22 , or  24 , and the combined description file can be stored on either the server  12  or the local computer  20 ,  22 , or  24 . It is also possible to obtain printer feature information directly from the printer, from a manufacturer&#39;s web site, or from other sources instead of from the server. 
     The process of FIG. 3 occurs during printing from an application (e.g., after a Print or Print Setup selection is made). 
     The process of FIG. 3 is performed by a workstation or user&#39;s computer  20 ,  22 ,  24 , in the illustrated embodiment. In an alternative embodiment, it is at least partially performed by the server  12 . 
     At step S 3 , a computer presents to a user an interface with which the user can select from a superset of print features. After performing step S 3 , the computer proceeds to step S 4 . 
     At step S 4 , the computer receives data indicating print features selected by the user. These can be selected, for example, by a mouse or keyboard using pull down menus, radio buttons, tabs, dialog boxes, voice commands, etc. The selectable features can include, for example, number of copies, simplex or duplex, single sided or double sided, size of paper, paper tray, margins, portrait or landscape, number of columns, color or black and white, etc. After performing step S 4 , the computer proceeds to step S 5 . 
     At step S 5 , a determination is made as to whether there is any commonly used printer capable of all (or many) of the print features selected by the user. If so, the computer proceeds to step S 8 . If not, the computer proceeds to step S 6 . 
     At step S 6 , a determination is made as to whether there is any printer elsewhere on the network capable of all (or many) of the print features selected by the user. If so, the computer proceeds to step S 8 . If not, the computer proceeds to step S 7 . 
     At step S 7 , an error message or dialog is presented to the user in which the user is informed that there is no printer capable of all the print features selected by the user. In the illustrated embodiment, the user is prompted as to whether he/she wants to print anyway. If so, the computer proceeds to step S 8 . If not, in one embodiment, the user is then re-presented with the interface of step S 3 . In an alternative embodiment, the user must re-start the print process. 
     At step S 8 , the computer suggests printers to the user based on features and, in one embodiment, speed and/or location. For example, in one embodiment, the computer only presents a list of printers capable of all of the user&#39;s desired features and then suggests one or more based on speed and/or location of the printers, queue of jobs for the printers, printers being ready to print, and previous usage pattern. The fastest printer may not always be the best choice for a user. If a print job is short, speed of the printer may not be as big of a concern as distance to the user. If a faster printer has a long queue of jobs awaiting printing, a slower printer may be preferable. If a printer is out of paper, or has a paper jam, another printer may be preferable. In another embodiment, the computer presents a list of printers which are capable of the most of the desired features, or presents an indication of which printers are capable of which features. After performing step S 8 , the computer proceeds to step S 9 . 
     At step S 9 , the computer receives a user&#39;s selection of a printer. After performing step S 9 , the computer proceeds to step S 10 . 
     At step S 10 , the computer processes the print job on the selected printer. For example, the computer formats the print job for the selected printer and communicates with a print server (e.g., the server  12  or another server) or directly with the printer to initiate the print process. After performing step S 10 , the computer proceeds to step S 11 . 
     At step S 11 , which can occur at any time after step S 8  (e.g., immediately after step S 8  in one embodiment), if the selected printer was not one of the user&#39;s commonly used printers, the computer adds the printer to the list of commonly used printers. More particularly, in one embodiment, the user is first prompted as to whether he or she would like to add the selected printer to the list of commonly used printers and the computer adds the printer only if the user agrees. After performing step S 11 , the computer proceeds to step S 12 . 
     At step S 12 , the user&#39;s usage pattern is updated for use in step S 8  in later print jobs. In one embodiment, the next time printers are suggested to the user in step S 8 , previously selected printers will be suggested for particular selected features. Further, a user&#39;s usage pattern is used, in one embodiment, to determine for what size of print job the user will prefer a fast computer to a closer computer for any particular set of selected features. 
     In a small organization, it may be assumed that all printers capable of performing the desired functions are located near the user, in which case, a printer may be selected for the user in one embodiment (step S 8  and step S 9  are skipped), particularly if there is only one printer capable of all the desired features, or the printer may be automatically selected based on features, speed, and/or queue length. However, in a large organization, there may be some large number or printers on the network (e.g. 80,000) and it may not be clear which printers are located proximate the user. In this case, a printer can be selected based on a network directory service (e.g., Novell NDS), or a determination can be made as to what printer the user selects (e.g. step S 8  and S 9  are not omitted). 
     The current PC print model is designer-focused. It is easy for the software designer to limit the user&#39;s choices to those available on a single printer. Changing to a customer task focus removes the need for the customer to intimately understand the capabilities of each printer when trying to create printed output. 
     The concept of a pool of printers where the system selects the actual device to which to print has been around for a long time. However, the selection was made after the user created the print job. Allowing the user flexibility to use printer specific features without having to first select a printer simplifies the user&#39;s work. 
     The protection sought is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, which are given by way of example only, but instead is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.