Patent Description:
Printing devices - including printers, copiers, fax machines, multifunction devices including additional scanning, copying, and finishing functions, all-in-one devices, pad printers to print images on three dimensional objects, and three-dimensional printers (additive manufacturing devices) - employ color management systems including color management resources to deliver a controlled conversion between color representations of various devices, such as image scanners, digital cameras, computer monitors, printers, and software applications including browsers and photo and design programs. In general, printing devices apply a print substance, which can include printing agents or colorants, to a substrate. A substrate is a superset of print media, such as plain paper, and can include any suitable object or materials to which a print substance from a printing device are applied including materials, such as powdered build materials, for forming three-dimensional articles. Print substances, including printing agents and colorants, are a superset of inks and can include toner, liquid inks, or other suitable marking material that may or may not be mixed with fusing agents, detailing agents, or other materials and can be applied to the substrate.

Printing devices often employ color tables to provide transformations between input color spaces and subtractive color spaces to determine corresponding formulations of print substance amounts, such as print substance volumes, to render the intended colors. In one example, printing devices often employ color tables including multidimensional color look-up tables to provide transformations between different color spaces such as from input device-independent colors to cyan-magenta-yellow-key (black) (CMYK) print substance amounts in the case of two-dimensional printing devices for printing on media or, in the case of three-dimensional printing devices, printing agent amounts for printing on a powder or other material.

Many colors of a color space (e.g., CMYK, RGB, HSV, HIS, etc.) can be rendered from a set of colors or a combination of color and black. For example, colors in the gamut of a CMYK color space for printing devices can be rendered from just the set of process colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow and, in some color resource models, do not include a black channel. In many printing devices and printing modes, however, an achromatic black channel can be added to some of colors in the CMYK color space to reduce process color print substance consumption for some darker colors, stabilize neutral color such as in the grey tones, and to improve printability of blacks.

For devices such as color printers or other printing devices, color resources including the color tables can be embedded in memory devices storing the printer firmware or other hardware. In some examples, the particular color transform of the color resource may be colorant-dependent, such as dependent on the particular formulation of each of the print substance included in a supply component such as a cartridge, and information regarding the color gamut characterization in the color resource can be stored on a memory device located on the cartridge for use with the printing device such as its firmware or other hardware.

Typically, color printing agents or colorants (e.g., cyan, magenta, and yellow) are significantly more expensive than similar amounts of black printing agents or colorants. Depending on the application or the industry, the disparity can lead to a substantially greater expense for color printing in color versus black and white printing. Some users may attempt to address this additional expense by generally printing documents in greyscale, or black and white mode, while selectively printing documents in full color mode or by printing all documents in black and white mode. Often, black and white mode versions of color documents lack significant information or distinctions that users may find valuable. Other users may attempt to address the additional expense by printing color documents in a depleted color mode with depleted colors that compromises print quality.

In a typical example of a depleted color mode, the amount of the color printing agent or colorant is uniformly scaled back from an amount used in full color mode to produce a washed out depiction of the source document. As many colors do not include a black component in the color space, such as pastels, such colors become depleted to almost white. While uniform color depletion outputs may convey more information than black and white mode and save on expense over a full color mode, such color depletion outputs typically include poor image quality that many users find unappealing at meaningful reductions in printing agent expense.

In response to the added expense of printing in a full color mode and the poor image quality of printing in black and white mode or a uniform depleted color mode, a color map for a printing device may be determined by interpolating from existing color maps using selected depletion levels. One such approach includes grey component replacement, or GCR, which replaces a selected amount of color (e.g., CMY) printing agents or colorants with black printing agents or colorants for many colors. GCR renders many colors with a combination of black and a subset of colors in a color space. For example, two of three CMY printing agents or colorants may be used instead of three colors of the CMY printing agents or colorants. GCR can provide significantly better image quality than uniform color depletion and black and white outputs, while saving in costs over full color printing.

In a depleted color space, a luminous intensity may be maintained for colors in a depletion mode by determining a luminous intensity for source colors converted into a corresponding greyscale color space. A black channel amount may be adjusted along with depletion colors to correspond to a luminous intensity that matches that of the greyscale color space. In this manner, the black channel may be optimized to maintain luminous intensity of a depletion color space.

In some examples, a source color may be mapped from a first color space to a target color in a second color space (e.g., depletion color space) and stored on a memory device for use with a printing device. The first color space may be different than the depletion color space, and, in one example, the depletion color space may be a device dependent color space and can include a subtractive color space of a printing device. For instance, the printing device may employ a CMYK color space corresponding with process colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow printing agents or colorants and a black printing agent or colorant.

A source color may be converted from the first color space to a corresponding greyscale color in a greyscale color space at <NUM>. The greyscale color includes a luminosity amount corresponding with a luminous intensity of the greyscale color, or first luminosity amount, which is determined or measured. In one example of converting the source color to a corresponding greyscale color, the source color is converted to a corresponding greyscale color. For some examples of a first color space, such as the additive color space sRGB (which was standardized by the International Electrotechnical Commission as IEC <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>:<NUM>), the first luminosity amount can be determined directly from the source color via a mathematical translation of the source color to greyscale. Luminosity amount is related to the luminous intensity of the greyscale color and not to a particular formulation or technique to determine luminous intensity.

The target color in the depletion color space may be generated from a color depletion level. The target color in the depletion color space represents the source color in the first color space in the color resource. The depletion color in the depletion color space corresponds with a transformation of the source color in the first color space. In one example, the depletion color can correspond with an intermediate transformation of the source color. For instance, the depletion color includes a selected process-color formulation of the source color. In the example of the depletion color space as a subtractive or CMYK color space, the depletion color is formulated from one, two, or three colors selected from the process colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow, and includes amounts in a cyan channel, magenta channel, and yellow channel. As used in this disclosure, a process color component is of the set of cyan, magenta, and yellow, and can include a zero amount of cyan, magenta, or yellow, but does not include the black component. In one illustration, the depletion color includes a black channel amount of zero.

The depletion color, in one example range, can include an amount of print substance for the process colors (cyan, magenta, and yellow), used to produce a full color version of the source color in the depletion color space. In one example, amounts are determined by volume of print substance. Accordingly, a depletion color from the process colors may include a luminosity amount that is less than the first luminosity amount of the greyscale color at <NUM>.

An amount in the black channel, for the depletion color space, may be provided to the depletion color and adjusted to generate the target color such that the luminosity amount of the target color, or second luminosity amount, matches the first luminosity amount of the greyscale color. One example of matching the first luminosity amount to the second luminosity amount includes providing a second luminosity amount that is identical to the first luminosity amount. Another example of matching the first luminosity amount to the second luminosity amount includes providing a second luminosity amount that is generally the same as the first luminosity amount such as a second luminosity amount that is within a few percent of the first luminosity amount. In this example of matching the first luminosity amount to the second luminosity amount includes providing a second luminosity amount visually generally imperceptible to the naked eye of first luminosity amount.

Furthermore, users (e.g., dealers, administrators, print service providers or end-users) currently can select text and image quality by print mode and can make adjustments to colors for color matching. However, users cannot adjust the depletion ratios of black and color to optimize the page attributes with respect to cost for their specific usage and environments.

The disclosure describes a user interface (UI) that provides a user (e.g., a dealer and/or customer) to individually choose and lock-in the depletion level for black and/or color. The black depletion level is associated with black print substance (e.g., ink) usage and the color depletion level is associated with color print substance usage. In one example, a first slider may be used to select the black depletion level and a second slider may be used to select the color (e.g., CMY) depletion level. Various criteria (e.g., cost-per-page, page yield, date-to-supply-exhaustion) may be reflected in the UI based on changes to the depletion levels. A color map associated with the selected depletion levels may be determined by interpolating between existing color maps.

Additionally, a user may be presented with instant feedback via a virtual preview of the results changes to depletion levels or the ability to print a sample with the ability to see before and after states and zoom in for additional details. The ability to see the results of the changes to depletion levels may be at the device (e.g., locally) or may be remotely displayed via an embedded web server (EWS), fleet monitoring tool, or mobile app.

<FIG> is a simplified block diagram of a computing device <NUM> incorporating a user interface (UI) <NUM> for depletion level selection. In some examples, the computing device <NUM> may be a computer (e.g., desktop computer, laptop computer, server, etc.) or the computing device <NUM> may be integrated with a printing device <NUM>.

The computing device <NUM> includes a processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be any of a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a semiconductor-based microprocessor, GPU, FPGA, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and/or other hardware devices suitable for retrieval and execution of instructions stored in the memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may fetch, decode, and execute instructions, stored on the memory <NUM> and/or data storage <NUM>, to implement the UI <NUM> for depletion level selection.

The memory <NUM> may include read only memory (ROM) and/or random access memory (RAM). The memory <NUM> and the data storage <NUM> may also be referred to as a machine-readable storage medium. A machine-readable storage medium may be any electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage device that contains or stores executable instructions. Thus, the machine-readable storage medium may be, for example, RAM, EEPROM, a storage device, an optical disc, and the like. In some examples, the machine-readable storage medium may be a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, where the term "non-transitory" does not encompass transitory propagating signals. The machine-readable storage medium may be encoded with instructions that are executable by the processor <NUM>.

The computing device <NUM> includes an input/output interface <NUM> coupled to processor <NUM> (via a data and address bus, for example) to promote data communications between the computing device <NUM> and external data processing and conditioning devices, including a display <NUM> and a printing device <NUM>. User input <NUM> may be received at the input/output interface <NUM> from input devices (not shown). The input devices may include keyboards, cursor manipulating tactile input devices (e.g., mouse or touchpad), voice recognition systems, joysticks, remote controls, graphics tablets, touchscreens, data readers, card readers, magnetic and optical readers, other computer systems (e.g., networked computing devices), etc..

The user receives visual feedback via the display <NUM>. According to one construction, the display <NUM> may include a graphics display terminal, such as a liquid crystal display.

In some examples, the display <NUM> may be an external device coupled to the computing device <NUM>. For example, the display <NUM> may be a monitor attached to the computing device <NUM>. In other examples, the display <NUM> may be a remote display (e.g., a laptop display or mobile device display) in communication with the computing device <NUM>.

In yet other examples, the display <NUM> may be included as part of the computing device <NUM>. In other words, the display <NUM> may be a local display. For example, the display <NUM> may be a printer display on the printing device <NUM> where the computing device <NUM> is integrated with the printing device <NUM>.

The user may enter commands and/or text into the UI <NUM> via the input/output interface <NUM>. The user observes feedback from the computing device <NUM> using the display <NUM>. The processor <NUM> operates on data using modules composed of lines of code that typically is stored in memory <NUM>, in response to the commands from the user, and provides results that may be stored in the data storage <NUM>, displayed on the display <NUM> or that may be communicated to other devices external to the computing device <NUM>, such as the printing device <NUM>. It will be understood that while a single computing device <NUM> and printing device <NUM> are described for clarity of explanation and ease of understanding, it may also be practiced in systems that include multiple computers (e.g., servers) and multiple printing devices <NUM> and the like.

The computing device <NUM> may include additional components (not shown). In addition, components disclosed herein may be internal to the computing device <NUM>. For instance, the display <NUM> and/or printing device <NUM> may be included as part of the computing device <NUM>.

Users (e.g., printer dealers or end-users) often want a printout that has color properties that are different than the pre-set print modes offered on the printing device <NUM> or printer drivers. However, users do not have a way to customize the color properties aside from very coarse print mode settings. For example, dealers or end-users can select text and image quality by print mode and can make adjustments for color matching. However, they cannot adjust the depletion ratios of black vs. color to optimize the page attributes that help convey information with regard to cost for their specific usage and environments.

Examples of visual page attributes may include the following: color properties such as chroma (e.g., colorfulness relative to the brightness); maintaining hue differentiation; color accuracy; optical density; color saturation; and contrast.

Depletion may reduce mottle print defects. As used herein, mottle is non-uniform fills over large area fills. For example, mottle may be the ink highlight peak and troughs on page contour.

Depletion may reduce ink coalescence print defects. As used herein, coalescence is a print defect where ink puddles on the surface of the media.

Depletion may reduce bleed print defects. For example, less ink means less capillary action where the media fibers wick ink away from its printed location.

Depletion may reduce strike through on duplex jobs. As used herein, strike through is visibility of the printed image on second side of the page while viewing first side.

Depletion may also impact physical page attributes. These physical page attributes may include flatter sheets (e.g., less ink means less damage to the media during the printing process resulting in less curl or cockle and improved media handling reliability); warmer printed media temperature (e.g., when ink dries it cools the page, where less ink means sheets will come out of the printing device <NUM> feeling closer to room temperature); dryer printed media (e.g., less ink means less likelihood of transferring moisture from the ink to other pages or folders); lower smear likelihood (e.g., less ink means lower likelihood of smearing the image on the page or smearing when the image is touched/smudged or highlighted with a highlighter pen); less ink tracking on rollers, shafts or output bin, which enables faster print speed; less ink improves media handling reliability; less ink improves finishing performance and reliability (e.g., stapling, booklet making, hole punching, binding, laminating, folding, etc.).

Additionally, printing service providers for printing devices <NUM> may want to customize their service offering for specific customers, environments, document types and customer affordability. For example, one customer may have different printing needs than another customer. Therefore, the printing service provider may wish to tailor the print quality to meet the needs of the various customers.

In current approaches, users may choose among pre-set print modes (e.g., professional color, general office mode, etc.). However, with these approaches, the user does not have the ability to customize the amount of print substance (e.g., ink) used for monochrome (i.e., mono) and/or color printing independently to values they choose. As used herein, depletion level refers to an amount that a print substance (e.g., ink) is reduced from a full-monochrome or full-color version.

The UI <NUM> described herein provides the ability for a user (e.g., dealer, print service provider, administrator, end-user) to individually choose and save the depletion levels for black and color. In some examples, the UI <NUM> may be implemented on the printing device <NUM>, in an embedded webserver (e.g., at a computer at the printer site), or as a remote service (e.g., at a remote computer). The UI <NUM> may be a graphical user interface that is implemented by the processor <NUM> and displayed on the display <NUM>.

It should be noted that the UI <NUM> may be displayed locally (e.g., at a display of a printing device <NUM>) and/or remotely (e.g., via an embedded web server (EWS), fleet monitoring tool, or mobile app).

Referring now to <FIG>, the UI <NUM> includes control elements that may be used to configure the black depletion level <NUM> and the color depletion level <NUM> independently. For example, the UI <NUM> may include a first control element <NUM> to select a black depletion level <NUM> for a black print substance (e.g., black ink) of the printing device <NUM>. It should be noted that in one implementation, the black depletion level <NUM> may be optimized and/or not otherwise user-selectable.

The black depletion level <NUM> may be an amount that the black print substance is reduced as compared to the amount of black print substance used in a full-monochrome or full-color version. The black depletion level <NUM> may be a percentage reduction in the amount of black print substance used to print. For example a black depletion level <NUM> of <NUM>% would be no reduction in the amount of black print substance used to print, while a black depletion level <NUM> of <NUM>% would represent a <NUM>% reduction in the amount of black print substance used to print. The black depletion level <NUM> for the black channel may be optimized to maintain luminous intensity of depleted colors, as described above.

The UI <NUM> may also include a second control element <NUM> to select a color depletion level <NUM> for color print substances. The color depletion level <NUM> may be an amount that the color print substance(s) is/are reduced as compared to a full-color version. The color depletion level <NUM> may also be a percentage reduction in the amount of color print substance used to print. For example a color depletion level <NUM> of <NUM>% would be no reduction in the amount of color print substance(s) used to print, while a color depletion level <NUM> of <NUM>% would represent a <NUM>% reduction in the amount of color print substance(s) used to print. In another example, a color depletion level <NUM> of <NUM>% would represent an average of <NUM>% reduction in the amount of color print substance(s) used to print but each color may be reduced more or less than <NUM>%.

The control elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be implemented as any method of adjustment that interfaces with the UI <NUM>. In some examples, the control elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be a virtual adjustment control in a graphical user interface. Examples of virtual adjustment controllers (also referred to as a control or widget) include sliders, knobs, buttons (e.g., up/down button), radio buttons, check boxes, list boxes, drop-down list, menu, text box, etc. In some examples, the control elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be physical adjustment controls that communicate with the UI <NUM> to provide a user the ability to select the black depletion level <NUM> and/or the a color depletion level <NUM>. Examples of physical control elements <NUM>, <NUM> include knobs, switches, keyboards, keypads, touchscreens, etc. in communication with the user interface <NUM> (via an input/output interface, for instance).

In an example, the control elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be sliders. A first slider may be used to select the black depletion level <NUM>. A second slider may be used to select the color depletion level <NUM> for multiple colors. In this case, the color depletion level <NUM> of multiple colors (e.g., CMY) may be combined (e.g., ganged) into a single slider. An example of this UI approach is described in <FIG>.

In another example, a first slider may be used to select the black depletion level <NUM>, but multiple sliders may be used to individually select color depletion levels <NUM> for multiple colors. For example, one slider may be used to select the cyan (C) depletion value (i.e., the amount to reduce the cyan print substance). Another slider may be used to select the magenta (M) depletion value (i.e., the amount to reduce the magenta print substance). Yet another slider may be used to select the yellow (Y) depletion value (i.e., the amount to reduce the yellow print substance). An example of this UI approach is described in <FIG>.

The UI <NUM> may display a print preview image <NUM> that reflects the selected black depletion level <NUM> or the selected color depletion level <NUM> in real time. The print preview image <NUM> may be of virtual content or current job content. Virtual content may be a preconfigured representative image. For current job content in the print preview image <NUM>, the UI <NUM> may include an "Open File" button to load content. Additionally, the UI <NUM> may display a left arrow button and a right arrow button to advance through the content (e.g., a slide deck of a presentation program). It should be noted that other control elements (e.g., slider, text box, etc.) may be used to advance through content in the UI <NUM>.

The print preview image <NUM> may depict an image of a document. As the sliders are moved, the print preview image may reflect the changes to the document as the black depletion level <NUM> and/or color depletion level <NUM> change. In this manner, a user may visually assess the quality of the print as the changes in the depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM> are made. The print preview image <NUM> may provide a user with instant feedback of changes to the depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM>. In some examples, the user may zoom in on the print preview image <NUM> to see additional details.

It should be noted that the control elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be implemented as other types of user-interactive controls that allow the user to select the black depletion level <NUM> and/or color depletion level <NUM>. For example, the control elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be implemented as a text box in which a user enters a depletion level. Alternatively, the control elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be drop-down selections from which the user selects the black depletion level <NUM> and/or color depletion level <NUM>. Other types of user-interactive controls for the control elements <NUM>, <NUM> may include radio buttons, up/down arrow buttons, etc..

In another example, the UI <NUM> may include selectable image thumbnails showing different sample images corresponding to different black and color depletion levels. The image thumbnails may be print preview images <NUM> that depict different black and color depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM>. In this approach, the selectable image thumbnails may be arranged in a grid (or array) of rows and columns. A first axis of the grid (e.g., the columns of the grid) may correspond to the black depletion level <NUM> and the second axis (e.g., the rows of the grid) may correspond to the color depletion level(s) <NUM>. An example of this UI approach is described in <FIG>.

In some examples, colors may be excluded from changes in depletion values. For example, a user may want a certain color to remain unchanged during depletion. The excluded color may be selected (e.g., by means of scanning, Pantone value, RGB value, CMYK value, etc.). Then, the excluded color may be isolated from depletion. In other words, as the user changes the black and color depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM>, the excluded color may be caged off from the depletion process and may remain unchanged. This approach may be beneficial to maintain the appearance of certain imagery (e.g., logos, trademarks, etc.) in a printed document.

The UI <NUM> may also display a predicted cost-per-page <NUM> to print based on the selected black depletion level <NUM> and the selected color depletion level <NUM>. For example, a monetary cost for printing each page using the selected depletion levels may be displayed in the UI <NUM>. The cost prediction may be calculated in a number of ways. For example, the cost prediction may be a function of the current job ink content, based on historical average ink content per page or based on a standard ISO suite. The cost prediction may also take into account the size of media (e.g., paper) used such as A3 or A4.

The predicted cost-per-page <NUM> may also reflect non-ink expenses. For example, as the depletion levels change, the predicted cost of consumables (e.g., wiper kit, rollers, etc.) in the printing device may be determined and reflected in the predicted cost-per-page <NUM>. Also, maintenance and operational costs (e.g., service costs) may be reflected in the predicted cost-per-page <NUM> that is displayed in the UI <NUM>. Thus, a user may optimize the print quality in terms of printing costs to suit their needs.

In some examples, the various cost parameters may be manually entered into the UI <NUM>. For instance, the UI <NUM> may provide text fields or other control elements to enter values for ink and non-ink costs. Examples of these costs may include cartridge costs (e.g., black cartridge cost, color cartridge costs), non-ink consumable costs, operating costs, maintenance costs, etc. The UI <NUM> may determine a predicted cost-per-page <NUM> based on the manually entered costs and the selected black depletion level <NUM> and the selected color depletion level <NUM>.

The UI <NUM> may also display a predicted page yield <NUM> based on the selected black depletion level <NUM> and the selected color depletion level <NUM>. For example, the predicted page yield <NUM> may reflect an estimated number of pages that can be printed with the print substance (e.g., ink) that would be used with the selected depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM>.

In some examples, the UI <NUM> may provide for manually entering information that is used to determine the predicted page yield <NUM>. For example, an estimated number of pages at full color/full black may be manually entered into the UI <NUM>. The UI <NUM> may determine the predicted page yield <NUM> by adjusting the estimated number of pages at full color/full black according to the selected black depletion level <NUM> and the selected color depletion level <NUM>.

In other examples, the UI <NUM> may determine the predicted page yield <NUM> automatically. For example, the UI <NUM> may automatically determine the remaining ink content of the printing device and may adjust the predicted page yield <NUM> using the selected black depletion level <NUM> and the selected color depletion level <NUM>.

The predicted page yield <NUM> may be used in combination with the selected depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM> to guarantee job completion. For example, if a certain job comprises <NUM> pages, the depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM> may be adjusted to optimize the print quality while ensuring that sufficient ink remains to finish the print job.

The UI <NUM> may also display a predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM> based on the selected black depletion level <NUM> and the selected color depletion level <NUM>. For example, a date may be estimated for when printing device supplies (e.g., cartridge, ink, toner, etc.) will be exhausted using the selected black depletion level <NUM> and the selected color depletion level <NUM>. As the depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM> are increased, the predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM> is extended, thus extending the servicing date at the expense of print quality.

In some examples, the UI <NUM> may provide for manually entering information that is used to determine the predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM>. For example, the supply refill date may be manually entered into the UI <NUM>. The UI <NUM> may determine the predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM> by adjusting the supply refill date according to the selected black depletion level <NUM> and the selected color depletion level <NUM>. In another example, the supply refill date may be scheduled via a calendar.

Optimization based on predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM> may be beneficial for a supplier to remotely adjust the depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM> of a printing device <NUM> to accommodate service schedules. For example, if new printing supplies cannot be delivered until a certain date, the supplier may adjust the depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM> to ensure that an end-user will be able to print until the next servicing date.

In an example, the predicted cost-per-page <NUM>, the predicted page yield <NUM> and the predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM> may be displayed in a single window of the UI <NUM>. In another example, the UI <NUM> may include multiple tabbed windows each associated with the predicted cost-per-page <NUM>, the predicted page yield <NUM> and the predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM>.

In an example, the UI <NUM> may be displayed in a dealer's view in a service window of a managed service environment. For example, a dealer or service provider of printing devices <NUM> may access the UI <NUM> to make adjustments to the depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM> to suit the needs to the end-user.

The print quality adjustments made in the UI <NUM> may be content aware. For example, changes to the depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM> and resulting predicted cost-per-page <NUM>, predicted page yield <NUM> and/or predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM> may be made in reference to a specific document. Therefore, the cost, yield and/or supply predictions may be more accurate than predictions that do not account for characteristics of a specific document.

In some examples, the black depletion level <NUM> and/or the color depletion level <NUM> may be capped by a certain amount. Black and color print substances may have a certain depletion amount at which visual information may be lost for a human observer. For example, black may have a limit of approximately a <NUM>% black depletion level <NUM> before the black becomes too faded to accurately convey information to a human observer. Similarly, the human limit to discern color information may be approximately an <NUM>%-<NUM>% color depletion level <NUM> before the color is unobservable. Therefore, the black depletion level <NUM> may be limited by a black depletion threshold <NUM> and the color depletion level <NUM> may be limited by a color depletion threshold <NUM>. In an example, the black depletion threshold <NUM> may be <NUM>% and the color depletion threshold <NUM> may be <NUM>%-<NUM>%.

It should be noted that the color depletion threshold <NUM> may be higher than the black depletion threshold <NUM>. A high color depletion level <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>%-<NUM>%) may result in loss of color information, but the resulting image becomes monochrome. Thus, visual information with a high color depletion level <NUM> may be retained, albeit in monochrome.

Referring again to <FIG>, the processor <NUM> may implement a color mapper <NUM> that determines a color map <NUM> for the printing device <NUM> based on the selected black depletion level and the selected color depletion level. A color profile is a formal set of data that characterizes the color gamut in a color space. In one example, a color profile can describe the color attributes of a particular device or viewing specifications with a mapping between the device-dependent color space, such as a source or target color space, and a device-independent color space, such as profile connection space (PCS), and vice versa. The color mappings may be specified using tables such as look up tables, to which interpolation is applied, or through a series of parameters for transformations. Devices and software programs - including printing devices, monitors, televisions, and operating systems - that capture or display color can include color profiles that comprise various combinations of hardware and programming.

The color map <NUM> may be determined to optimize the black channel of a depletion color space. For example, a luminous intensity for source colors may be converted into a corresponding greyscale color space. A black channel amount may be adjusted along with depletion colors to correspond to a luminous intensity that matches that of the greyscale color space.

In an example, as the slider(s) is/are moved (or different thumbnails are selected), the color mapper <NUM> may interpolate the color maps <NUM> from existing color maps based on the selected black depletion level <NUM> and the selected color depletion level <NUM>. The existing color maps may be preconfigured color maps (e.g., general office and professional modes). Thus, a large number of black & color combinations may be created from the UI <NUM> using the existing color maps of a given printing device <NUM>. This allows the user (e.g., dealer or end-user) to choose not just from a few pre-defined print modes but to optimize the output settings for their needs.

It should be noted that interpolating a color map <NUM> from existing color maps may result in superior print quality as compared to simply applying a uniform depletion based on the selected depletion levels. In other words, the color map <NUM> may not be a simple percentage reduction of print substance. Instead, by interpolating from existing color maps to determine the color map <NUM> associated with the selected black and color depletion levels, the color information of the original document may be maintained without becoming washed out, which occurs with uniform depletion.

In some examples, a sample image (or others) may be printed out via a print button on the UI <NUM> for the end-user's approval. Once the appropriate depletion levels are selected, the computing device <NUM> may store the selected black and color depletion levels. These stored depletion levels and associated color maps <NUM> may be used as defaults for printing or copying in that mode.

The UI <NUM> may control a single printing device <NUM>, a group of printing devices <NUM>, or a fleet of printing devices <NUM>. For example, the UI <NUM> may allow a user to select which printers to configure. Changes to the depletion levels and color maps <NUM> may be associated with printing devices <NUM>. For example, each printing device <NUM> of the same model in an organization may be configured with the printing mode modified in the UI <NUM>.

The printing configuration via the UI <NUM> may occur at different times and in different contexts. For example, a dealer may use the UI <NUM> to perform an initial installation of printing devices <NUM>. A service provider may access the UI <NUM> to remotely to adjust the depletion levels to accommodate service dates. An end-user may use the UI <NUM> on a job-to-job basis to optimize print quality and printing costs.

Once configured, the saved depletion levels may be linked with other services to provide a customized page for a specific user and or application. Additionally, this technique can also be extended to a network (e.g., Server Message Block (SMB) Protocol) or corporate environment not managed by a managed print service provider. Using the UI <NUM>, a designated administrator can set the page quality and attributes vs. cost to reflect the needs for their organizations.

The UI <NUM> allows the printing device <NUM> to be easily configured without requiring deep technical knowledge. The UI <NUM> also speeds up the evaluation and sales process by displaying representative print preview image samples on the UI <NUM> that can also be printed out.

Furthermore, the UI <NUM> allows service providers to optimize the image quality and page attributes with respect to the price charged per page for each individual customer, site or contract. This customization may result in a superior service offering. The ability of the dealer to change the quality/cost of the page also allows them to position the product differently for each customer, which would allow the dealer to optimize their sales strategies.

The UI <NUM> may provide ink usage or yield information for a given document as well as a predicted cost-per-page as a function of the selected depletion levels. The use of the UI <NUM> is an easy way to select the depletion levels and can be configured for ease-of-use by the dealer, service provider and/or end-user.

The configuration of the page depletion levels may be done within the UI <NUM> and then locked in. This allows for a common experience for every end-user printing. Therefore, an end-user does not have to individually make driver or printer changes.

In some examples, the UI <NUM> is not accessible by the end-user without a security pin entry. For instance, a security pin may allow a dealer or administrator to adjust the depletion levels, but may prevent an end-user from changing the depletion levels.

<FIG> is a graphical illustration of a UI <NUM> to select depletion levels with multiple sliders. In this example, the UI <NUM> may include a first slider <NUM> to select a black depletion level <NUM>. It should be noted that the black depletion level <NUM> in this example has a black depletion threshold of <NUM>%.

A second slider <NUM> may be used to select a color depletion level <NUM> for multiple colors (e.g., CMY). In this case, the color depletion level <NUM> for the multiple colors are coupled (i.e., ganged) together in a single slider <NUM>.

It should be noted that while sliders have been described, other types of control elements (physical or virtual) may be used to select the select depletion levels. Examples of different types of control elements are described in connection with <FIG>.

The UI <NUM> may also display a predicted cost-per-page <NUM>. The predicted cost-per-page <NUM> reflects the estimated cost to print a single page using the selected black depletion level <NUM> and color depletion level <NUM>. In this example, the predicted cost-per-page <NUM> is represented as the monetary print cost in units of cents (e.g., <NUM> cent per page). The predicted cost-per-page <NUM> may be configured for different regions and different monetary denominations.

The UI <NUM> may also display a predicted page yield <NUM>. The predicted page yield <NUM> may reflect an estimated number of pages that can be printed using with the selected black depletion level <NUM> and color depletion level <NUM>. In this example, the predicted page yield <NUM> is represented as a total number of pages (e.g., <NUM> pages) that may be printed using the selected black depletion level <NUM> and color depletion level <NUM>.

The UI <NUM> may also display a predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM>. The predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM> may reflect the estimated date at which a refill of a print supply (e.g., ink, toner, cartridge, etc.) occurs. In this example, the predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM> is represented as a certain calendar date (e.g., April <NUM>). The predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM> may also be expressed as a number of days remaining before supply exhaustion.

It should be noted that the predicted cost-per-page <NUM>, the predicted page yield <NUM> and the predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM> may be updated in real time. For example, as a user changes the black depletion level <NUM> and/or the color depletion level <NUM>, the predicted cost-per-page <NUM>, the predicted page yield <NUM> may change to reflect the selected depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM>. The predicted cost-per-page <NUM>, the predicted page yield <NUM> and the predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM> may be determined from a history of printing and/or parameters (e.g., costs, supply and/or refill information) entered into the UI <NUM>.

The UI <NUM> may also display print preview images. In this example, the UI <NUM> displays an original print preview image <NUM> and a depleted print preview image <NUM>. The original print preview image <NUM> may represent an unmodified document. In other words, the original print preview image <NUM> may represent the document without applying the black depletion level <NUM> and/or color depletion level <NUM>.

The depleted print preview image <NUM> may represent the black depletion level <NUM> and/or color depletion level <NUM> applied to the document. As the user changes the black depletion level <NUM> and/or the color depletion level <NUM>, the depleted print preview image <NUM> may change to reflect the selected depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM>. The user may observe the differences between the original print preview image <NUM> and the depleted print preview image <NUM> to compare the before and after states. The user may zoom in on the original print preview image <NUM> and/or the depleted print preview image <NUM> for additional details. In this way, the user may optimize the print quality in relation to cost, yield and/or supply exhaustion date.

The UI <NUM> may include an "Open File" button <NUM> to load content. Additionally, the UI <NUM> may display a left arrow button <NUM> and a right arrow button <NUM> to advance through the content (e.g., a slide deck of a presentation program).

The UI <NUM> may also include a print sample button <NUM>. Upon selecting the black depletion level <NUM> and/or the color depletion level <NUM>, the user may print out a sample to observe the actual appearance of the printed document. In some examples, the user may also print out the original print preview image <NUM> from the UI <NUM> to observe changes in the printed document.

The UI <NUM> may also include an apply depletion levels button <NUM>. The selected black depletion level <NUM> and the selected color depletion level <NUM> may be saved and applied for future use. Upon applying the depletion levels <NUM>, <NUM>, a customized print mode may be saved. In some examples, the UI <NUM> may include a custom name button <NUM> to name the new customized print mode that is saved. Alternatively, the UI <NUM> may include a text field in which the custom name for the new customized print mode.

<FIG> is a graphical illustration of another UI <NUM> to select depletion levels with multiple sliders. In this example, the UI <NUM> may include a first slider <NUM> to select a black depletion level <NUM>.

The UI <NUM> also includes multiple sliders to individually control color depletion levels. A second slider <NUM> may be used to select a first color depletion level 426a for a first color (e.g., cyan). A third slider <NUM> may be used to select a second color depletion level 426b for a second color (e.g., magenta). A fourth slider <NUM> may be used to select a third color depletion level 426c for a third color (e.g., yellow).

The UI <NUM> may also include other control and/or information elements. For example, the UI <NUM> may include a predicted cost-per-page <NUM>, a predicted page yield <NUM>, a predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM>, an original print preview image <NUM>, a depleted print preview image <NUM>, an open file button <NUM>, a print sample button <NUM>, a custom name button <NUM>, an apply depletion levels button <NUM>, and print preview selection arrows <NUM>, <NUM> as described in connection with <FIG>.

<FIG> is a graphical illustration of another UI <NUM> to select depletion levels using selectable image thumbnails <NUM>. In this example, the UI <NUM> may include multiple selectable image thumbnails <NUM> showing different sample images corresponding to different black depletion levels <NUM> and color depletion levels <NUM>.

In this example, the selectable image thumbnails <NUM> may be arranged in a grid of rows and columns. A black depletion axis <NUM> of the grid (e.g., the columns of the grid) may correspond to the black depletion level <NUM> and the color depletion axis <NUM> (e.g., the rows of the grid) may correspond to the color depletion level(s) <NUM>. The black depletion axis <NUM> may span from a maximum black depletion level (e.g., a black depletion threshold) to no black depletion (e.g., full black). The color depletion axis <NUM> may span from a maximum color depletion level (e.g., a color depletion threshold) to no color depletion (e.g., full color).

In this example, five image thumbnails 556a-e are displayed in the UI <NUM>. A first image thumbnail 556a corresponds to no black depletion (i.e., full black) and maximum color depletion. A second image thumbnail 556b corresponds to maximum black depletion and maximum color depletion. A third image thumbnail 556c corresponds to a medium black depletion and a medium color depletion. A fourth image thumbnail 556d corresponds to no black depletion and no color depletion (i.e., full color and full black). A fifth image thumbnail 556e corresponds to maximum black depletion and no color depletion.

A user may select an image thumbnail <NUM>. Upon selecting the image thumbnail <NUM>, the black depletion levels <NUM> and color depletion levels <NUM> associated with the image thumbnail <NUM> are selected.

<FIG> is a graphical illustration of another UI <NUM> to select depletion levels based on a supply refill date. In this example, the UI <NUM> includes a slider <NUM> that a user may adjust to extend a predicted supply exhaustion date (i.e., refill date). The predicted supply exhaustion date may be the date that a printing supply (e.g., ink) may run out based on selected depletion levels.

The UI <NUM> may display a current supply exhaustion date <NUM> and a modified supply exhaustion date <NUM>. The current supply exhaustion date <NUM> may reflect a predicted supply exhaustion date without applying any black or color depletion. The modified supply exhaustion date <NUM> may reflect a predicted supply exhaustion date after applying a selected black or color depletion level.

As a user adjusts the slider <NUM>, black and/or color depletion levels may increase or decrease accordingly. This may extend (i.e., delay) the predicted supply exhaustion date at the expense of print quality (PQ). In an approach, both the black depletion level and color depletion level may be adjusted by the slider <NUM>. The black and/or color depletion levels may be adjusted in a non-uniform fashion to preserve print quality even in highly depleted modes.

The UI <NUM> may display an original print preview image <NUM> and a depleted print preview image <NUM>. The depleted print preview image <NUM> may change in response to changes in the slider <NUM> to reflect the selected depletion levels. The UI <NUM> may also include an open file button <NUM> and print preview selection arrows <NUM>, <NUM> as described in connection with <FIG>. The UI <NUM> may also include a print sample button <NUM>, custom name button <NUM> and/or an apply depletion levels button <NUM> as described in connection with <FIG>.

<FIG> is a graphical illustration of another UI <NUM> to select depletion levels based on a predicted page yield. In this example, the UI <NUM> includes a slider <NUM> that a user may adjust to extend a predicted page yield. The predicted page yield may be an estimated number of pages that can be printed with the print substance (e.g., ink) using the selected depletion levels before a refill is expected.

The UI <NUM> may display a current page yield <NUM> and a modified page yield <NUM>. The current page yield <NUM> may reflect an estimated number of printed pages without applying any black or color depletion. The modified page yield <NUM> may reflect an estimated number of printed pages after applying a selected black or color depletion.

As a user adjusts the slider <NUM>, black and/or color depletion levels may increase or decrease accordingly. This may increase the predicted page yield at the expense of print quality (PQ). In an approach, both the black depletion level and color depletion level may be adjusted by the slider <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flow diagram illustrating a method <NUM> for depletion level selection. The method <NUM> may be implemented by a computing device <NUM>. The computing device <NUM> may display <NUM> a control element <NUM> in a UI <NUM> to select a color printing substance of a printing device <NUM>.

In an approach, the control element <NUM> may include a slider to select the color depletion level <NUM> for multiple colors. For example, the depletion level <NUM> of multiple colors (e.g., CMY) may be ganged together to the slider.

In another approach, the control element <NUM> may include multiple sliders to individually select color depletion levels <NUM> for multiple colors. This may be accomplished as described in connection with <FIG>.

In yet another approach, the control element <NUM> may include a color depletion axis in a grid of selectable image thumbnails corresponding to the color depletion level <NUM>. This may be accomplished as described in connection with <FIG>.

The computing device <NUM> may display <NUM> in the UI <NUM> a predicted cost-per-page <NUM> to print based on a selected color depletion level <NUM>. The computing device <NUM> may also display in the UI <NUM> a predicted page yield <NUM> based on the selected color depletion level <NUM>. The computing device <NUM> may also display in the UI <NUM> a predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM> based on the selected color depletion level <NUM>. The computing device <NUM> may additionally display in the UI <NUM> a print preview image <NUM> that reflects the selected color depletion level <NUM> in real time.

The computing device <NUM> may determine <NUM> a color map <NUM> for the printing device <NUM> based on the selected color depletion level <NUM> and a separate black depletion level <NUM>. For example, the computing device <NUM> may determine <NUM> the color map <NUM> for the printing device <NUM> by interpolating from an existing color map or multiple color maps based on the selected color depletion level <NUM> and the separate black depletion level <NUM>.

In an implementation, the separate black depletion level <NUM> may be determined based on an optimization to maintain luminous intensity for colors in a depletion mode. For example, a luminous intensity for source colors may be converted into a corresponding greyscale color space based on the selected color depletion level <NUM>. The separate black depletion level <NUM> may be adjusted along with the color depletion level <NUM> to correspond to a luminous intensity that matches that of the greyscale color space.

In another implementation, the separate black depletion level <NUM> may be user-selectable. For example, the UI <NUM> may display a control element <NUM> for selecting the black depletion level <NUM>.

The computing device <NUM> may associate the color map <NUM> with a specific user or application. For example, the selected color depletion level <NUM> and resulting color map <NUM> may be saved as a default printing mode for a user of the printing device <NUM> and/or an application (e.g., program) that prints to the printing device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flow diagram illustrating another method <NUM> for depletion level selection. The method <NUM> may be implemented by a computing device <NUM>. The computing device <NUM> may display <NUM> a first control element <NUM> in a UI <NUM> to select a black depletion level <NUM> for a black printing substance of a printing device <NUM>. The computing device <NUM> may also display <NUM> a second control element <NUM> in the UI <NUM> to select a color depletion level <NUM> for a color printing substance of the printing device <NUM>.

In an approach, the first control element <NUM> may include a first slider to select the black depletion level <NUM> and the second control element <NUM> may include a second slider to select the color depletion level <NUM> for multiple colors. For example, the depletion level <NUM> of multiple colors (e.g., CMY) may be ganged together to the single second slider.

In another approach, the first control element <NUM> may include a first slider to select the black depletion level <NUM> and the second control element <NUM> may include multiple sliders to individually select color depletion levels <NUM> for multiple colors. This may be accomplished as described in connection with <FIG>.

In yet another approach, the first control element <NUM> may include a black depletion axis in a grid of selectable image thumbnails corresponding to the black depletion level <NUM>. The second control element <NUM> may include a color depletion axis in the grid of selectable image thumbnails corresponding to the color depletion level <NUM>. This may be accomplished as described in connection with <FIG>.

The computing device <NUM> may display <NUM> in the UI <NUM> a predicted cost-per-page <NUM> to print based on a selected black depletion level <NUM> and a selected color depletion level <NUM>. The computing device <NUM> may also display in the UI <NUM> a predicted page yield <NUM> based on the selected black depletion level <NUM> and the selected color depletion level <NUM>. The computing device <NUM> may also display in the UI <NUM> a predicted supply exhaustion date <NUM> based on the selected black depletion level <NUM> and the selected color depletion level <NUM>. The computing device <NUM> may additionally display in the UI <NUM> a print preview image <NUM> that reflects the selected black depletion level <NUM> or the selected color depletion level <NUM> in real time.

The computing device <NUM> may determine <NUM> a color map <NUM> for the printing device <NUM> based on the selected black depletion level <NUM> and the selected color depletion level <NUM>. For example, the computing device <NUM> may determine <NUM> the color map <NUM> for the printing device <NUM> by interpolating from an existing color map or multiple color maps based on the selected black depletion level <NUM> and the selected color depletion level <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method, comprising:
displaying a control element (<NUM>, <NUM>) in a user interface, UI, (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to select a color depletion level for non-black color printing substance(s) of a printing device (<NUM>);
displaying in the UI a predicted cost-per-page to print based on a selected color depletion level; and
determining a color map (<NUM>) for the printing device (<NUM>) by interpolating from existing color maps based on the selected color depletion level (<NUM>) and a separate black depletion level.