US 2006/0077415 A1 · Smart copying for variable cost, editable printouts

Abstract

Smart printing/copying techniques for controlling the printing/copying and editing of a document based on document-descriptive and control information embedded in the printed output. These “smart” printing/copying techniques and controls allow a document user to control printing/copying costs by making tradeoffs with respect to quality and speed based on the embedded data. Such costs may be controlled, for example, by initially printing low cost (low quality, high speed) pages for distribution, while giving subsequent recipients of the document the option of making high quality (higher cost, possibly slower) copies of any or all of the pages in the document, if desired. With these features, a user is able to obtain high quality copies from low quality originals. The techniques of the present invention also allow a recipient to edit page content prior to reprinting, without loss of print output quality.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method for controlling reproduction of a document, comprising:

setting at least one document reproduction variable;
scanning a document to recover information embedded in the document, the embedded information including information enabling a user to render a new document that is a duplicate or variation of the scanned document;
and
reproducing some or all of the document or variation thereof in accordance with the setting of at least one reproduction variable which was set prior to scanning the document, subject to any reproduction-control information contained in the embedded information.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Smart copying for variable cost, editable printouts

Life of this patent

Smart copying for variable cost, editable printouts

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16