Method of content filtering to reduce ink consumption on printed web pages

A system for managing printing of web page content, the system comprising:

• a memory for storing an indication of a range of score values corresponding to an amount of content from the web page to be printed;
• a display device for presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) for either narrowing or expanding the indication of the range of score values;
• and
• a processor coupled to the display device and the memory, the processor being configured to:
• obtain a representation of the document, the representation specifying at least a first visual content item and a second visual content item;
• identify a first portion of the representation specifying at least in part the first visual content item;
• identify a second portion of the representation specifying at least in part the second visual content item;
• assign a first score to the first portion and a second score to the second portion, such that both the first score and the second score are located within the range;
• generate a first filtered version of the document, the first filtered version including both the first visual content item and the second visual content item;
• output via the display device a first image of the first filtered version of the document;
• receive, via the GUI, a user input, the user input narrowing the range such that the second score that is assigned to the second visual content item is no longer located within the range;
• and
• generate, in response to the user input, a second filtered version of the document, the second filtered version of the document including only visual content items having assigned scores that are located within the narrowed range specified by the user input, wherein the second filtered version of the document does not include the second visual content item;
• and
• replace the first image with a second image, the second image depicting the second filtered version of the document;
• wherein the first visual content item and the second visual content item include at least one of text or graphics.

A computer-implemented method for managing printing of a document, the method comprising:

• outputting for presentation to a user, via a display device, a graphical user interface (GUI) for specifying a range of score values corresponding to an amount of content from the document to be printed;
• receiving, via the GUI, user input specifying the range;
• receiving a mark-up language representation of the document, the mark-up language representation of the document specifying a first visual content item and a second visual content item;
• selecting a portion of the representation of the document, wherein:
• (i) the selected portion includes a markup language tag, and
• (ii) the selected portion specifies, at least in part, the first visual content item;
• assigning a score to the portion, the score being assigned based on the name of the tag;
• determining whether the score is located within the range;
• and
• generating, by a processor, a filtered version of the document that includes the first visual content item while leaving out the second visual content item, wherein the first visual content item is included in the filtered version of the document based on the score being within the range;
• wherein the first visual content item and the second visual content item include one or more of text or graphics.

A printer comprising a processor, the processor being configured to:

• receive a representation of a document, the representation of the document specifying a first visual content item and a second visual content item of the document;
• select a portion of the representation of the document, the selected portion specifying, at least in part, the first visual content item;
• determine a characteristic of the selected portion;
• assign a score to the selected portion, based on the determined characteristic;
• receive user input selecting one of a plurality of ranges of score values, each of the plurality of ranges of score values corresponding to an amount of content from the document to be printed;
• determine whether the score is within the selected range of score values;
• when the score is within the selected range, generate a filtered version of the document that includes the first visual content item, the filtered version of the document omitting the second visual content item;
• and
• print the filtered version of the document;
• wherein the first visual content item and the second visual content item include one or more of text or graphics.

A system comprising a computing device connected to a printer, wherein:

• the computing device is configured to:
• receive a representation of the document, the representation of the document specifying a first visual content item and a second visual content item of the document;
• select a portion of the representation of the document, the selected portion specifying, at least in part, the first visual content item;
• determine a characteristic of the selected portion;
• assign a score to the selected portion, based on the determined characteristic;
• receive user input selecting one of a plurality of ranges of score values, each of the plurality of ranges of score values corresponding to an amount of content from the document to be printed;
• determine whether the score is within the selected range of score values;
• when the score is within the selected range, generate a filtered version of the document that includes the first visual content item, the filtered version of the document omitting the second visual content item;
• and
• send the filtered version of the document to a printer for printing;
• and
• the printer is configured to:
• receive the filtered version of the document, and
• print a hard copy of the filtered version of the document.