| Tiff-file data structure for driverless, selectable multi-option tiff printing -> Monitor Keywords |
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Tiff-file data structure for driverless, selectable multi-option tiff printingTiff-file data structure for driverless, selectable multi-option tiff printing description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070182979, Tiff-file data structure for driverless, selectable multi-option tiff printing. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to the printing of multi-page documents from a TIFF file, and specifically to the driverless printing of such documents, in a manner which also enables the convenient implementation and performance of a multiplicity of conventional print options. In particular, the invention involves specifically a unique TIFF-file data structure (also called a TIFF file) which features modifications in the Image File Directory (IFD) portion(s) of that data structure, and which thereby enables such driverless printing. [0002] IFD data in a TIFF file is associated with each page-specific (image) data unit, referred to herein both as a page-data unit, and sometimes as a data-page unit. Such IFD data is normally organized to establish regular, serial-order sequential printing of pages. The IFD data includes operational path pointers for directing this normal activity. [0003] As will be seen, the invention, in its focus on a TIFF-file data structure as mentioned, provides an easy and elegant way to utilize the internal structure of a TIFF file per se to enable driverless, rasterization-free, multi-option-capability, TIFF-file printing. [0004] What is more specifically proposed by this invention is a TIFF-data file structure wherein modifications have been made in an otherwise conventional TIFF-file data structure regarding the page-order and/or page-orientation contents only of IFD data contained in that data structure. Associated image data, per se, is not altered. Such page-order and/or page-orientation modifications can readily enable rasterization-free, driverless implementation of multi-page-printing, with full access to a wide range of conventional print options, such as document page splitting, page-specific printing with respect to certain selected pages, face-down and face-up printing where desired, multi-copy per-page printing of selected pages from a file, collated multi-page printing, uncollated multi-page printing, and many others. [0005] The IFD changes which are made to create the TIFF-data file structure of this invention relate only to page-order and/or page-orientation tag changes therein, which tag changes include, in general terms, (a) additions, (b) subtractions, and (c) internal modifications, as by the rewriting of pointers. [0006] While there are various ways to generate the modified TIFF-data file structure of the invention, one very convenient way includes intercepting an otherwise conventional TIFF-data file upstream from a printer, and then appropriately changing just (i.e., solely only) the page-order tags and/or the page-orientation tags of IFD data present in that file, so as to implement, after such modification, and in a driverless manner, a selected print option, which "manner" differentiates from normal TIFF-file printing. Such a modified data file--a TIFF-file data structure--includes information that directs the operation of page printing in accordance with the selected print option. [0007] These and other objects and advantages which are attained by the invention will become more fully apparent as the description that now follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is a simplified block/schematic diagram generally illustrating the methodological and structural organization associated with and enabled by the TIFF-file data structure of the present invention. [0009] FIG. 2 is a block/schematic diagram illustrating direct TIFF printing with multi-page TIFF emulation, thus to enable printing of multiple pages in a system arrangement which nominally supports only a single-page TIFF file. [0010] FIG. 3 (two different views) illustrates multiple-page, document-page splitting of pages in a TIFF file in accordance with the invention. [0011] FIG. 4 illustrates implementation according to the invention of a print option allowing for selective page-specific printing of just certain pages represented in a TIFF file. [0012] FIG. 5 (two views) illustrates, on the left side of the figure, face-down (normal order) printing from a TIFF file, and on the right side, face-up (reverse order) printing from a TIFF file in accordance with the present invention. [0013] FIG. 6 illustrates selective, per-page multi-copy printing of selected pages from a TIFF file in accordance with the invention. [0014] FIG. 7 is a block/schematic diagram picturing selective, uncollated multi-copy per-page printing of pages from a TIFF file in accordance with this invention. [0015] FIG. 8 is a block/schematic view showing selective, collated, multi-page, per-page printing of pages from a TIFF file in accordance with practice of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 9 is a block/schematic diagram illustrating selective portrait or landscape printing of pages from a TIFF file in accordance with practice of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0017] Turning now to the drawings, as this description moves through each of the nine drawing figures herein, the elegance, simplicity, and versatility of the present invention should become very apparent with respect to its ability to accommodate rasterization-free, driverless, multi-option-selectability of print options with respect to the carrying out of multi-page TIFF-file print jobs. Each of these drawing figures, which is largely self-explanatory, illustrates one or more practices of the present invention. The entire collection of drawing figures, however, is not exhaustively illustrative of all possible print options which can be implemented in accordance with practice of this invention. How to invoke such other options in accordance with this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the several specific illustrations presented herein. In each of FIGS. 2-9, inclusive, outrigger arrows are presented on one or both side of the pictured block portions of the figures. These arrows illustrate changes that have been made, in accordance with the present invention, in the operation of IFD operational pointers to enable selected-option printing of the represented TIFF file. [0018] With this understood, and turning attention first of all to FIG. 1, here, in an overall or overview sense, the structure, and the thereby enabled methodology, which are basic to the implementation and practice of the present invention is diagrammed in four blocks which are labeled 10, 12, 14, 16. Collectively, these four blocks, which are pointed to by single arrow 18, represent a high-level comprehensive view of the practice and the structure of this invention. Block 10 relates to the creation of a multi-page TIFF file, such as under the control of a suitable document-creating application in a computer. In block 12, the user selects one or more print options which is/are to be implemented with respect to printing of this multi-page document file. Block 14 represents the practice and structure for creating appropriate, and solely only, page-order and/or page-orientation modifications in the Image File Directory (IFD) data content of the created TIFF file (TIFF-file data structure) of this invention. It is within the operation and practice of block 14 that an otherwise conventional page-order, and/or page-orientation, content of IFD TIFF-file data is changed, by adding information, by subtracting information, and/or by modifying information, so as to enable rasterization-free, driverless performance of various print-options by an otherwise conventional printing environment represented by block 16. It is within the operation represented by block 14 that the methodology enabled by the present invention, with respect specifically to enablement of multi-print-option selectability, becomes implemented. In each of the now to be discussed drawing figures, what takes place within the purview of block 14 is more specifically shown diagrammatically with respect to several, different, multi-page, document-print options. [0019] With attention directed to FIG. 2, here, indicated generally at 20, is a block/schematic layout of direct TIFF printing utilizing multi-page TIFF emulation in accordance with the present invention. Those familiar with, and skilled in, the art will recognize from a glance at this drawing figure how manipulation of the IFD data in the TIFF-file data structure shown in FIG. 2 can enable multi-page emulation. [0020] This illustration, as associated with the invention, addresses the issue of printing a multiple-page TIFF file to firmware (i.e. a structural arrangement) that nominally supports only a single-page TIFF file. To print multiple pages, a printing device typically constructs a separate print job on a per-page basis. This print job may be constructed by, for example, a document-creating application, some background process, a printer driver, a spooler, a print processor, or a print assistant that is inserted somewhere in the relevant print-data stream. [0021] The invention approaches this task by not creating a separate physical spool file. Instead, TIFF data is directly written to the port manager for the specified printing device, or devices, and the data is modified in memory in an appropriate manner. In accordance with creation and use of the TIFF-file data structure of the invention, printing of multiple pages on what is otherwise a single-page TIFF reader is accomplished by modifying and altering simply the IFD page-order pointer which is directed to the first IFD in the file. The IFD describes the contents and locations of an image (i.e. a page); each page in the file has a separate IFD; and each IFD is sequentially linked to the next IFD in the file. Continue reading about Tiff-file data structure for driverless, selectable multi-option tiff printing... Full patent description for Tiff-file data structure for driverless, selectable multi-option tiff printing Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Tiff-file data structure for driverless, selectable multi-option tiff printing patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Tiff-file data structure for driverless, selectable multi-option tiff printing or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Printing subsystem with improved user interface Next Patent Application: Multi-function input/output device and method Industry Class: Facsimile and static presentation processing ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Tiff-file data structure for driverless, selectable multi-option tiff printing patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.10376 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , 174 |
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