Abstract: A method for enforcing a user specified minimum font size (USMFS) in a hardcopy document (HD). The method includes: receiving a request to print an electronic document (ED) according to a magnification ratio; identifying a first character in the ED having a first font size smaller than a quotient of the USMFS divided by the magnification ratio; and increasing the first font size by a scale factor to match the quotient; where the HD is generated by scaling the ED according to the magnification ratio, and wherein the HD comprises the first character in the USMFS.

Abstract: A method for enforcing a user specified minimum font size (USMFS) in a hardcopy document (HD). The method includes: receiving a request to print an electronic document (ED) according to a magnification ratio; identifying a first character in the ED having a first font size smaller than a quotient of the USMFS divided by the magnification ratio; and increasing the first font size by a scale factor to match the quotient; where the HD is generated by scaling the ED according to the magnification ratio, and wherein the HD comprises the first character in the USMFS.

Abstract: A method, including: receiving a request to print a first document from a first application; displaying print settings and an option to maintain print settings (MPS); collecting a time limit, a selection enabling the option to MPS, and a selection enabling a print setting; sending a first print job corresponding to the first document and the print setting to a printer; initiating, in response to the selection enabling the option to MPS, a time window having a duration set to the time limit; receiving a request to print a second document from a second application; identifying a remaining time of the time window; retrieving, in response to the remaining time exceeding zero, the indication of the print setting; and sending, bypassing the printer driver GUI, a second print job corresponding to the second document and the print setting to the printer.

Abstract: A method for controlling printer energy consumption. The method includes identifying, during a first time interval, a quantity of energy consumed by a printer since commencement of the first time interval; generating a comparison by comparing the quantity of energy with a first energy threshold for the first time interval; and invoking an energy saving mode of the printer based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system for producing continuous print jobs, which includes a printing unit which prints an image and a client computer having executable instructions for creating a print job for producing a continuous print job. The executable instructions include activating a continuous print mode from a list of print properties within a printer driver user interface, and wherein the continuous print mode stacks at least two print jobs in a print job queue until instructed to print; sending at least two print jobs to the print job queue; selecting a final print format for each of the at least two print jobs; processing and formatting each of the at least two print jobs into a single combined print job; and printing the single combined print job. The printing unit and the client computer are connected via a network and/or direct connection.

Abstract: A method used with the XPSDrv printer driver which reduces the overhead associated with loading the XPS filters is disclosed. The method may be implemented in a dynamic-link library (DLL) loaded by the configure module of the XPSDrv driver or a special function. The DLL or the special function dynamically modifies the XPSDrv driver's filter pipeline configuration file for each print job, so that only a subset of the filters, i.e., filters that are required for that print job, are included in the filter pipeline configuration file. In operation, the user uses the printer driver interface (UI) to set print property settings for the print job, and when the user exits the driver UI, the DLL or the special function modifies the filter pipeline configuration file based on the print property settings set by the user.

Abstract: A printing method is described that allows the user to conveniently either print a document, or generate an output file from it in a desired image file format and save the file for late use, or both at once. The user opens a document using an application, and issues a print request. From the print dialog box, the user chooses to set printing preferences. The print preferences dialog box includes an “output file” tab allowing the user to specify whether an output file is to be generated, specify an output file format, specify a destination for saving the output file, and specify whether hard copies of the document are to be printed on the printer. The method may be implemented as a part of a printer driver program.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reconnecting a host computer with a networked printer having a dynamic network address without manually entering the printer's network address. In a first method, when a user presses a reconnect button on the printer, the printer broadcasts a reconnection event containing the printer's network address over the network. The host receives the event, extracts the network address and reconnects the printer accordingly. In a second method, the host obtains the network addresses of candidate printers, displays a list of them on a UI, and sends a flash signal to the candidate printers to cause them to generate an alarm one by one. The user observes the desired printer and correlates its alarm with the timing of the flash signals sent by the host. Based on the observation, the user selects one of the candidate printers on the UI and the host reconnects it.

Abstract: In accordance with the devices, systems and methods described herein a portable printer driver may be automatically uploaded and installed by using a helper application when a portable drive or portable memory device is coupled to a host. The portable printer driver and helper application may be stored on the portable memory device. The helper application may be automatically loaded into host memory, where it subsequently resides, using plug and play capability available on the host. The helper application, which is capable of being host memory resident, can monitor the state of specified computer events. Specifically, the helper application can detect the removal of the portable memory device and delete any files associated with the printer driver from the host.