User Interface for a Label Printer

Abstract

A method including providing a first image on a label printer user interface, wherein the first image is representative of a label to be printed or an object to which a label is to be applied; and providing a second image on the user interface associated with the first image, said second image representative of a dimension of the first image; enabling a user to modify a dimension of the second image; wherein as the dimension of said second image is modified, the dimension of the first image is correspondingly updated.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 providing a first image on a label printer user interface, wherein said first image is representative of at least one of at least one label to be printed and at least one object to which a label is to be applied;   providing a second image on said user interface associated with said first image, said second image representative of a dimension of said first image; and,   enabling a user to modify a dimension of said second image wherein modifying said second image comprises selecting an end of said second image at a first position on said user interface, and subsequently dragging said end of said second image to a second position on said user interface;   wherein as said dimension of said second image is modified, said dimension of said first image is correspondingly updated,   wherein a numerical value of said dimension of said second image is displayed on said user interface, and wherein said numerical value is dynamically updated in real time as said dimension of the second image is modified so that the user can see a change in said numerical value of said dimension of said second image during said dragging of said end of said second image to said second position.   
     
     
         21 . A method as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein said numerical value is displayed adjacent said second image. 
     
     
         22 . A method as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein said numerical value is displayed in a toolbar region of said user interface. 
     
     
         23 . A method as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein said dimension of said first image comprises one or more of a length of the label to be printed, width of the label to be printed, and a dimension of at least one object to which a label is to be applied. 
     
     
         24 . A method as set forth in any of  claim 20 , wherein said dimension of said first image comprises one or more of a distance between labels to be printed and a distance between two or more objects to which a label is to be applied. 
     
     
         25 . A method as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein said second image comprises an arrow. 
     
     
         26 . A method as set forth in  claim 20 , where said selection is made by a selector which comprises a user-controlled pointer on a display. 
     
     
         27 . A method as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein said display comprises a touch screen, and said selector comprises one of a user's finger and a stylus. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus comprising a controller configured:
 to output, to a display driver, data for causing the display driver to drive a display to display a first image on a label printer user interface, wherein said first image is representative of at least one of at least one label to be printed and at least one object to which a label is to be applied; and,   to display a second image on said user interface associated with said first image, said second image representative of a dimension of said first image;   said controller being configured to enable a user to modify a dimension of said second image wherein modifying said second image comprises selecting an end of said second image at a first position on said user interface, and subsequently dragging said end of said second image to a second position on said user interface;   wherein as said dimension of said second image is modified, said controller is configured to cause said dimension of said first image to be correspondingly updated,   wherein said controller is configured to output data for causing the display to display a numerical value of said dimension of said second image on said user interface, and wherein said numerical value is dynamically updated in real time as said dimension of the second image is modified so that the user can see a change in said numerical value of said dimension of said second image during said dragging of said end of said second image to said second position.   
     
     
         29 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein said controller is configured to cause said numerical value to be displayed adjacent said second image. 
     
     
         30 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein said controller is configured to cause the numerical value to be displayed in a toolbar region of said user interface. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein said dimension of said first image comprises one of a length and width of the label to be printed or object to which a label is to be applied. 
     
     
         32 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein said dimension of said first image comprises a distance between labels to be printed or objects to which a label is to be applied. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein said second image comprises an arrow. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein said selection is made by a selector which comprises a user-controlled pointer on said display. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein said display is a touch screen and said selection is made by a selector comprising one of a user's finger and a stylus. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising, in providing the first and second images on a label printer user interface, running a computer program stored on a non-volatile computer readable medium, the computer program outputting, to a display driver, data for causing the display driver to drive a display in communication with the computer to display the first and second images on the user interface.