Remote printing
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a local computer having a first processor and a first memory encoded with a first set of programming instructions executable by said first processor to;
execute a first instance of an application having at least one native data format; and
accept a request to print a first print job associated with the application;
a remote printer; and
a remote computer, in communication with said local computer and said remote printer, having a second processor and a second memory encoded with a second set of programming instructions executable by said second processor to;
execute a second instance of the application;
receive the request; and
in response to said receiving, automatically print the first print job on the remote printer using said second instance;
wherein the first print job is communicated from the local computer to the remote computer in one or more of the at least one native data formats.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for remotely printing documents from computer applications that generate printable data. In one form, printable data is transferred from a local computer to a remote computer or printer in a data format native to the application. In another form, a relay server provides a store-and-forward buffer between the local computer and remote computer or printer. In another form, a computer-readable medium is encoded with a program to facilitate the transfer of remote print jobs. In still another form, a local computer maintains a list of local and remote printers that can be used. When a print request is received, the system automatically traverses the list to find the first available printer and sends the print job to it.
148 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a local computer having a first processor and a first memory encoded with a first set of programming instructions executable by said first processor to;
execute a first instance of an application having at least one native data format; and
accept a request to print a first print job associated with the application;
a remote printer; and
a remote computer, in communication with said local computer and said remote printer, having a second processor and a second memory encoded with a second set of programming instructions executable by said second processor to;
execute a second instance of the application;
receive the request; and
in response to said receiving, automatically print the first print job on the remote printer using said second instance;
wherein the first print job is communicated from the local computer to the remote computer in one or more of the at least one native data formats. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system, comprising:
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at least one remote printer;
a network; and
a local computer, connectable to at least one local printer, and in communication with said at least one remote printer via the network, comprising;
means for detecting whether one or more local printers are connected;
a processor; and
a memory encoded with programming instructions executable by said processor to;
maintain an ordered list of at least two printers, including at least one of said one or more local printers, and including at least one of said at least one remote printer;
accept a request to print a document;
automatically traverse the ordered list to find a destination printer, the first printer on the ordered list that is then accessible to said local computer; and
print the document on the destination printer. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising:
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receiving a print job from a source computer;
accepting a polling signal from a destination computer;
responding to the polling signal by sending the print job to the destination computer for printing on a printer that is directly connected or LAN-connected to the destination computer;
receiving a print job result signal from the destination computer; and
sending the print job result signal to the source computer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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16. A method, comprising:
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receiving a print job from a source computer;
detecting an enabling signal; and
after said detecting, sending the print job to a remote printer that is neither directly connected nor LAN-connected to the source computer.
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Specification