Printing mechanism for wireless devices

• US 20030038963A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited, Ricoh Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Shingo
• Granted Patent: US 7,355,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00164 at a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/34 for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems

Abstract

A method and system for printing electronic document information from a wireless device is described. In one aspect, a wireless communication component is configured to receive electronic document information over a wireless connection. A printer interface component is configured to communicate the electronic document information to a printing device for generating a hard copy document that is based on the electronic document information. A payment component controls the printing of documents by requiring the user to provide monetary payment prior to the hard copy documents being generated.

Claims

1. A printing interface apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication component that is configured to receive electronic document information over a wireless connection, wherein the electronic document information is associated with one or more electronic documents;

a printer interface component that is configured to communicate said electronic document information to a printing device for generating a hard copy of said one or more electronic documents; and

a payment component that is configured to control the printing of documents by requiring a monetary payment prior to generating said hard copy of said one or more electronic documents.

2. The printing interface apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the printer interface component includes a web server application that is configured to receive non-print ready electronic document information over said wireless connection and to generate a print ready file based on said non-print ready electronic document information received over said wireless connection.

3. The printing interface apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the payment component is configured as a magnetic card reader that is capable of reading non-physical payment information as payment for generating said hard copy of said one or more electronic documents.

4. The printing interface apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the payment component is configured to accept Cyber-Cash information over the wireless connection as payment for generating said hard copy of said one or more electronic documents.

5. The printing interface apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the payment component is configured to accept physical currency as payment for generating said hard copy of said one or more electronic documents.

6. The printing interface apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said wireless communication component is configured to communicate with one or more wireless devices using a blue tooth communication protocol.

7. The printing interface apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said wireless communication component is configured to communicate with one or more wireless devices using a 802.11 communication protocol.

8. The printing interface apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said wireless communication component is configured to communicate with one or more wireless devices using a signal in about a 2.4 GHz range.

9. The printing interface apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said wireless communication component includes means for downloading one or more printer drivers over said wireless connection, wherein the one or more printer drivers are compatible with said printing device.

10. A printing interface apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication component that is configured with a receiving component for receiving electronic document information over a wireless connection, wherein the wireless communication component includes a front side and a back side, and wherein the receiving component is shielded to limit reception of said electronic document information from only those devices that are located substantially in front of the wireless communication component; and

a printer interface component that is configured to communicate said electronic document information to a printing device for generating a hard copy of one or more electronic documents based on said electronic document information.

11. A printing interface apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication component that is configured to receive an electronic document file from a wireless device over a wireless connection;

a server component that is configured to dynamically generate an electronic document for display on the wireless device, wherein the electronic document is based on the received electronic document file and includes a print request selector that allows a user to request a hard copy of said electronic document file;

a printer interface component that is configured to communicate data, based on said electronic document file, to a printing device for generating a hard copy of said electronic document file; and

a payment component that is configured to control the printing of documents by requiring a monetary payment prior to generating said hard copy of said electronic document file.

12. A method for printing electronic documents received over a wireless connection, the method comprising:

receiving electronic document information at a wireless interface component, wherein the wireless interface component is configured to communicate with one or more wireless devices over a wireless connection;

communicating said electronic document information to a printer interface component, wherein the printer interface component is configured to transmit said electronic document information to a printing device that is configured to generate a hard copy document based on said electronic document information; and

prior to generating said hard copy document, requiring that a monetary payment be received for generating said hard copy document.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the step of receiving electronic document information includes the step of receiving, over said wireless connection, non-print ready electronic document information at said wireless interface component;

the step of communicating said electronic document information to a printer interface component includes the step of communicating said non-print ready electronic document information to a web server application; and

the method further comprising the step of generating a print ready file based on said non-print ready electronic document information.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of requiring that a monetary payment be received includes the step of requiring that non-physical payment information be received prior to generating said hard copy document.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of requiring that a monetary payment be received includes the step of requiring that Cyber-Cash information payment information be received prior to generating said hard copy document.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of requiring that a monetary payment be received includes the step of requiring that physical currency be received prior to generating said hard copy document.

17. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the wireless interface component is configured as a bluetooth interface; and

the step of receiving electronic document information includes the step of receiving electronic document information at said bluetooth interface using a blue tooth communication protocol.

18. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the wireless interface component is configured to communicate with one or more wireless devices using a signal in about a 2.4 GHz range; and

the step of receiving electronic document information includes the step of receiving electronic document information over said signal.

19. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of downloading one or more printer drivers from said electronic document interface to said one or more wireless devices over said wireless connection, wherein said one or more printer drivers are compatible with said printing device.