System and method for mobile printing from a desktop operating system using a portable computing device

• US 20030137690A1
• Filed: 01/24/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Simpson, Shell S., Hoover, Rick P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,699,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1222 Increasing security of the print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1263 based on job priority, e.g. re-arranging the order of jobs, e.g. the printing sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1267 Job repository, e.g. non-scheduled jobs, delay printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1269 by broadcasting server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1272 Digital storefront, e.g. e-ordering, web2print, submitting a job from a remote submission screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1273 Print job history, e.g. logging, accounting, tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1274 Deleting of print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1287 via internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing

Abstract

A method, printer, system, and program product for mobile printing, comprising, in one embodiment, the steps of: obtaining a portable computing device with a reference to a printer-independent On-the-Go-print queue on the Internet; obtaining print data; and transferring the print data to the On-the-Go Print Queue on the Internet. In a further aspect of the present invention, the On-the-Go Print Queue may be accessed to set at least one storage or print parameter. In a further aspect of the present invention, the print data may be converted to generic print data and encrypted prior to transferring the print data to the On-the-Go Print Queue. In a yet further aspect, a key for decryption and the reference for the On-the-Go print queue may obtained at a printer from a portable computing device such as a smart card.

Claims

1. A method for mobile printing, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a portable computing device with a reference to a printer-independent On-the-Go-print queue on the Internet;

obtaining print data; and

transferring the print data to the On-the-Go Print Queue on the Internet.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of accessing the On-the-Go Print Queue to set at least one storage or print parameter.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the parameter is the ordering or deletion of print jobs.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of converting the print data to generic print data;

and

wherein the transferring step comprises transferring the generic print data to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of encrypting the print data;

and

wherein the transferring step comprises transferring the encrypted print data to the On-the-Go Print Queue; and

wherein the obtained computing device includes a key for decryption recorded therein.

6. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the encrypting step comprises the steps of:

encrypting with a session key; and

encrypting the session key using a public key.

7. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the encrypting step is performed using a public key from a public key-private key pair;

and wherein the key for decryption is the private key.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying a message to the user if print data was successfully submitted to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the portable computing device is a smart card.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying on a display of the computing device queued print jobs for a user;

and

displaying a prompt to make a selection of at least one print job to be printed.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying on a display screen of the computing device queued print jobs for a user;

displaying a prompt to select a management function to perform on the queued print jobs;

receiving a selection of a management function; and

performing that management function.

12. The method as defined in claims 11, wherein the management function is reordering print jobs in the On-the-Go Print Queue.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the management function is deleting a print job from the On-the-Go print

14. A method for On-the-Go printing, comprising the steps of:

retrieving from a portable computing device a reference to an On-the-Go Print Queue located at a site on the public Internet;

accessing the On-the-Go Print Queue;

obtaining print data from the On-the-Go Print Queue; and

printing using the print data.

15. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the obtaining print data step includes the step of displaying on a display queue print jobs for a user;

and

displaying a prompt to make a selection of at least one print job to be printed.

16. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein the displaying steps are performed on a front panel display of a printer.

17. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the obtaining step includes the step of displaying on a display print parameter options.

18. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the obtaining print data step includes the step of displaying on a display screen queued print jobs for a user;

displaying a prompt to select a management function to perform on the queued print jobs;

receiving a selection of a management function; and

performing that management function.

19. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein the management function is reordering print jobs in the On-the-Go Print Queue.

20. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein the management function is deleting a print job from the On-the-Go Print Queue.

21. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the obtaining data step includes the step of displaying account information on the cost of printing the print job.

22. The method as defined in claim 14, further comprising the step of linking to an accounting system to bill/debit a user account for the cost of printing.

23. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the accounting system computes a split of any proceeds from the bill/debit step among at least two other parties.

24. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the accessing the On-the-Go Print Queue further comprises the step of providing a security ID that is separate from the smart card to the On-the-Go Print Queue to obtain access thereto.

25. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the obtaining print data step includes the step of providing proof of printer authenticity to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

26. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the retrieving step includes the step of validating the identity of a printer.

67. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein the displaying steps are performed on a front panel display of a printer.

27. A printing method, comprising the steps of:

selecting an email message;

converting the email message to print data; and

transmitting the print data to an On-the-Go Print Queue on the public Internet.

28. The printing method as defined in claim 27, further comprising the step of encrypting the print data, and wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting the encrypted print data.

29. The printing method as defined in claim 27, further comprising the step of transmitting the email to a remote Internet service, to perform the converting step;

and

editing the email at the remote service; and

performing the converting step on the edited email at the remote Internet service.

30. The printing method as defined in claim 29, wherein the editing step comprises deleting selected data.

31. A method for creating customized imaging data, comprising the steps of:

accessing and retrieving based on at least one accessing criterion at least one item of data from at least one Internet web site;

converting the item of data to print data;

transferring the print data as a print job to an On-the-Go Print Queue on the Internet.

32. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the transferring step comprises the step of determining if a transfer criterion is met and only transferring to the On-the-Go Print Queue if the transfer criterion is met.

33. The method as defined in claim 32, wherein the transfer criterion is the inability to transfer the print data to a predetermined Internet location.

34. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein the predetermined location is a predetermined printer.

35. The method as defined in claim 32, wherein the print data is encrypted prior to the transferring step;

and the transferring step comprises transferring the encrypted print data.

36. The method as defined in claim 31, further comprising the step of the On-the-Go Print Queue automatically deleting a print job after a period of time has elapsed.

37. The method as defined in claim 31, further comprising the step of automatically replacing a print job with a new print job based on a replacement criterion.

38. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the replacement criterion is that the new print job has the same key words in a title as the print job to be deleted.

39. The method as defined in claim 31, further comprising the step of presenting a prompt to a user to set a parameter for a print job expiration period of time or a replacement criterion.

40. A method for creating customized imaging data, comprising the steps of:

a web-based imaging service receiving an access from a user;

the web-based imaging service receiving an indication to add graphics from a personal imaging repository of a user to an On-the-Go Print Queue;

accessing via a user profile of the user a plurality of different graphics from the personal imaging repository;

creating a composition that includes a reference therein for each of the plurality of graphics;

converting imaging data for the composition to a desired form; and

transferring the converted imaging data to an On-the-Go Print Queue.

41. The method as defined in claim 40, further comprising the step of adding an electronic watermark to the composition.

42. A printing method for a web service comprising the steps of:

accessing a source of data;

presenting a display indicator for an On-the-Go Print Queue on a web service display;

linking via a reference and an encryption key to the On-the-Go Print Queue, when the display indicator is manipulated;

generating generic print data from the source of data; and

transferring the generic print data to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

43. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein the presenting a display indicator step is performed when a print option designation is made by a user.

44. The method as defined in claim 42, further comprising the step of encrypting the print data with a user'"'"'s public encryption key;

and wherein the transferring step comprises transferring the encrypted print data to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

45. The method as defined in claim 42, further comprising the step of only presenting the display indicator for the On-the-Go Print Queue if a display criterion is met.

46. The method as defined in claim 45, wherein the display criterion is that the user is accessing the web service remotely.

47. The method as defined in claim 42, further comprising the steps of

determining if a source of imaging data is an allowed source for the On-the-Go Print Queue;

and

preventing data from a disallowed source from being transferred to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

48. The method as defined in claim 47, further comprising the step of selecting allowed sources from a list of sources for use in performing the determining step.

49. The method as defined in claim 48, wherein said determining step includes the step of authenticating the source.

50. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein the linking step includes the step of obtaining the reference to the On-the-Go Print Queue and the encryption key from a different service located on the public Internet.

51. The method as defined in claim 42, further comprising the step of providing a web page to view and administer the user'"'"'s On-the-Go Print Queue.

52. The method as defined in claim 42, further comprising the step of determining a reward for the web service based on the transferring to the On-the-Go Print Queue or a further printing step;

and

associating the reward with an account for the web service.

53. The method as defined in claim 42, further comprising the step of displaying a message to the user if print data was successfully submitted to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

54. A program product for mobile printing, comprising machine-readable program code for causing a machine to perform the following method steps:

obtaining a portable computing device with a reference to a printer-independent On-the-Go-print queue on the Internet;

obtaining print data; and

transferring the print data to the On-the-Go Print Queue on the Internet.

55. The program product as defined in claim 54, further comprising code for performing the step of accessing the On-the-Go Print Queue to set at least one storage or print parameter.

56. The program product as defined in claim 55, wherein the parameter is the ordering or deletion of print jobs.

57. The program product as defined in claim 54, further comprising code for performing the step of converting the print data to generic print data;

and

wherein the transferring step comprises transferring the generic print data to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

58. The program product as defined in claim 54, further comprising code for performing the step of encrypting the print data;

and

wherein the transferring step comprises transferring the encrypted print data to the On-the-Go Print Queue; and

wherein the obtained computing device includes a key for decryption recorded therein.

59. The program product as defined in claim 58, wherein the encrypting step comprises the steps of:

encrypting with a session key; and

encrypting the session key using a public key.

60. The program product as defined in claim 58, wherein the encrypting step is performed using a public key from a public key-private key pair;

and wherein the key for decryption is the private key.

61. The program product as defined in claim 54, further comprising code for causing the performance of the step of displaying a message to the user if print data was successfully submitted to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

62. The program product as defined in claim 54, wherein the portable computing device is a smart card.

63. The program product as defined in claim 54, further comprising code for causing the performance of the steps of displaying on a display of the computing device queued print jobs for a user;

and

displaying a prompt to make a selection of at least one print job to be printed.

64. The program product as defined in claim 54, further comprising code for performing the steps of displaying on a display screen of the computing device queued print jobs for a user;

displaying a prompt to select a management function to perform on the queued print jobs;

receiving a selection of a management function; and

performing that management function.

65. A program product for On-the-Go printing, comprising machine-readable program code for causing a machine to perform the following method steps:

retrieving from a portable computing device a reference to an On-the-Go Print Queue located at a site on the public Internet;

accessing the On-the-Go Print Queue;

obtaining print data from the On-the-Go Print Queue; and

printing using the print data.

66. The program product as defined in claim 65, wherein the obtaining print data step includes the steps of displaying on a display queue print jobs for a user;

and

displaying a prompt to make a selection of at least one print job to be printed.

68. The program product as defined in claim 65, wherein the obtaining step includes the step of displaying on a display print parameter options.

69. The program product as defined in claim 65, wherein the obtaining print data step includes the steps of displaying on a display screen queued print jobs for a user;

displaying a prompt to select a management function to perform on the queued print jobs;

receiving a selection of a management function; and

performing that management function.

70. The program product as defined in claim 65, further comprising code for performing the step of linking to an accounting system to bill/debit a user account for the cost of printing.

71. The program product as defined in claim 65, wherein the obtaining print data step includes the step of providing proof of printer authenticity to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

72. The program product as defined in claim 65, wherein the retrieving step includes the step of validating the identity of a printer.

73. A program product including machine-readable program code for causing a machine to perform the following method steps:

selecting an email message;

converting the email message to print data; and

transmitting the print data to an On-the-Go Print Queue on the public Internet.

74. The program product as defined in claim 73, further comprising code for performing the step of encrypting the print data, and wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting the encrypted print data.

75. The program product as defined in claim 73, further comprising code for causing the performance of the step of transmitting the email to a remote Internet service, to perform the converting step;

and then

editing the email at the remote service; and

performing the converting step on the edited email at the remote Internet service.

76. A program product for creating customized imaging data, including machine-readable program code for causing a machine to perform the following method steps:

accessing and retrieving based on at least one accessing criterion at least one item of data from at least one Internet web site;

converting the item of data to print data;

transferring the print data as a print job to an On-the-Go Print Queue on the Internet.

77. The program product as defined in claim 76, wherein the transferring step comprises the step of determining if a transfer criterion is met and only transferring to the On-the-Go Print Queue if the transfer criterion is met.

78. The program product as defined in claim 77, wherein the transfer criterion is the inability to transfer the print data to a predetermined Internet location.

79. The program product as defined in claim 76, further comprising code for causing the performance of the step of the On-the-Go Print Queue automatically deleting a print job after a period of time has elapsed.

80. The program product as defined in claim 76, further comprising code for causing the performance of the step of automatically replacing a print job with a new print job based on a replacement criterion.

81. The program product as defined in claim 76, further comprising code for causing the performance of the step of presenting a prompt to a user to set a parameter for a print job expiration period of time or a replacement criterion.

82. A program product for creating customized imaging data, including machine-readable program code for causing a machine to perform the following method the steps:

a web-based imaging service receiving an access from a user;

the web-based imaging service receiving an indication to add graphics from a personal imaging repository of a user to an On-the-Go Print Queue;

accessing via a user profile of the user a plurality of different graphics from the personal imaging repository;

creating a composition that includes a reference therein for each of the plurality of graphics;

converting imaging data for the composition to a desired form; and

transferring the converted imaging data to an On-the-Go Print Queue.

83. A program product for a web service printing method including machine-readable program code for causing a machine to perform the following method steps:

accessing a source of data;

presenting a display indicator for an On-the-Go Print Queue on a web service display;

linking via a reference and an encryption key to the On-the-Go Print Queue, when the display indicator is manipulated;

generating generic print data from the source of data; and

transferring the generic print data to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

84. The program product as defined in claim 83, further comprising code for causing the performance of the step of encrypting the print data with a user'"'"'s public encryption key;

and wherein the transferring step comprises transferring the encrypted print data to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

85. The program product as defined in claim 83, further comprising code for causing the performance of the step of only presenting the display indicator for the On-the-Go Print Queue if a display criterion is met.

86. The program product as defined in claim 83, further comprising code for causing the performance of the following steps of

determining if a source of imaging data is an allowed source for the On-the-Go Print Queue;

and

preventing data from a disallowed source from being transferred to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

87. The program product as defined in claim 86, further comprising code for causing the performance of the step of selecting allowed sources from a list of sources for use in performing the determining step.

88. The program product as defined in claim 83, further comprising code for causing the performance of the steps of determining a reward for the web service based on the transferring to the On-the-Go Print Queue or a further printing step;

and

associating the reward with an account for the web service.

89. The program product as defined in claim 83, further comprising code for causing the performance of the step of displaying a message to the user if print data was successfully submitted to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

90. A computing device for mobile printing, comprising:

a reference to a printer-independent On-the-Go-print queue on the Internet;

a component for converting print data to a predetermined format;

a component for encrypting the converted print data; and

a component for transferring the print data to the On-the-Go Print Queue on the Internet.

91. The device as defined in claim 90, further comprising a component for accessing the On-the-Go Print Queue to set at least one storage or print parameter.

92. The device as defined in claim 90, further comprising a component for displaying on a display of the computing device queued print jobs for a user;

and displaying a prompt to make a selection of at least one print job to be printed.

93. A printer for facilitating mobile computing, comprising:

a component for accessing the Internet;

structure for reading a smart card and obtaining a reference to an On-the-Go print queue on the Internet;

a component for accessing the On-the-Go print queue and downloading therefrom print data; and

structure for printing the print data.

94. The printer as defined in claim 93, further comprising a decryption engine for decrypting the print data prior to printing.

95. The printer as defined in claim 94, further comprising a component for accessing the smart card to obtain a decryption key in order to facilitate the decryption of the print data.

96. The printer as defined in claim 94, further comprising a component for causing the smart card to decrypt a session key, and a decryption engine for decrypting the print data using the session key.

97. The printer as defined in claim 93, further comprising a component for displaying on a printer display screen queued print jobs for a user;

displaying a prompt to select a management function to perform on the queued print jobs;

receiving a selection of a management function; and

performing that management function.

98. The printer as defined in claim 97, wherein the management function is reordering print jobs in the On-the-Go Print Queue or printing a print job.

99. The printer as defined in claim 97, wherein the displaying steps are performed on a front panel display of a printer.

100. The method as defined in claim 93, further comprising:

a component for determining if a source of imaging data is an allowed source for the On-the-Go Print Queue and preventing data from a disallowed source from being transferred to the On-the-Go Print Queue.

101. The printer as defined in claim 93, further comprising a component for sending a message to the user at a remote site on the Internet if print data was successfully downloaded from the On-the-Go Print Queue and printed.