Method and apparatus for authorizing printing

• US 20030151766A1
• Filed: 02/13/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Clough, James, Cherry, Darrel
• Granted Patent: US 7,180,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• 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 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing

Abstract

A print job is received (e.g., by a print server) that has an associated print destination. A determination is made as to a first location associated with a source of the print job. Another determination is made regarding a second location associated with the print destination. A printing policy associated with the print job is identified. The print job is communicated to the print destination if the print job satisfies the printing policy. The printing policy may determine whether the first location is the same as the second location. Also, the printing policy may determine whether the first and second locations are located in a common facility (such as a hotel) and whether the second location is in a controlled area of the common facility (such as the front desk).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a print job having an associated print destination;

determining a first location associated with a source of the print job;

determining a second location associated with the print destination;

determining a printing policy associated with the print job; and

communicating the print job to the print destination if the print job satisfies the printing policy.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising deleting the print job if the print job does not satisfy the printing policy.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the printing policy includes determining whether the first location is the same as the second location.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the printing policy includes determining whether the first and second locations are located in a common facility and whether the second location is in a controlled area of the common facility.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a first location includes identifying a communication port associated with the source of the print job.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a second location includes identifying a communication port associated with the print destination.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the source of the print job and the print destination are located in a common facility.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the print job is received by a print server.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the print job destination is a printer.

10. A method comprising:

receiving a print job having an associated print destination;

determining a first location associated with a source of the received print job;

determining a second location associated with the print destination; and

communicating the received print job to the print destination if both

the first and second locations are in a common facility, and

the second location is in a controlled area of the common facility.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 further comprising deleting the received print job if the first and second locations are in different facilities.

12. A method as recited in claim 10 further comprising deleting the received print job if the second location is in an uncontrolled area of the facility.

13. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the common facility is a hotel.

14. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the controlled area of the common facility is the front desk of the facility.

15. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein determining a first location includes identifying a first network port associated with the source of the received print job.

16. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein determining a second location includes identifying a second network port associated with the print destination.

17. A method comprising:

receiving a print job having an associated print destination;

determining a first location associated with a source of the received print job;

determining a second location associated with the print destination; and

communicating the received print job to the print destination if the first location is the same as the second location.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 further comprising deleting the received print job if the first location is different from the second location.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein determining a first location includes identifying a communication port associated with the source of the print job and wherein determining a second location includes identifying a communication port associated with the print destination.

20. A computer system comprising:

a storage device configured to store information regarding a plurality of devices coupled to at least one network communication device; and

a processor coupled to the storage device and configured to receive print jobs from at least one computing device, the processor further configured to determine whether the computing device generating a particular print job is associated with a particular port of the network communication device, wherein the processor communicates the received print job to an associated printing device if the printing device is associated with the particular port of the network communication device.

21. A computer system as recited in claim 20 wherein the network communication device is a network switch.

22. A server comprising:

a network mapping application to identify devices coupled to a network;

at least one printing policy; and

a processor configured to execute the network mapping application and further configured to apply the at least one printing policy, wherein the server receives a print job having an associated print destination and determines a first location associated with the source of the print job and a second location associated with the print destination, and wherein the print job is communicated to the print destination if the print job satisfies the at least one printing policy.

23. A server as recited in claim 22 wherein the processor is further configured to delete the print job if the print job does not satisfy the at least one printing policy.

24. A server as recited in claim 22 wherein the at least one printing policy includes determining whether the first location is the same as the second location.

25. A server as recited in claim 22 wherein the at least one printing policy includes determining whether the first and second locations are located in a common facility and whether the second location is in a controlled area of the common facility.

26. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

receive a print job having an associated print destination;

determine a first location associated with a source of the print job;

determine a second location associated with the print destination;

determine a printing policy associated with the print job; and

communicate the print job to the print destination if the print job satisfies the printing policy.

27. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 26 wherein the computer program further causes the one or more processors to delete the print job if the print job does not satisfy the printing policy.

28. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 26 wherein the printing policy includes determining whether the first location is the same as the second location.

29. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 26 wherein the printing policy includes determining whether the first and second locations are located in a common facility and whether the second location is in a controlled area of the common facility.