Automatic registration of receiving device on a remote printing application

• US 20040073684A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Jodra, Rodolfo, Chiarabini, Luca
• Granted Patent: US 7,191,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32529 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID

Abstract

A system and service for delivery of files to a plurality of users over a communications network comprises one or more server computers operable for receiving a plurality of electronic documents or files and storing those document/files; a plurality of receiving devices capable of receiving the documents/files; and a plurality of printer devices for printing the documents/files. Each receiving device registers itself with a server computer, and for each individual user, a printer device is specified for printing documents/files intended for that user. The server computer distributes the documents for a particular user to the corresponding receiving device specified by that user for receiving those documents/files, and the documents/files are printed on the specified printer device.

Claims

1. A system for delivering files to a plurality of users over a communications network, said system comprising:

at least one server computer, said server computer operable for receiving a plurality of electronic documents, and storing said plurality of electronic documents;

a plurality of receiving devices capable of receiving said documents; and

a plurality of printer devices capable of printing said documents,

wherein;

each said receiving device has assigned to it at least one said printer device;

each said receiving device is registered with said server computer, said receiving device being identified by a unique identifier data stored by said server computer;

said server computer allocates documents for a particular individual receiver user to a receiving device registered with the server computer for said particular receiver user; and

said server computer sends said documents to a said receiving device upon receipt of a request data received by said server computer from said receiving device.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one sending device, said sending device being registered with said at least one server computer, said sending device operable for sending a said electronic document to said at least one server computer.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one server computer comprises a web interface, said web interface operable for:

accepting an e-mail address of a sender; and

accepting a password for said sender.

4. The system as claim 1, wherein said at least one server computer operates to assign a unique identifier data to each said receiving device.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one server computer operates to assign a unique respective identifier data to at least one sending device

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one server computer maintains data describing;

a plurality of receiving devices; and

a plurality of users;

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a said receiving device operates to print jobs intended for a plurality of different users of the system.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a user of said system may direct a document to a plurality of different said receiving users for printing; and

said at least one server computer maps said users to at least one said registered receiving device.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a said receiving device obtains documents from said at least one server computer using a unique identifier, identifying said receiving device.

10. A method for remote delivery of files over a communications network, said method comprising;

registering a plurality of user accounts, each user account corresponding to a respective user, each user account comprising;

a user identifer, identifying a said user;

a receiving device identifier, identifying a receiving device to which documents are to sent for said user account;

said method comprising;

for each user account, registering at least one printer device for printing of document allocated to said user account,

receiving and storing a plurality of documents intended for one or more said users;

associating said plurality of documents with corresponding said user accounts;

delivering said documents over a communications network to at least one receiving device;

storing at least one receiving device identifiers, each identifying a corresponding respective receiving device;

routing individual documents intended for individual said users to at least one corresponding receiving devices for printing at specified printer devices registered to said user account.

11. A printing service comprising the features of;

registering a plurality of user accounts, each user account corresponding to a respective user, each user account comprising;

a user identifier identifying a user;

a receiving device identifier, identifying a receiving device to which documents are to be sent to for said user account;

for each user account, registering a printer device for printing of document allocated to said user account;

receiving and storing a plurality of documents intended for one or more said users;

associating said plurality of documents with corresponding said user accounts;

delivering said documents over a communication network to a plurality of receiving devices;

storing a plurality of said receiving device identifiers, each identifying a corresponding respective receiving device; and

routing individual documents intended for individual said users to corresponding receiving devices for printing at specified printer devices registered to said user account.

12. An algorithm for implementing file storage at a server computer device, and file distribution to a plurality of receiving devices, said algorithm comprising modules for:

maintaining a list of unique receiving device identifiers, each said unique receiving device identifier assigned to a corresponding respective said receiving device;

maintaining at least one user account, each said user account specifying a user and at least one said receiving device to which documents received for said user account are to be sent;

receiving a plurality of incoming documents intended for a plurality of specified users;

assigning each incoming document intended for a specified user to a corresponding said user account; and

distributing each said incoming document to a said receiving device allocated to a corresponding said user account.

13. A computer program for managing document transfer to a receiving device hosting said computer program, said program comprising components operable for:

sending a command requesting an identifier data;

receiving an identifier data identifying said receiving device;

generating requests for download of files intended for said receiving device;

specifying a printer device to which receiving files are to be sent or printing; and

receiving said files and routing said files to a specified said printer device.

14. A computer program for managing storage and distribution of a plurality of documents files, in conjunction with a computer device comprising a processor, memory, a data storage device, and a communications port, said computer program comprising components operable for;

receiving a request for registration of a receiving device;

generating a unique identifier data for identifying a receiver device;

receiving a user account data identifying a user;

receiving a printer identifier data identifying a printer device to which individual documents intended for said user account are to be printed on;

a database for storing a plurality of said user account data;

a component for identifying documents intended for a said user, and associating said documents with a said user account;

component for sending a command to a receiving device and printer device associated with a said user account, upon receipt of a command from a said receiving device

15. A method of operation of a printing system, said system comprising:

at least one server computer which acts to route documents intended for a plurality of users;

at least one receiving device which acts to receive documents sent from said server computer;

at least one printer device associated with said receiving device, for printing said documents;

said system operating for;

registration of a plurality of receiving devices at said server computer by creating a plurality of registration data entries which identify said plurality of receiving devices;

each said registration data specifying at least one said printer device for printing a document addressed to a user;

receiving interrogations from said plurality of receiving devices;

in response to said interrogations, causing said server computer to identify one or more documents intended for said receiving devices; and

sending said identified documents to said receiving device.

16. The program as claimed in claim 15, further comprising;

components for;

sending an e-mail to a sender registered with said at least one sever computer, said e-mail comprising;

a data field describing a package of at least one said document;

a data field for containing information specifying that said package has been sent to a printer device.

17. The program as claimed in 15, further comprising components for;

sending an e-mail from said at least one server computer to a recipient for a job package, said e-mail comprising;

a data field describing a package of one or more documents for printing; and

a data field for containing information notifying a recipient that a new package has been received at said at least one server computer.

18. A remotely accessible interface display screen for displaying information describing at least one package to be collected, said display screen comprising:

a package data entry section comprising a data field describing a sender.

19. The interface display as claimed in claim 18 further comprising:

a data display field describing a number of files comprising a said package; and

a data display field for displaying a status of said received package;

20. A remotely accessible interface display screen for displaying details of a package received at a remote printing service, said display interface comprising;

a data field for containing a file identification data;

a data field for containing a file name;

a data field for containing a file size; and

a thumbnail image describing a received image data comprising said package

21. The interface display screen as claimed in claim 20, further comprising;

a message field for containing message information;

a package identification data for containing a package identification data;

a package name field for containing a package name data; and

a subject data field for containing data describing a subject of said package.

22. A remotely accessible computer interface display screen for checking a status of packages sent to a remote printing service, said interface display comprising:

a data field containing a file identifier data;

a data field identifying a recipient name;

a data field identifying a package name;

a data field identifying a number of files comprising said package;

a data field describing a date said package was sent to a recipient device; and

a data field for describing a status of said package.

23. A server computer comprising;

at least one data processing device;

at least one data storage device;

at least one communications interface; and

a web server component, said web server component operable for;

accepting documents for printing via said communication interface;

generating a message indicating that a job is available for printing, and sending said message via said communications interface;

receiving an acceptance message for accepting a job to be printed;

responding to said acceptance message by sending said print job via said communications interface;

generating a second message confirming that a job has been printed, and

sending said second message via said communications interface.

24. A method of operation of a printing system, said printing system comprising;

at least one server computer acting to route documents intended for a plurality of users;

at least one receiving device which acts to receive documents sent from said server computer;

at least one printer device associated with said receiving device for printing said documents;

said method comprising;

sending a job to said remote printing server, using a sender computer, said sender specifying an address of a job receiver for which the print job is intended;

a job receiver receiving an e-mail notification requesting the job receiver to confirm whether or not the job receiver accepts the print job;

accepting said print job;

downloading said print job from said server computer to said receiving device;

printing said print job

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising;

said job sender receiving an e-mail notification from said remote server acknowledging the uploading of said print job from said sender computer to said print server computer; and

said job receiver receiving an e-mail message describing said print job

26. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising:

said job receiver interrogating said remote print server, to inspect a list of print jobs intended for said receiver

27. The method as claimed in 24, further comprising:

said job sender interrogating said print server computer, to read a status of print jobs uploaded from said job sender to said remote print server.