Device with printing and scanning capability

• US 20040075856A1
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Reese, Curtis, Green, Brett A., Lay, Daniel Travis
• Granted Patent: US 7,382,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00238 using an image reproducing device as a local output from a computer output via network, e.g. network printing H04N1/00233
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A system includes a multifunctional peripheral (MFP) and a computer connected to the MFP via a communication link. The MFP includes a scanner for use by walk-up user to scan a page. The computer provides a user interface that enables a user to request a document be printed and then scanned on the MFP.

Claims

1. In a multifunctional peripheral (MFP) that includes a print engine for printing pages and a scanner for use by walk-up users to scan a page, a method comprising:

receiving a print job that describes at least one page;

printing the at least one page at the print engine; and

if the print job indicates the at least one page is to be scanned, then performing the following substeps;

moving the printed at least one page from the print engine to the scanner; and

scanning the printed at least one page at the scanner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the substeps further include moving the printed at least one page from the scanner to a location accessible by a user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the print job does not indicate the at lease one page is to be scanned, then moving the printed at least one page from the printing station to a location accessible by a user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the print job does not indicate the at least one page is to be scanned, then moving the printed at least one page from the print engine to an exit tray so as to bypass the scanner.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the scanning step results in scan data being generated and the substeps further include:

storing the scan data in a non-volatile memory.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

after the scan data is stored, receiving a command to print the scan data; and

responding to the command by printing the scan data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the request is received over a communication network.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the request is received at a local control panel of the MFP.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the print job includes an address of an external device, the scanning substep results in scan data being generated, and the substeps further include:

transmitting the scan data to the address.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmitting step includes e-mailing the scan data to the address.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the method further includes:

receiving a request from a client computer to access the stored scan data;

in response to the request, causing the client computer to display the scan data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the causing step is performing by causing the client computer to display the image described by the scan data in the form of at least one WEB page.

13. A multifunctional peripheral (MFP), comprising:

a print engine for printing pages;

a scanner configured to be used by a walk-up user to scan pages;

a source of unprinted media sheets; and

means for;

(a) moving a media sheet from the source to the print engine so as to enable the print engine to print the media sheet; and

(b) moving the media sheet from the print engine to the scanner so as to enable the scanner to scan the media sheet.

14. The MFP of claim 13, further comprising:

means for processing a print job that describes a page to be printed and that includes at least one command directing the MFP to scan the page after the page is printed; and

wherein the processing means processes the job by causing;

(a) the moving means to move a media sheet from the source to the print engine and then to the scanner;

(b) the print engine to print the page when the page reaches the print engine; and

(c) the scanner to scan the printed page when the page reaches the scanner.

15. The MFP of claim 13, further comprising:

means for receiving a print job from an external device;

means for processing the print job; and

wherein the print job describes a page;

wherein the print job indicates the page is to be scanned after being printed;

wherein the processing means responds to the print job by causing;

(a) the moving means to move a media sheet from the source to the print engine and then to the scanner;

(b) the print engine to print the page when the page reaches the print engine; and

(c) the scanner to scan the printed page when the page reaches the scanner so as to generate scanned information.

16. The MFP of claim 15, further comprising:

wherein the processing means further responds to the print job by transmitting a message to an external device, the message includes the scanned information.

17. A device, comprising:

(a) a scanner for use by walk-up users to scan media sheets;

(b) a print engine for printing a page;

(c) a supply of unprinted media sheets;

(d) a media transport system; and

wherein the media transport system is capable of moving a sheet to the print engine so as to enable the print engine to print the sheet; and

wherein the media transport system is further capable of moving a sheet from the print engine to the scanner so as to enable the scanner to scan a sheet printed by the print engine.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising:

(e) an input tray for receiving, from a walk-up user, a printed document that is to be scanned;

wherein the media transport system if further capable of transporting the document from the input tray, page by page, to the scanner so as to enable the scanner to scan each page of the document.

19. The device of claim 17,

wherein the media transport system is further capable of moving a sheet from the print engine to an output port so as to bypass the scanner.

20. A system, comprising:

(a) a multifunctional peripheral (MFP);

(b) a computer connected to the MFP via a communication link; and

wherein the MFP includes a scanner for use by walk-up user to scan a page; and

wherein the computer provides a user interface that enables a user to request that a document be printed and then scanned on the MFP.

21. The system of claim 20,

wherein the computer is responsive to the request by transmitting a print job to the MFP;

wherein the print job directs the MFP to print and scan the document;

wherein the MFP is responsive to the print job by printing the document and scanning the printed document;

wherein the MFP utilizes the scanner to scan the document.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the communication link includes the PUBLIC INTENET.

23. A computer-readable medium having embodied therein a program of commands executable by a client computer to:

display a user interface that enables a user of the client computer to set-up printing of a document on an MFP that provides both printing and scanning functions; and

wherein the user interface enables a user to input a request that a particular document be printed by the MFP and at least one page of the document be scanned by the MFP after being printed.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the user interface enables the user to select pages of the document that are to be scanned.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the program of commands includes commands executable by the client computer to:

generate a print job that directs the MFP to (i) print the document and (ii) scan each user selected page of the document after being printed.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein the program of commands includes commands executable by the client computer to:

transmit the print job to the MFP.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the user interface further enables a user to specify a destination that is to receive scan data generated by the MFP scanning the at least one page.

28. The computer readable medium of claim of claim 27, wherein the program of commands includes commands executable by the client computer to:

generate a print job that directs the MFP to (i) print the document, (ii) scan the at least one page so as to generate scan data; and

(iii) transmit the scan data to the user specified destination.

29. A computer connectable to an MFP having a post print scan (PPS) function, comprising:

a processing unit capable of transmitting a print job to the MFP over a network; and

wherein the print job describes a page to be printed; and

wherein the print job includes at least one command directing the MFP to print the page with the PPS function enabled.

30. The computer of claim 29, further comprising:

a user interface that enables a user to input a request to print the page with the PPS function enabled; and

wherein the processing unit is responsive to the input by including the at least one command in the print job.

31. The computer of claim 30, wherein the user interface includes a graphical user interface (GUI).