Printing accessory for mobile client device

• US 20040085573A1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Aidinejad, Mohammad Reza
• Application Number:
  US10/286,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20040085573A1
• 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 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1206 resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1244 Job translation or job parsing, e.g. page banding
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing

Abstract

A printing accessory preferably includes a first interface for communicating with a mobile client device; a second interface for communicating with a printer; a processor for controlling the first and second interfaces; and a printer driver stored in memory for execution by the processor. The printing accessory is configured to receive data from a mobile client device through the first interface and convert the data into a print job which print job is output through the second interface.

Claims

10. A system for printing data from a mobile client device, said system comprising:

a mobile client device comprising a wireless transceiver; and

a printing accessory comprising a wireless transceiver for communicating with said mobile client device;

wherein said mobile client device is configured to transmit data to said printing accessory, said printing accessory is configured to generate a print job based on the data from said mobile client device.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a printer in communication with said printing accessory for receiving and printing said print job.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said mobile client device comprises a wireless telephone.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said mobile client device comprises a personal digital assistant.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said mobile client device comprises a digital camera.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising a user interface incorporated in said printing accessory for controlling said printing accessory.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising a user interface incorporated in said mobile client device, said user interface configured to control said printing accessory.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a user interface incorporated in said printing accessory for controlling said printing accessory.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein said printing accessory further comprises a processor for executing a printer driver that generates said print job.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising a cable for connecting said printing accessory with the printer.

20. The system of claim 11, further comprising a wireless interface between said printing accessory and the printer.

21. A method of generating a hardcopy of data stored on a mobile client device, said method comprising:

transmitting data wirelessly from said mobile client device to a printing accessory; and

generating a print job based on said data from said mobile client device with said printing accessory.

1. A printing accessory comprising:

a first, wireless interface for communicating with a mobile client device;

a second interface for communicating with a printer;

a processor for controlling said first and second interfaces; and

a printer driver stored in memory for execution by said processor;

wherein said printing accessory is configured to receive data from a mobile client device through said first interface and convert the data into a print job which print job is output through said second interface.

2. The printing accessory of claim 1, further comprising a user interface allowing a user to control said printing accessory.

3. The printing accessory of claim 2, wherein said user interface comprises a touch-screen.

4. The printing accessory of claim 3, wherein said touch-screen displays a navigation keypad and a status display.

5. The printing accessory of claim 2, wherein said user interface comprises:

a display device; and

at least one user input device.

6. The printing accessory of claim 5, wherein said at least one user input device comprises a navigation keypad.

7. The printing accessory of claim 1, wherein said second interface comprises a cable for connecting said printing accessory and a printer.

8. The printing accessory of claim 7, wherein said cable is a Universal Serial Bus cable.

9. The printing accessory of claim 7, wherein said cable is a parallel cable.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting said print job to a printer from said printing accessory.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising printing said print job to produce a hardcopy.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising controlling said printing accessory with a user input device of said printing accessory.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising controlling said printing accessory with a user input device of said mobile client device.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising, with said mobile client device, initiating a wireless data link with said printing accessory.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising display a listing of data files received by said printing accessory from said mobile client device.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising selecting a data file to print from said listing.

28-1. The method of claim 22, further comprising printing said print job to produce a hardcopy.

29. A system for generating a hardcopy of data stored on a mobile client device, said system comprising:

means for transmitting data wirelessly from said mobile client device to a printing accessory; and

means for generating a print job in said printing accessory based on said data from said mobile client device.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising means for transmitting said print job to a printer from said printing accessory.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising printing said print job with said printer to produce a hardcopy.

32. The system of claim 30, further comprising means for controlling said printing accessory.

33. A printing accessory comprising:

a first interface for communicating with a mobile client device;

a second interface for communicating with a printer;

a processor for controlling said first and second interfaces; and

a printer driver stored in memory for execution by said processor;

wherein said printing accessory does not comprise a general purpose computer; and

wherein said printing accessory is configured to receive data from a mobile client device through said first interface and convert the data into a print job which print job is output through said second interface.

34. The printing accessory of claim 33, further comprising a user interface allowing a user to control said printing accessory.

35. The printing accessory of claim 34, wherein said user interface comprises a touch-screen.

36. The printing accessory of claim 34, wherein said user interface comprises:

a display device; and

at least one user input device.

37. The printing accessory of claim 33, wherein said first interface comprises a cable for connecting said mobile client device and said printing accessory.

38. The printing accessory of claim 33, wherein said second interface comprises a cable for connecting said printing accessory and a printer.

39. A method of generating a hardcopy of data stored on a mobile client device, said method comprising:

transmitting data from said mobile client device to a printing accessory, wherein said printing accessory does not comprise a general purpose computer; and

generating a print job based on said data from said mobile client device with said printing accessory.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising transmitting said print job to a printer from said printing accessory.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising printing said print job to produce a hardcopy.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising controlling said printing accessory with a user input device of said printing accessory.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising controlling said printing accessory with a user input device of said mobile client device.