Methods and apparatus for providing universal print services and asynchronous message services

• US 20040185882A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiery LLC
• Original Assignee: Electronics For Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Bakshi, Chirag, Kamble, Sanjay, Gecht, Guy
• Granted Patent: US 7,528,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• 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 3/1206 resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1228 Printing driverless or using generic drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• 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

Methods and apparatus are provided for providing print capability in connection with SMS messages to mobile device users. A content source communicates information regarding a print job to a mobile device user using SMS messages. The mobile device user then may obtain a hardcopy printout of the print job by designating any print device that is configured to receive print jobs via a universal printing network. The content source provides the print job to the universal printing network for delivery to the designated print device.

Claims

1. A method for providing print services for a mobile device, the method comprising:

communicating information regarding a document to the mobile device using an asynchronous data alert message service;

receiving a request to print the document from the mobile device using the asynchronous data alert message service; and

printing the document to a print device using a printing network that comprises a spooling server capable of receiving and storing documents from a content source via a network, and a printer polling device capable of polling the spooling server via the network to identify a document associated with the printer polling device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises any of a pager, personal digital assistant, cell phone, wireless handheld device, and handheld computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the asynchronous data alert message service comprises a short message service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the asynchronous data alert message service comprises a multimedia message service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein printing further comprises providing the document to the spooling server via the network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein printing further comprises:

transmitting the document from the spooling server to the printer polling device; and

printing the document at a printer coupled to the printer polling device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises any of a local area network, a wide area network, a global network, and the Internet.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the document comprises any of a poster, an image, a coupon, a ticket, a certificate, a check, a list, a schedule, a periodical, a unit of currency, a negotiable instrument, a stamp, a bill of lading, a lottery or gaming ticket, a token, a food stamp, a license, a permit, a pass, a passport, a ballot, a citation, identification, a copy-protection key, a proof-of-purchase, a warranty, a receipt, a transcript, a library card, a prospectus, or a financial statement.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving further comprises receiving information from the mobile device that identifies the print device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving further comprises receiving from the mobile device an address associated with the print device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the print device comprises a facsimile machine, and receiving further comprises receiving from the mobile device a telephone number associated with the fax machine.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein information comprises transportation information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein information comprises financial information.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating further comprises communicating information in response to preselected alert criteria.

15. A communication system for providing print services for a mobile device, the system comprising:

a content sourcing platform coupled to the mobile device via an asynchronous data alert message service, and coupled to a print device via a printing network that comprises a spooling server capable of receiving and storing documents via a network, and a printer polling device capable of polling the spooling server via the network to identify a document associated with the printer polling device.

16. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the content sourcing platform further comprises a database.

17. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the database comprises transportation information.

18. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the database comprises financial information.

19. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the database comprises the document.

20. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the asynchronous data alert message service comprises a short message service.

21. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the asynchronous data alert message service comprises a multimedia message service.

22. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the content sourcing platform is adapted to:

communicate information regarding the document to the mobile device using the asynchronous data alert message service;

receive a request to print the document from the mobile device using the asynchronous data alert message service; and

print the document to the print device using the printing network.

23. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the content sourcing platform is adapted to communicate information to the mobile device via the asynchronous data alert message service in response to preselected alert criteria.

24. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the content sourcing platform is coupled to a plurality of mobile devices via a corresponding plurality of wireless communication systems.

25. The communication system of claim 24, wherein the wireless communication systems comprise the same wireless communication system.

26. The communication system of claim 24, wherein the wireless communication systems comprise first and second distinct wireless communication systems.

27. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the content sourcing platform is adapted to receive and process requests for information in the database from the mobile device.

28. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the content sourcing platform is adapted to prompt the mobile device with a print option for information in the database.

29. A method for providing print services for a mobile device, the method comprising:

communicating information to the mobile device using an asynchronous data alert message service;

receiving a request to print a document from the mobile device using the asynchronous data alert message service;

associating a document ID with the document;

communicating the document ID to the mobile device; and

printing the document to a print device using a printing network that comprises a spooling server capable of receiving and storing documents from a content source via a network, and a printer polling device capable of polling the spooling server via the network to identify a document associated with the printer polling device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein printing further comprises receiving the document ID at the printer polling device.

31. A method for providing print services for a mobile device, the method comprising:

communicating information to the mobile device using an asynchronous data alert message service;

receiving a request to print a document from the mobile device using the asynchronous data alert message service;

receiving an address for a print device; and

printing the document to the print device using a printing network that comprises a spooling server capable of receiving and storing documents from a content source via a network, and a printer polling device capable of polling the spooling server via the network to identify a document associated with the printer polling device.