System and method for selecting printer via wireless communication network and printing data
First Claim
1. A mobile communication terminal that accesses a printer by referring to a network address contained in information that is broadcast by the printer via a wireless communication network, and enables the printer to print data, the mobile communication terminal comprising:
- a wireless data receiving unit for receiving the information broadcast by the printer;
an access selecting unit for determining a distance between the mobile communication terminal and each of the plurality of printers based on an intensity of a wireless signal transmitted from each of the plurality of printers; and
a data transmitting and printing unit for designating one of the plurality of printers that is located nearest to the mobile communication terminal as a printer to be used by referring to the distance between the mobile communication terminal and each of the plurality of printers and transmits data to the printer to be used via the wireless communication network.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided are a printing system and method that selects a printer in a wireless communication network and prints data using the selected printer. The mobile communication terminal includes a wireless data receiving unit, which receives the information broadcasted by the printer; an access selecting unit, which determines a distance between the mobile communication terminal and each of the plurality of printers based on an intensity of a wireless signal transmitted from each of the plurality of printers; and a data transmitting and printing unit, which designates one of the plurality of printers that is located nearest to the mobile communication terminal as a printer to be used by referring to the distance between the mobile communication terminal and each of the plurality of printers and transmits data to be printed to the printer to be used via the wireless communication network.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A mobile communication terminal that accesses a printer by referring to a network address contained in information that is broadcast by the printer via a wireless communication network, and enables the printer to print data, the mobile communication terminal comprising:
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a wireless data receiving unit for receiving the information broadcast by the printer;
an access selecting unit for determining a distance between the mobile communication terminal and each of the plurality of printers based on an intensity of a wireless signal transmitted from each of the plurality of printers; and
a data transmitting and printing unit for designating one of the plurality of printers that is located nearest to the mobile communication terminal as a printer to be used by referring to the distance between the mobile communication terminal and each of the plurality of printers and transmits data to the printer to be used via the wireless communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A printer that prints data received via a wireless communication network, the printer comprising:
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an address broadcasting unit, which broadcasts information comprising a network address that enables a mobile communication terminal to access the printer via the wireless communication network; and
a data receiving and printing unit, which receives data to be printed from the mobile communication terminal and prints the data to be printed, the mobile communication terminal accessing the terminal by referring to the network address included in the information broadcasted by the address broadcasting unit. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A printing system that selects a printer via a wireless communication network and prints data using the selected printer, the printing system comprising:
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one or more printers, which broadcast information comprising their respective network addresses that enable a mobile communication terminal to access them via the wireless communication network, receive data to be printed from the mobile communication terminal if the data to be printed is directed to their network addresses, and print the data to be printed; and
a mobile communication terminal, which receives the information broadcast by the printers, accesses the printers by referring to their respective network addresses contained in the received information, determines a distance between the mobile communication terminal and each of the printers based on an intensity of a wireless signal transmitted from each of the printers, designates one of the printers that is located nearest thereto as a printer to be used by referring to the distance between the mobile communication terminal and each of the printers, and transmits data to be printed to the printer to be used via the wireless communication network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A printing method that selects one of printers in a wireless communication network with the use of a mobile communication terminal, the printing method comprising the steps of:
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(a) enabling the printers to broadcast information including network addresses that allow the mobile communication terminal to access them via the wireless communication network;
(b) enabling the mobile communication terminal to receive the information broadcasted by the printers by searching the wireless communication network;
(c) enabling the mobile communication terminal to determine a distance between the mobile communication terminal and each of the printers based on an intensity of a wireless signal transmitted from each of the printers;
(d) enabling the mobile communication terminal to designate one of the printers that is located nearest thereto as a printer to be used by referring to the distance between the mobile communication terminal and each of the printers; and
(e) enabling the mobile communication terminal to transmit data to be printed to the printer to be used via the wireless communication network by referring to a network address contained in the information broadcasted by the printer to be used, and enabling the printer to be used to receive the data to be printed from the mobile communication terminal and to print the data to be printed. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification