Methods and systems for imaging device remote location functions

• US 20060095536A1
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamamura, Shinichi, Sojian, Lena, Chrisop, Roy, Nguyen, Uoc, Stevens, Mark, Richardson, Tanna, Plewnia, Bogdan, Lum, Joey, Schacht, Bryan K., Mathieson, Rono
• Application Number:
  US10/961,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20060095536A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• 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 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00503 Customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32657 locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32662 remotely, e.g. to the transmitter from the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4426 involving separate means, e.g. a server, a magnetic card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4433 to an apparatus, part of an apparatus or an apparatus function
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for obtaining location and mapping data from a remote computing device at an imaging device user interface. Some embodiments comprise remote computing devices configured to communicate with imaging devices, imaging devices configured to communicate with remote computing devices and systems comprising various combinations of remote computing devices in communication with imaging devices.

Claims

1. A method for providing remote location data on an imaging device, said method comprising:

a) receiving, at an imaging device (IDev), user input comprising location-related data;

b) accessing location data correlated to said location-related data; and

c) outputting said location data from said IDev.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said location-related data comprises an address.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said location-related data comprises a name.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said location-related data comprises a business description.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said location-related data comprises a location description.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said location data is stored on said imaging device.

7. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said location data is stored on a remote computing device.

8. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said location data comprises a map.

9. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said location data comprises a directions.

10. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said outputting comprises printing on media.

11. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said outputting comprises an electronic transmission to a remote destination.

12. A method for providing remote location data on an imaging device, said method comprising:

a) receiving, at an imaging device (IDev), user input comprising location-related data;

b) sending said location-related data to a remote computing device (RCD);

c) accessing location data correlated to said location-related data;

d) performing a location function with said location data; and

e) sending said location function output to said IDev.

13. A method as described in claim 12 wherein the resources on said imaging device are not significantly utilized for said accessing and said performing.

14. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said imaging device display provides a menu driven by a markup language with menu data stored on said RCD.

15. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said sending, said accessing and said performing are at least partially achieved by transport of data commands with a markup language.

16. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said sending, said accessing and said performing are at least partially achieved by transport of data commands with an object access protocol.

17. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said sending, said accessing and said performing are at least partially achieved by transport of data commands with a markup language and an object access protocol.

18. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said sending, said accessing and said performing are at least partially achieved by transport of data commands with a language selected from the set consisting of HTML, XML, WML and XHTML.

19. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said sending, said accessing and said performing are at least partially achieved by transport of data commands with SOAP.

20. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said sending, said accessing and said performing are at least partially achieved by transport of data commands with XML and SOAP.

21. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said sending, said accessing and said performing are at least partially achieved by exposing imaging device function and data interfaces defined by Web Services Definition Language (WSDL).

22. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said sending, said accessing and said performing are at least partially achieved by exposing imaging device function and data interfaces using Web Services.

23. A method for providing remote location data on an imaging device, said method comprising:

a) receiving input data on an imaging device (IDev) user interface;

b) sending said input data to a remote computing device (RCD);

c) accessing location data correlated to said input data with said RCD; and

d) sending said location data to said IDev.

24. A method as described in claim 23 wherein said location data comprises a map.

25. A method for providing remote location data on an imaging device, said method comprising:

a) receiving input data on an imaging device (IDev) user interface, said input data comprising destination data;

b) sending said input data to a remote computing device (RCD);

c) determining a relative position of said IDev to said destination with said RCD;

d) calculating directions from said IDev to said destination; and

e) sending said directions to said IDev.

26. A method for providing remote location data on an imaging device, said method comprising:

a) receiving input data on an imaging device (IDev) user interface, said input data comprising a service/product descriptor;

b) sending said descriptor to a remote computing device (RCD);

c) accessing location data correlated to said descriptor with said RCD; and

d) sending said location data to said IDev.

27. A method as described in claim 26 wherein said location data comprises a map.

28. A method for providing remote location data on an imaging device, said method comprising:

a) receiving input data on an imaging device (IDev) user interface, said input data comprising an imaging device problem description;

b) sending said problem description to a remote computing device (RCD);

c) accessing provider/vendor data correlated to said descriptor with said RCD;

d) determining location data correlated to said provider/vendor data; and

e) sending said location data to said IDev.

29. An imaging system comprising:

a) an imaging device (IDev), said imaging device comprising;

i. a user interface on said imaging device;

(1) said user interface comprising a display;

(2) said user interface further comprising an input device;

b) a remote computing device (RCD);

i. said remote computing device comprising an application that can be executed on said remote computing device;

ii. a correlation device;

c) a network connecting said imaging device, said remote computing device and said correlation device; and

d) wherein input on said user interface may be sent to said RCD and said RCD may access said correlation device to correlate said input with location data and said location data may be sent to said IDev.

30. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for obtaining remote location data from a user input device on an imaging device, said instructions comprising the acts of:

a) receiving user input on an imaging device (IDev);

b) sending said user input to a remote computing device;

c) correlating said user input to location data; and

d) sending said location data to said IDev.

31. A computer data signal embodied in an electronic transmission, said signal having the function of obtaining remote location data from a user input device on an imaging device, said signal comprising instructions for:

a) receiving user input on an imaging device (IDev);

b) sending said user input to a remote computing device;

c) correlating said user input to location data; and

d) sending said location data to said IDev.

32. An imaging device with remote application access, said device comprising:

a) a user interface for receiving user input;

b) a display for displaying data to a user;

c) a connection on said imaging device to allow communication with a remote computing device (RCD); and

d) wherein input received on said user interface may be sent to said RCD and correlated with location data and said location data may be sent to said imaging device for display.

33. A remote computing device for interacting with an imaging device, said remote computing device comprising:

a) a location correlation resource;

b) an application configured to interact with input from said imaging device;

c) a connection on said remote computing device to allow communication with said imaging device; and

d) wherein input from an imaging device may be received and correlated with location data, which may then be sent to said imaging device.