Method and Apparatus for Controlling an Input or Output Device over the Internet
First Claim
1. A network printing system comprising:
- a printing device having access to a network, and effective for receiving print requests over said network;
a client device having access to said network, and effective for submitting a first print request for a print job to said printing device over said network;
wherein said printing device accepts said first print request and stores it in a queue;
wherein said printing device initiates the downloading of said print job for printing and wherein if said print job is not currently in a printing format supported by said printing device, then said printing device converts said print job into a supported printing format prior to printing.
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Abstract
In a network having an initiator, a server, and an input/output (I/O) device remote from the initiator, the initiator transmits to the server a request containing the network location of data to be retrieved from an input device, such as a video camera, fax, or scanner, or output by an output device, such as a printer. Output requests are placed in a queue and scheduled for completion. When an output device is ready, the server retrieves the data from a network storage location different from the queue and transmits the data to the printer or output device for action. When an input device is ready, the server retrieves the data from the input device and transmits it to a network location based on the request. The server can also provide the initiator with status information about the request and the input or output device.
30 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A network printing system comprising:
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a printing device having access to a network, and effective for receiving print requests over said network;
a client device having access to said network, and effective for submitting a first print request for a print job to said printing device over said network;
wherein said printing device accepts said first print request and stores it in a queue;
wherein said printing device initiates the downloading of said print job for printing and wherein if said print job is not currently in a printing format supported by said printing device, then said printing device converts said print job into a supported printing format prior to printing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An internet printing system comprising:
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a printing device having communication access to the internet, and effective for receiving print requests over the internet;
a first computing device remote from said printing device and having access to the internet, said first computing device being effective for submitting a first print request for a print job to said printing device over the internet;
wherein said printing device accepts said first print request and stores it in a queue;
wherein said printing device uses HTTP communication protocols to initiate the downloading of said print job for printing, and wherein if said print job is not currently in a printing format supported by said printing device, then said printing device converts said print job into a supported printing format prior to printing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30)
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20. An internet printing system comprising:
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a printing device having communication access to the internet;
a network server having communication access to the internet, and effective for receiving print requests over the internet;
a client computing device having communication access to the internet, said first computing device being effective for submitting a first print request for a print job to said network server over the internet;
wherein said network server accepts said first print request and stores it in a queue;
wherein said network server uses HTTP communication protocols to initiate the downloading of said print job for printing and to convey the print job over the internet to said printing device; and
wherein if said print job is not currently in a printing format supported by said printing device, then said network server converts said print job into said a supported printing format prior conveying it to said printing device.
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28. A network printing system comprising:
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a printing device having access to a network, and effective for receiving print requests over said network;
a client device having access to said network, and effective for submitting a first print request for a print job to said printing device over said network;
wherein if said print job is not currently in a printing format supported by said printing device, and if said printing device does not have a conversion capability suitable for converting said print job into said supported printing format, then said printing device does not down load said print job.
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Specification