Document processing device with USB drive

• US 20070022233A1
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Bridges, Amanda, Flowers, William James
• Application Number:
  US11/185,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20070022233A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/62
• 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 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• 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 1/00427 using a menu list H04N1/00421, H04N1/00424, H04N1/00429 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0056 Using mechanical couplings, e.g. mating elements H04N2201/0049, H04N2201/0051, H04N2201/0058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A printing device operable to perform a plurality of document processing functions. The printing device includes a housing, a USB port positioned on the housing, a user interface and a controller. The USB port is configured to receive a portable data storage device having memory for storing data. The user interface includes a display and is operable to display a plurality of user controls. Each user control is associated with one of the plurality of document processing functions. The controller is coupled to the USB port and the user interface. The controller is operable to parse the memory of the portable data storage device for data stored in the memory when the portable storage device is inserted into the USB port. The controller is also operable to display data stored in the memory on the display of the user interface and is operable to display the user controls associated with the document processing functions that can be performed on the data being displayed.

Claims

1. A printing device operable to perform a plurality of document processing functions, the printing device comprising:

a housing;

a USB port positioned on the housing, the USB port configured to receive a portable data storage device having memory for storing data;

a user interface having a display and operable to display a plurality of user controls, each user control being associated with one of the plurality of document processing functions; and

a controller coupled to the USB port and the user interface, the controller operable to parse the memory of the portable data storage device for data stored in the memory when the portable storage device is inserted into the USB port, the controller also operable to display data stored in the memory on the display of the user interface and operable to display the user controls associated with the document processing functions that can be performed on the data being displayed.

2. The printing device as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the controller is also configured to retrieve data stored within the memory of the portable data storage device when the portable data storage device is inserted into the USB port.

5. The printing device as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the controller is operable to parse the memory of the portable data storage device for data that can be processed by one of the plurality of document processing functions.

6. The printing device as set forth in claim 5 and wherein the controller is further operable to display all data that can be processed by one of the plurality of document processing functions on the user interface.

7. The printing device as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the controller is operable to parse the memory of the portable data storage device for data that can be processed by one of the plurality of document processing functions and for data that can not be processed by any of the plurality of document processing functions.

8. The printing device as set forth in claim 7 and wherein the controller is further operable to display only the data that can be processed by one of the plurality of document processing functions on the user interface.

9. The printing device as set forth in claim 7 and wherein the controller is further operable to display the data that can be processed by one of plurality of document processing functions on the user interface.

10. The printing device as set forth in claim 9 and wherein the controller is further operable to display the data that can not be processed by any of the plurality of document processing functions on the user interface.

11. The printing device as set forth in claim 10 and wherein the controller is further operable to display the data that can not be processed by any of the plurality of document processing functions on the user interface in a manner which indicates to a user that the data can not be processed by the document processing device.

12. The document processing device as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the user interface includes a touch-screen.

13. The document processing device as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the document processing device is a multi-function printer.

3. The printing device as set forth in claim 3 and further comprising a printer coupled to the controller, the printer being operable to receive data representing an image from the controller and operable to print a hard copy of the image.

4. The printing device as set forth in claim 3 and wherein the data retrieved from the memory of the portable data storage device by the controller includes the data representing the image.

14. A printing device operable to perform a document processing function, the printing device comprising:

a housing;

a USB port positioned on the housing, the USB port configured to receive a portable data storage device having memory for storing data;

a controller coupled to the USB port and the user interface, the controller operable to parse the memory of the portable data storage device for data stored in the memory when the portable storage device is inserted into the USB port, wherein the controller parses the memory of the portable data storage device for data that can be processed by the document processing function.

15. The printing device as set forth in claim 14 and further comprising a user interface having a display, and wherein the controller is operable to display the data that can be processed by the document processing function.

16. The printing device as set forth in claim 15 and wherein the controller is operable to display a user control associated with the document processing function on the display.

17. The printing device as set forth in claim 15 and wherein the printing device is operable to perform a plurality of document processing functions.

18. The printing device as set forth in claim 17 and wherein a user can select data on the display and wherein the controller is operable to display a user control associated for each of the document processing functions that can be performed on the selected data.

19. A method of retrieving and processing files by a multi-function printer, the multi-function printer operable to perform a plurality of document processing functions, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a portable data storage device having a memory into a USB port included in the multi-function printer;

parsing the memory of the portable data storage device for files stored in the memory;

displaying the files stored in the memory on a user interface of the multi-function printer;

selecting a file to be processed by a document processing function of the multi-function print; and

performing the document processing function selected.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19 and wherein the step of parsing the memory of the portable data storage device for files stored in the memory includes parsing the memory of the portable data storage device for files stored in the memory that can be processed by at least one document processing function of the multi-function printer.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20 and wherein the step of displaying the files stored in the memory on a user interface includes displaying the files that can be processed by at least one document processing function of the multi-function printer.

22. The method as set forth in claim 19 and wherein the step of parsing the memory of the portable data storage device for files stored in the memory includes the steps of:

parsing the memory of the portable data storage device for files that can be processed by at least one document processing function of the multi-function printer; and

parsing the memory of the portable data storage device for files that can not be processed by at least one document processing function of the multi-function printer.

23. The method as set forth in claim 22 and wherein the step of displaying the files stored in the memory on a user interface includes the steps of:

displaying the files that can be processed by at least one document processing function of the multi-function printer; and

displaying the files that can not be processed by the at least one document processing function of the multi-function printer.

24. The method as set forth in claim 23 and wherein the step of displaying files that can not be processed by at least one document processing function includes displaying the files that can not be processed by at least one document processing function in a manner which indicates to a user that the data can not be processed by the multi-function printer.