System and method for automatic wireless detection and identification of document processing service location

• US 20070078994A1
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba and Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Gava, Fabio, Wilson, Silvy, Byington, Carl
• Granted Patent: US 7,450,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• 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 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1254 Automatic configuration, e.g. by driver
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems

Abstract

A system and method for automated selection of a wireless document processing device. Data representing a plurality of available document processing devices is first generated on a wireless data processing device. The wireless data connection is then detected between a portable data device and an associated access point, wherein the access point is associated with at least one of the available document processing devices. Next, the at least one available document processing device is set as the default selection for performing document processing operations based on the detected wireless connection between the portable data device and the wireless access point associated with the at least one document processing device.

Claims

1. A system for automated selection of a wireless document processing device comprising:

means adapted for generating, on a wireless data processing device, data representative of a plurality of available document processing devices;

means adapted for detecting a wireless data connection between a portable data device and an associated wireless access point, which wireless access point is associated with a at least one document processing device included in the plurality thereof; and

means adapted for setting the at least one document processing device as a default selection from the plurality thereof in accordance with a detected wireless data connection with the wireless access point associated with the at least one document processing device.

2. The system for automated selection of a wireless document processing device of claim 1, further comprising:

means adapted for selectively initiating communication of an electronic document from the wireless data processing device to the at least one document processing device.

3. The system for automated selection of a wireless document processing device of claim 2, further comprising means adapted for commencing operation of the at least one document processing device on the electronic document.

4. The system for automated selection of a wireless document processing device of claim 3, further comprising means adapted for receiving user input altering the default selection from the at least one document processing device to a unique document processing device representative in the plurality thereof.

5. A method for automated selection of a wireless document processing device comprising the steps of:

generating, on a wireless data processing device, data representative of a plurality of available document processing devices;

detecting a wireless data connection between a portable data device and an associated wireless access point, which wireless access point is associated with a at least one document processing device included in the plurality thereof; and

setting the at least one document processing device as a default selection from the plurality thereof in accordance with a detected wireless data connection with the wireless access point associated with the at least one document processing device.

6. The method for automated selection of a wireless document processing device of claim 5, further comprising the step of selectively initiating communication of an electronic document from the wireless data processing device to the at least one document processing device.

7. The method for automated selection of a wireless document processing device of claim 6, further comprising the step of commencing operation of the at least one document processing device on the electronic document.

8. The method for automated selection of a wireless document processing device of claim 7, further comprising the step of receiving user input altering the default selection from the at least one document processing device to a unique document processing device representative in the plurality thereof.

9. A computer-readable medium of instructions with computer-readable instructions stored thereon for automated selection of a wireless document processing device comprising:

instructions for generating, on a wireless data processing device, data representative of a plurality of available document processing devices;

instructions for detecting a wireless data connection between a portable data device and an associated wireless access point, which wireless access point is associated with a at least one document processing device included in the plurality thereof; and

instructions for setting the at least one document processing device as a default selection from the plurality thereof in accordance with a detected wireless data connection with the wireless access point associated with the at least one document processing device.

10. The computer-readable medium of instructions with computer-readable instructions stored thereon for automated selection of a wireless document processing device of claim 9, further comprising instructions for selectively initiating communication of an electronic document from the wireless data processing device to the at least one document processing device.

11. The computer-readable medium of instructions with computer-readable instructions stored thereon for automated selection of a wireless document processing device of claim 10, further comprising instructions for commencing operation of the at least one document processing device on the electronic document.

12. The computer-readable medium of instructions with computer-readable instructions stored thereon for automated selection of a wireless document processing device of claim 11, further comprising instructions for receiving user input altering the default selection from the at least one document processing device to a unique document processing device representative in the plurality thereof.