Print server, mobile computing device, system and method for printing using a mobile computing device

• US 20070124436A1
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Shepherd, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• 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 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a print server, a mobile computing device, a method of printing, and a system for printing using a mobile computing device. The print server includes a submission processor, an orchestration processor, and a positioning processor. The print server is configured to track the global position of a mobile computing device and determine a print location and/or print time based upon the global position of the mobile computing device. The method involves tracking the global position of the mobile computing device and determining the print location and/or print time based upon the global position of the mobile computing device.

Claims

1. A print server comprising a submission processor configured to receive a print request, a positioning processor configured to track a global position of a mobile computing device, and an orchestration processor configured to determine at least one of a print location and a print time based upon at least one global position of the mobile computing device.

2. The print server of claim 1, wherein the orchestration processor determines the print time based upon periodic global position information for the mobile computing device.

3. The print server of claim 1, wherein the orchestration processor selects a printer based upon a first set of global position information for the mobile computing device.

4. The print server of claim 1, wherein the orchestration processor determines both the print location and the print time.

5. The print server of claim 1, wherein the orchestration processor changes at least one of the print location and the print time in response to tracked changes in the global position of the mobile computing device.

6. The print server of claim 1, wherein the print server is configured to change at least one of the print location and print time based upon a request received from the mobile computing device.

7. The print server of claim 1, wherein the print server transmits at least one of a print location and a print time to the mobile computing device.

8. The print server of claim 1, wherein the submission processor receives a file to be printed from the mobile computing device.

9. The print server of claim 1, wherein the submission processor receives a file to be printed from a file server.

10. The print server of claim 1, wherein the print server is configured to receive a print job status report from a printer and transmit the print job status report to the mobile computing device.

11. The print server of claim 1, wherein the orchestration processor uses data mining to determine at least one of the print time and the print location.

12. The print server of claim 1, wherein the print server is part of a network including multiple print servers and the network includes networking protocols for communication among the multiple print servers.

13. A method of printing using a mobile computing device, comprising:

selecting a file to be printed,

selecting print parameters,

transmitting data indicative of the selected file and the print parameters,

tracking the global position of the mobile computing device,

determining at least one of a print location and a print time based upon at least one global position of the mobile computing device, and

printing the file.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein both the print location and the print time are determined based upon at least one global position of the mobile computing device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising changing at least one of the print location and the print time in response to tracked changes in the global position of the mobile computing device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the print location and print time is determined using data mining.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the print time is proximate the expected pick-up time of the printed file.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising rejecting at least one of the print location and print time using the mobile computing device and generating data indicative of at least one of an alternative print location and an alternative print time.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the file to be printed is located on one of the mobile computing device and a file server connected to the print server.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the print location and the print time are determined by the print server.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the print location is determined by the print server and a proposed arrival time is transmitted by the mobile device to the print server.

22. A printing system, comprising:

a mobile computing device,

a print server including a submission processor configured to receive a print request, a positioning processor configured to track the global position of the mobile computing device, and an orchestration processor configured to determine at least one of a print location and a print time based upon at least one global position of the mobile computing device, and

a printer configured to receive printing instructions from the print server.

23. The printing system of claim 22, wherein the orchestration processor determines both the print location and the print time.

24. The printing system of claim 22, wherein the orchestration processor determines the print location and the mobile device transmits to the print server an arrival time.

25. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a communication system,

a display, and

a memory having an operating system stored therein, the operating system being configured to initiate a query through the communication system to a print server to select printing information including at least one of a print location and a print time based upon the global position of the mobile computing device, receive a response from the print server through the communication system, and display at least one of the print location and the print time on the display.

26. The mobile computing device of claim 25, wherein the operating system is configured to receive a subsequent response from the print server that includes a change in at least one of the print location and print time, and display the change in at least one of the print location and print time on the display.

27. The mobile computing device of claim 25, wherein the operating system includes a processor for estimating an arrival time to a print location.

28. The mobile computing device of claim 25, wherein the memory contains printer locations for preconfigured printers and the operating system is configured to calculate and display a distance from the mobile device to the print location.