Method and System of Locating Printouts

• US 20080243379A1
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pearce, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3804 Creation or updating of map data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for locating printouts are provided. In a method embodiment, a method of providing information generally includes generating directions to a first printer from a first location based on the location of the first printer and the first location. The method also includes presenting the directions to a user.

Claims

1. A method of providing information, comprising:

generating a map to a first printer from a first location based on the location of the first printer and the first location; and

initiating a communication of the map to a computing device operable to present the map to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location is the location of the computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

generating second directions to the first printer from the first location based on the location of the first printer and the first location; and

communicating the second directions to the computing device, the second directions selected from the group consisting of;

text-based directions; and

audio-based directions.

4. The method of claim 1, and further comprising printing the map at a second printer.

5. The method of claim 1, and further comprising displaying the map to the user using the computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the mobile device is selected from the group consisting of:

personal digital assistant;

mobile phone;

Smartphone;

global positioning satellite handheld;

handheld game console;

ultra-mobile personal computer;

handheld television; and

computer laptop.

8. The method of claim 1, and further comprising determining the location of the computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, and further comprising determining the location of the first printer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the location of the first printer comprises accessing a table storing information corresponding to the location of the first printer.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the location of the first printer comprises dynamically triangulating the geospatial location of the first printer.

12. The method of claim 1, and further comprising selecting the first printer from among a plurality of printers based at least in part the location of the first printer relative to the first location.

13. A method of providing information, comprising:

determining the location of a computing device;

selecting a first printer from among a plurality of printers based at least in part on the location of the computing device;

generating a map to the first printer from the computing device based on the location of the first printer and the location of the computing device; and

communicating the map to the computing device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the computing device is a mobile device.

15. The method of claim 13, and further comprising:

generating second directions to the first printer from the computing device based on the location of the first printer and the location of the computing device, the second directions selected from the group consisting of;

text-based directions; and

audio-based directions; and

communicating the second directions to the computing device.

16. The method of claim 13, and further comprising printing the map at a second printer.

17. The method of claim 13, and further comprising displaying the map to a user using the computing device.

18. A system for providing information comprising:

a printer locator application stored in computer-readable media, the printer locator application operable to;

generate a map to a first printer from a computing device based on the location of the first printer and the location of the computing device; and

initiate a communication of the map for receipt by the computing device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the printer locator application is further operable to:

determine the location of the computing device; and

select a first printer from among a plurality of printers based at least in part on the location of the computing device.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the printer locator application is further operable to:

generate second directions to the first printer from the computing device based on the location of the first printer and the location of the computing device, the second directions selected from the group consisting of;

text-based directions; and

audio-based directions; and

initiate a communication of the second directions to the computing device.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the printer locator application is further operable to present the map to a user using the computing device.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the printer locator application is further operable to send a print command to print the map at a second printer.

23. Logic encoded in computer-readable media and operable to:

generate a map to a first printer from a first location based on the location of the first printer and the first location; and

initiate a communication of the map for receipt by a computing device operable to present the map to a user.

24. The logic of claim 23, wherein the logic is further operable to derive the first location by determining the location of the computing device.

25. The logic of claim 23, wherein the logic is further operable to derive the location of the first printer.

26. The logic of claim 23, wherein the logic is further operable to generate a print command to print the map at a second printer.

27. The logic of claim 23, wherein the logic is further operable to:

generate second directions to the first printer from the computing device based on the location of the first printer and the location of the computing device, the second directions selected from the group consisting of;

text-based directions; and

audio-based directions; and

initiate a communication of the second directions to the computing device.

28. A system for providing information comprising:

means for generating a map to a first printer from a first location based on the location of the first printer and the first location; and

means for presenting the map to a user.

29. The system of claim 28, and further comprising means for determining the location of a computing device.

30. The system of claim 29, and further comprising means for selecting the first printer from among a plurality of printers based at least in part on the location of the computing device.

31. The system of claim 30, and further comprising means for generating a map to the first printer from the computing device based at least in part on the location of the first printer and the location of the computing device.