Approach For Printing To Web Services-Enabled Printing Devices

• US 20100225958A1
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Selvaraj, Senthil K., Xiao, Zhenning
• Application Number:
  US12/399,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20100225958A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1228 Printing driverless or using generic drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client

Abstract

According to an approach for printing to Web services-enabled printing devices, a print driver retrieves printing device capabilities data from a Web services-enable printing device and generates printer description data based at least upon the printing device capabilities data. The printer description data specifies display data for one or more features and options currently supported by the Web services-enabled printing device. The print driver generates Graphical User Interface (GUI) data based at least upon the printer description data and provides the GUI data to an application program. The print driver receives application data generated by the application program and generates print data and a print job ticket. The print driver may use the printer description data to generate the print data or the print job ticket. The print driver causes the print data and the print job ticket to be transmitted to the Web services-enabled printing device for processing.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for printing to a Web services-enabled printing device, comprising:

a print driver executing on a client device and retrieving, from the Web services-enabled printing device, printing device capabilities data that specifies a plurality of features and options currently supported by the Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the printing device capabilities data, printer description data that specifies display data for one or more features and options from the plurality of features and options;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the display data contained in the printer description data, graphical user interface data which, when processed by an application program, causes at least a portion of the features and options to be displayed on a graphical user interface;

the print driver receiving, from the application program, application data generated by the application program;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the application data, print data and a print job ticket; and

the print driver causing the print data and the print job ticket to be transmitted to the Web services-enabled printing device.

2. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the display data specifies a string variable that corresponds to a particular option, and

generating the graphical user interface data includes retrieving a string that corresponds to the string variable.

3. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the display data specifies a string that corresponds to a particular option, and

the graphical user interface data includes the string that corresponds to the particular option.

4. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the printer description data specifies a PDL keyword value that corresponds to a particular option, and

generating print data includes using the PDL keyword value to generate particular print data for the particular option.

5. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the print driver generating, based at least upon the printing device capabilities data, printer description data that specifies display data for one or more features and options from the plurality of features and options includes:

for a particular feature from the plurality of features and options currently supported by the Web services-enabled printing device,

determining whether the particular feature is defined by core mapping data that defines a standard set of features and options supported by the Web services-enabled printing device,

if the particular feature is defined by the core mapping data, then

retrieving from the core mapping data both a PDL keyword value and a string variable that correspond to the particular feature, and

including the PDL keyword value and a string variable in the printer description data in association with the particular feature, and

if the particular feature is not defined by the core mapping data, then

retrieving from the device capabilities data both a feature name and one or more display name strings that correspond to the particular feature,

generating a PDL keyword value based at least upon the feature name, and

including the generated PDL keyword value and the one or more display name strings in the printer description data in association with the particular feature.

6. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

the print driver subscribing to an update service executing on the Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver receiving, from the update service, an event notification indicating that updated printing device capabilities data is available at the Web services-enabled printing device;

in response to the event notification, the print driver retrieving, from the Web services-enabled printing device, updated printing device capabilities data that specifies current features and options currently supported by the Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the printing device capabilities data, updated printer description data that that specifies display data for one or more options from the plurality of features and options specified by the updated printing device capabilities data;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the display data contained in the updated printer description data, second graphical user interface data which, when processed by an application program, causes at least a portion of the features and options specified by the updated printing device capabilities data to be displayed on a graphical user interface;

the print driver receiving, from the application program, third print data generated by the application program;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the third print data, fourth print data and a print job ticket; and

the print driver causing the fourth print data and the print job ticket to be transmitted to the Web services-enabled printing device.

7. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the print driver:

retrieving, from a second Web services-enabled printing device that is different than the Web services-enabled printing device, second printing device capabilities data that specifies a plurality of features and options currently supported by the second Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the second printing device capabilities data, second printer description data that specifies display data for one or more features and options from the plurality of features and options currently supported by the second Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the display data contained in the second printer description data, second graphical user interface data which, when processed by the application program, causes at least a portion of the features and options currently supported by the second Web services-enabled printing device to be displayed on the graphical user interface;

the print driver receiving, from the application program, second application data generated by the application program;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the second application data, second print data and a second print job ticket; and

the print driver causing the second print data and the second print job ticket to be transmitted to the second Web services-enabled printing device.

8. A computer-readable medium for printing to a Web services-enabled printing device, the computer-readable medium carrying instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, causes:

a print driver executing on a client device and retrieving, from the Web services-enabled printing device, printing device capabilities data that specifies a plurality of features and options currently supported by the Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the printing device capabilities data, printer description data that specifies display data for one or more features and options from the plurality of features and options;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the display data contained in the printer description data, graphical user interface data which, when processed by an application program, causes at least a portion of the features and options to be displayed on a graphical user interface;

the print driver receiving, from the application program, application data generated by the application program;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the application data, print data and a print job ticket; and

the print driver causing the print data and the print job ticket to be transmitted to the Web services-enabled printing device.

9. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein:

the display data specifies a string variable that corresponds to a particular option, and

generating the graphical user interface data includes retrieving a string that corresponds to the string variable.

10. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein:

the display data specifies a string that corresponds to a particular option, and

the graphical user interface data includes the string that corresponds to the particular option.

11. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein:

the printer description data specifies a PDL keyword value that corresponds to a particular option, and

generating print data includes using the PDL keyword value to generate particular print data for the particular option.

12. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the print driver generating, based at least upon the printing device capabilities data, printer description data that specifies display data for one or more features and options from the plurality of features and options includes:

for a particular feature from the plurality of features and options currently supported by the Web services-enabled printing device,

determining whether the particular feature is defined by core mapping data that defines a standard set of features and options supported by the Web services-enabled printing device,

if the particular feature is defined by the core mapping data, then

retrieving from the core mapping data both a PDL keyword value and a string variable that correspond to the particular feature, and

including the PDL keyword value and a string variable in the printer description data in association with the particular feature, and

if the particular feature is not defined by the core mapping data, then retrieving from the device capabilities data both a feature name and one or more display name strings that correspond to the particular feature,

generating a PDL keyword value based at least upon the feature name, and

including the generated PDL keyword value and the one or more display name strings in the printer description data in association with the particular feature.

13. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9, further comprising additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, causes:

the print driver subscribing to an update service executing on the Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver receiving, from the update service, an event notification indicating that updated printing device capabilities data is available at the Web services-enabled printing device;

in response to the event notification, the print driver retrieving, from the Web services-enabled printing device, updated printing device capabilities data that specifies current features and options currently supported by the Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the printing device capabilities data, updated printer description data that that specifies display data for one or more options from the plurality of features and options specified by the updated printing device capabilities data;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the display data contained in the updated printer description data, second graphical user interface data which, when processed by an application program, causes at least a portion of the features and options specified by the updated printing device capabilities data to be displayed on a graphical user interface;

the print driver receiving, from the application program, third print data generated by the application program;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the third print data, fourth print data and a print job ticket; and

the print driver causing the fourth print data and the print job ticket to be transmitted to the Web services-enabled printing device.

14. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, further comprising additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, causes the print driver to perform:

retrieving, from a second Web services-enabled printing device that is different than the Web services-enabled printing device, second printing device capabilities data that specifies a plurality of features and options currently supported by the second Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the second printing device capabilities data, second printer description data that specifies display data for one or more features and options from the plurality of features and options currently supported by the second Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the display data contained in the second printer description data, second graphical user interface data which, when processed by the application program, causes at least a portion of the features and options currently supported by the second Web services-enabled printing device to be displayed on the graphical user interface;

the print driver receiving, from the application program, second application data generated by the application program;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the second application data, second print data and a second print job ticket; and

the print driver causing the second print data and the second print job ticket to be transmitted to the second Web services-enabled printing device.

15. An apparatus for printing to a Web services-enabled printing device, the apparatus comprising a memory storing instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, causes:

a print driver executing on a client device and retrieving, from the Web services-enabled printing device, printing device capabilities data that specifies a plurality of features and options currently supported by the Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the printing device capabilities data, printer description data that specifies display data for one or more features and options from the plurality of features and options;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the display data contained in the printer description data, graphical user interface data which, when processed by an application program, causes at least a portion of the features and options to be displayed on a graphical user interface;

the print driver receiving, from the application program, application data generated by the application program;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the application data, print data and a print job ticket; and

the print driver causing the print data and the print job ticket to be transmitted to the Web services-enabled printing device.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein:

the display data specifies a string variable that corresponds to a particular option, and

generating the graphical user interface data includes retrieving a string that corresponds to the string variable.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein:

the printer description data specifies a PDL keyword value that corresponds to a particular option, and

generating print data includes using the PDL keyword value to generate particular print data for the particular option.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the print driver generating, based at least upon the printing device capabilities data, printer description data that specifies display data for one or more features and options from the plurality of features and options includes:

for a particular feature from the plurality of features and options currently supported by the Web services-enabled printing device,

determining whether the particular feature is defined by core mapping data that defines a standard set of features and options supported by the Web services-enabled printing device,

if the particular feature is defined by the core mapping data, then

retrieving from the core mapping data both a PDL keyword value and a string variable that correspond to the particular feature, and

including the PDL keyword value and a string variable in the printer description data in association with the particular feature, and

if the particular feature is not defined by the core mapping data, then

retrieving from the device capabilities data both a feature name and one or more display name strings that correspond to the particular feature,

generating a PDL keyword value based at least upon the feature name, and

including the generated PDL keyword value and the one or more display name strings in the printer description data in association with the particular feature.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the memory stores additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, causes:

the print driver subscribing to an update service executing on the Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver receiving, from the update service, an event notification indicating that updated printing device capabilities data is available at the Web services-enabled printing device;

in response to the event notification, the print driver retrieving, from the Web services-enabled printing device, updated printing device capabilities data that specifies current features and options currently supported by the Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the printing device capabilities data, updated printer description data that that specifies display data for one or more options from the plurality of features and options specified by the updated printing device capabilities data;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the display data contained in the updated printer description data, second graphical user interface data which, when processed by an application program, causes at least a portion of the features and options specified by the updated printing device capabilities data to be displayed on a graphical user interface;

the print driver receiving, from the application program, third print data generated by the application program;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the third print data, fourth print data and a print job ticket; and

the print driver causing the fourth print data and the print job ticket to be transmitted to the Web services-enabled printing device.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the memory stores additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, causes the print driver to perform:

retrieving, from a second Web services-enabled printing device that is different than the Web services-enabled printing device, second printing device capabilities data that specifies a plurality of features and options currently supported by the second Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the second printing device capabilities data, second printer description data that specifies display data for one or more features and options from the plurality of features and options currently supported by the second Web services-enabled printing device;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the display data contained in the second printer description data, second graphical user interface data which, when processed by the application program, causes at least a portion of the features and options currently supported by the second Web services-enabled printing device to be displayed on the graphical user interface;

the print driver receiving, from the application program, second application data generated by the application program;

the print driver generating, based at least upon the second application data, second print data and a second print job ticket; and

the print driver causing the second print data and the second print job ticket to be transmitted to the second Web services-enabled printing device.