PRINTERS THAT SUPPORT WIRELESS PRINTING OR PRINTING OVER AIR

• US 20170039009A1
• Filed: 10/24/2016
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, William Ho, Liu, Christina Ying
• Granted Patent: US 10,140,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/122 with regard to computing resources, e.g. memory, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1228 Printing driverless or using generic drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1245 by conversion to intermediate or common format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1258 by updating job settings at the printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/128 Direct printing, e.g. sending document file, using memory stick, printing from a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 : in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 : Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 : Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 : Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 : using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/181 : Receiving print data characterized by its formatting, e.g. particular page description languages
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1836 : Rasterization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 : specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 : Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 : Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 : Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 : with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 : with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00403 : Voice input means, e.g. voice commands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 : the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00488 : providing an audible output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00854 : Recognising an unauthorised user or user-associated action
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00938 : Software related arrangements, e.g. loading applications program loading in general G06F9/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32534 : details of interfacing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32582 : Output interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 : involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/442 : using a biometric data reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 : Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 : Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 : Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 : By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Printers that support wireless printing or printing over air are herein disclosed and enabled. The printer includes a wireless communication unit that supports part of IEEE 802.11 wireless standards and a device discovery component to facilitate a client to discover the printer; wherein subsequent to being discovered by the client, the printer may wirelessly transmit at least part of an output device profile to the client that has discovered the printer, the output device profile includes information related to the printer. After the printer is selected or identified for service, the printer may receive from the client print data that is conformed based, at least partly, to the transmitted output device profile. A device specific driver may or may not be necessary for printing. The device discovery may be based on a close proximity wireless device communication, a direct wireless communication, or a local area network communication.

Claims

1. A printing device supporting wireless printing of digital content, comprising:

a memory or storage component for storing at least part of an output device profile, the output device profile includes at least one attribute or information related to the printing device;

one or more wireless communication units for wireless communication; and

a wireless device discovery component configured to facilitate one or more wireless information apparatus to wireless device discover the printing device for providing an output service;

wherein, subsequent to the printing device having been wireless device discovered by the one or more wireless information apparatus, the printing device is further configured to;

receive, via the one or more wireless communication units of the printing device, at least an indication of a communication from the one or more information apparatus;

transmit, via the one or more wireless communication units of the printing device, at least part of the output device profile stored within the printing device to the one or more wireless information apparatus that have wireless device discovered the printing device after having received the indication of a communication from the one or more information apparatus;

receive, from the one or more wireless information apparatus, print data via at least one wireless communication unit from among the one or more wireless communication units included in the printing device, the at least one wireless communication unit being compatible, at least partly, with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards, and wherein, the print data is related to at least part of the digital content for printing at the printing device, and the print data is further related, at least partly, to the at least part of the output device profile transmitted from the printing device to the one or more wireless information apparatus.

2. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device discovery component is further configured to facilitate sending, via the one or more wireless communication units, identification information to the one or more wireless information apparatus, the identification information includes one or more of a brand name, a model, an identifier, a registration, or IP address information, individually or in any combination, associated with the printing device.

3. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the output device profile includes capability information related to the printing device, the capability information includes at least an attribute related to at least one of a duplex printing, a color space, a bit depth, or a resolution, individually or in any combination, and the print data is related, at least in part, to the capability information included in the output device profile.

4. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the output device profile includes information related to one or more languages or formats supported by the printing device, and wherein the print data received at the printing device is in accordance, at least partly, to the one or more languages or formats supported by the printing device and specified in the output device profile.

5. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device discovery is based, at least in part, on close proximity of the printing device to the one or more wireless information apparatus.

6. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the indication of a communication received from the one or more information apparatus includes at least one of a query, a service request, a selection, or an identification, individually or in any combination.

7. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the printing device is operable to provide printing service without requiring the one or more wireless information apparatus to install a device specific driver or device specific software associated with the printing device.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having recorded therein software for managing, at least in part, output of digital content at a printing device, the printing device includes:

at least one processor, and

at least a memory or storage component for storing at least an output device profile that includes information related to the printing device, and

one or more wireless communication units for wireless communication;

wherein execution of at least part of the software by the at least one processor included in the printing device causes the printing device to perform a wireless printing method, comprising;

opening a wireless communication channel, via the one or more wireless communication units included in the printing device, for wireless device discovery of the printing device by a computing device that is distinct from the printing device;

sending, via the one or more wireless communication units and from the printing device to the computing device that has wireless device discovered the printing device, at least identification information related to the printing device, the identification information for selection or for identification of the printing device;

transmitting, via the one or more wireless communication units and to the computing device that has discovered the printing device, at least part of the output device profile that includes information related to the printing device;

receiving, from the computing device and via a wireless communication unit from among the one or more wireless communication units included in the printing device, print data from the computing device for printing at the printing device, the print data is related to the at least part of the output device profile transmitted from the printing device to the computing device, and

wherein the print data being further related, at least in part, to the digital content for printing at the printing device, and the wireless communication unit being compatible, at least partly, with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the identification information includes one or more of a name, a printer brand, a printer model, an identifier, a printer registration, or an IP address, individually or in any combination, associated with the printing device for selection or for identification of the printing device.

10. The medium of claim 8, wherein the output device profile includes information related to one or more of file formats, data formats, languages, or page description languages, individually or in any combination, supported by the printing device, and the print data received at the printing device correspond, at least partly, to the one or more file formats, data formats, languages, or page description languages, supported by the printing device and specified in the output device profile.

11. The medium of claim 8, wherein the output device profile includes at least an attribute related to the printing device, and the attribute includes at least one of a duplex printing attribute, a color space attribute, a bit depth attribute, or a resolution attribute, individually or in any combination.

12. The medium of claim 8, wherein the wireless device discovery component is configured to facilitate wireless device discovery based, at least in part, on close proximity of the printing device to the computing device.

13. The medium of claim 8, further comprising:

establishing a wireless communication link between the printing device and the computing device, subsequent to the wireless printer being wireless device discovered by the computing device, and the wireless communication link being at least one of the following, individually or in any combination;

(1) a direct wireless communication compatible with at least part of IEEE 802.11 wireless standards;

or

(2) a wireless local area network communication that is compatible, at least in part, with part of IEEE 802.11 wireless standards.

14. The medium of claim 8 wherein, the printing device is operable to provide printing service without requiring the computing device to install a device specific software or device specific driver.

15. An output controller within a printer to facilitate a client of the printer to print digital content to the printer, the output controller includes:

one or more memory or storage units storing instructions, and

one or more processing units to execute at least part of the instructions, wherein, upon execution of at least part of the instructions, the output controller further comprises;

a device discovery component within the output controller configured to facilitate the client to device discover the printer for service;

a communication component within the output controller configured to communicate with the client that has device discovered the printer, the communication of the communication component includes sending at least part of an output device profile that is stored within the printer from the printer to the client, the output device profile includes at least capability information associated with the printer that includes at least information related to a page description language;

a transport component within the output controller configured to receive print data from the client, the print data is related to at least part of the digital content for printing at the printer, and the print data is further related, at least partly, to the capability information included in output device profile sent from the printer to the client that includes at least information related to a page description language; and

a page description language component within the output controller for interpreting, decoding, or processing at least part of the received print data related to at least part of the digital content for printing at the printer,

wherein the output controller within the printer facilitates the client to print digital content from the client to the printer without the need for the client to install printer specific driver or printer specific software.

16. The output controller of claim 15, wherein the printer includes one or more wireless communication units, and the device discovery component further facilitates the client to wireless device discover the printer for service via the one or more wireless communication units, and wherein at least one wireless communication unit from among the one or more wireless communication units is compatible, at least partly, with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards.

17. The output controller of claim 16, wherein at least one of the following is included in the output controller:

(1) the one or more wireless communication units that are included in the printer is included in the output controller;

or

(2) at least part of the output device profile that is stored in the printer is included in the output controller.

18. The output controller of claim 15, wherein the client is a wireless information apparatus, the wireless information apparatus being one or more of a smart phone, an Internet-Phone, a touch sensitive screen phone, an Information-Pad, a digital camera, an Internet appliance, or an Internet-Pad, individually or in any combination, and the wireless information apparatus includes a client application installed and configured to output at least part of the digital content from the client application to the printer.

19. The output controller of claim 15, wherein the output device profile further includes identification information that includes one or more of a name, a printer brand, a printer model, a pointer, an identifier, a description, a printer registration, or an IP address related to the printer, individually or in any combination.

20. The output controller of claim 15, wherein the capability information further specifies one or more information or attributes related to the printer that includes one or more of a duplex printing, a color printing, a bit depth, a color space, or a resolution, individually or in any combination.