Networked printer server

• US 6,452,692 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Yacoub, Yousef R.
• Primary Examiner(s): GARCIA, GABRIEL I
• Application Number:
  US09/636,082
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.16, 358/1.1, 358/468, 358/407
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 3/121 Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1259 Print job monitoring, e.g. job status
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1261 by using alternate printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration

Abstract

A print server for print jobs printed on networked printers. First, the print server receives preferences regarding a print job the user wishes to send such as speed and image quality. Next, the server determines, using a database or other query, the most appropriate printer complying with the print job preferences that is located physically near the user and spools the print job to that printer. If the printer returns an error signal, the server will determine a different printer which closely complies with the print job preferences and re-send the print job. If a busy signal is returned, the user will be given the choice of waiting or having the server automatically determine the next available appropriate printer. When the print job is complete, the user will be notified of the physical location of the printer where the print job was processed.

Claims

1. In a network having a client that generates a print jobs, a printing system comprising:

a server coupled to said network and said client, said server configured to maintain a database of printer capabilities, said server configured to receive preferences of said print job;

a first printer coupled to said server, said server determining that said first printer complies with said preferences by accessing said database, said server automatically forwarding a print job to said first printer; and

a second printer coupled to said server, wherein when said server receives a signal from said first printer indicating that said print job cannot be completed, said server terminating said print job on said first printer, said server determining that said second printer complies with a portion of said preferences, said server automatically forwarding said print job to said second printer.

2. A printing system according to claim 1, wherein said signal includes error signals.

3. A printing system according to claim 1, wherein said database is further configured to include status of printing conditions after said print job has been forwarded.

4. A printing system according to claim 1, further comprising said server determining that said second printer complies with a portion of said preferences and forwarding said print job to said second printer.

5. A printing system according to claim 1, further comprising said server determining that said second printer complies with a portion of said preferences and forwarding said print job to said second printer.

6. A printing system according to claim 1 further comprising a database coupled to said server cataloging the location of printers and said client on said network.

7. A printing system according to claim 1 wherein said server is configured to receive said print job and is coupled to said network to forward said print job for processing upon determining that a printer complies with said preferences and has an available status.

8. A printing system according to claim 1 wherein said preferences include print image quality and speed of said print job.

9. A printing system according to claim 7 wherein said preferences include the distance from and location of said first printer in relation to said client.

10. A printing system according to claim 1 wherein said preferences include color images and black-and-white images of said print job.

11. A printing system according to claim 1 wherein said signal includes a printer busy signal.

12. A printing system according to claim 11 further comprising a dialog coupled to said client to enable a user to select continuing processing of said print job on the first printer upon said printer busy signal being cleared rather than processing of said print job on the second printer.

13. A printing system according to claim 1 wherein said signal includes an out-of-paper signal.

14. A printing system according to claim 1 wherein said printing system further comprises a virtual printer coupled to said client, said virtual printer configured to route said print job and said preferences to said server.

15. On a network, a print server having a system bus, main memory and CPU, said server connecting printers and clients on said network, said server comprising:

a communications interface coupled to said bus, said interface coupled to receive a plurality of print jobs and their preferences and to receive printer signals over said network, said interface configured to transfer said print jobs, said preferences and said signals to said server;

a disk coupled to said bus configured to store databases related to said printers; and

a printer server software executed by said CPU and coupled to said main memory, said printer server software automatically selecting a first printer by matching said preferences against said databases, said databases further including the status of actual printing conditions after a print job has been forwarded to a second printer,

wherein when said server receives a printer signal from said first printer indicating that said print job cannot be completed, said server terminating said print job on said first printer, said server determining that a second printer complies with said preferences, said server automatically forwarding said print job to said second printer.

16. A server according to claim 15 further comprising a database stored and updated on said server, said database configured to catalog the capabilities of printers connected to said network.

17. A server according to claim 15 further comprising a database stored and updated on said server, said database configured to catalog the status of printers connected to said network.

18. A server according to claim 15 further comprising a database stored and updated on said server, said database configured to maintain a location mapping of printers connected to said network.

19. A server according to claim 15 wherein said preferences include print image quality and speed of said print job.

20. A server according to claim 15 wherein said preferences include the distance and location of one of the first printer and the second printer in relation to said client generating said print job.

21. A server according to claim 15 wherein said signal includes a printer busy signal.

22. A server according to claim 15 wherein said signal includes an out-of-paper signal.

23. A server according to claim 21 wherein a dialog is coupled to each said client to enable a user to select continuing processing of said print job on said first printer upon said printer busy signal being cleared rather than processing of said print job on a printer other than said first printer.

24. In a network connecting a plurality of clients, said clients generating print jobs, a printing system comprising:

a server coupled to said network and to said clients, said server maintaining a database of printer capabilities and the status of printing conditions for print jobs forwarded to printers on said network;

a virtual printer coupled to each client, said virtual printer receiving preferences of a print job generated by the client to which the virtual printer is coupled, said virtual printer coupled to said server; and

a first printer coupled to said network and to said server, said virtual printer determining that said first printer complies with said preferences using information from said database, said virtual printer automatically forwarding said print job to said first printer,

wherein when said virtual printer receives a signal from said first printer indicating that said print job cannot be completed, said virtual printer terminating said print job on said first printer, said virtual printer determining that a second printer complies with said preferences, said virtual printer automatically forwarding said print job to said second printer.

25. A printing system according to claim 24, further comprising said virtual printer determining that said second printer complies with a portion of said preferences and forwarding said print job to said printer.