System and method for locating an output device

• US 6,665,712 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Pickup, Ray L
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull, Fred H
• Application Number:
  US10/060,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.08, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/357.13, 342/357.17, 342/464, 342/463, 455/3.06, 358/1.1, 358/1.15, 358/305, 358/FOR.155, 358/FOR.142, 709/1-400, 709/FOR-100
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/047 Displays or indicators G01S1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/08 Systems for determining direction or position line
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0045 Transmission from base station to mobile station G01S5/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning

Abstract

A system to locate an output device includes a wireless device including a configuration to display output device information used to locate the output device selected for a printing operation, where the wireless device includes a configuration to receive and store the output device information. The system also includes a storage device configured to store the output device information and to send the output device information to the wireless device. A method for locating an output device includes receiving output device information used to locate the output device selected for a printing operation from a storage device, using a wireless device. In addition, the method includes displaying the output device information for the output device selected for the printing operation on the wireless device.

Claims

1. A system to locate an output device, comprising:

a wireless device including a configuration to determine and display wireless device location information related to an area using a signal, to display area information, and to operate a proximity indicator to signal a user at a rate dependent upon a distance from the output device to the output device, where the wireless device includes a configuration to receive and store the area information; and

a storage device configured to store the area information and to send the area information to the wireless device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the area information includes map information defining a map of the area and output device location information defining a location of the output device in the area.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein:

the storage device includes the output device configured to deliver the map information to the wireless device through a wireless link.

4. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein:

the storage device includes a server configured to deliver the map information to the wireless device through a wireless link.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the wireless device includes a configuration to display the wireless device location information as a location of the wireless device on the map; and

the wireless device includes a configuration to display the output device location information as the location of the output device on the map.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein:

the direction information relates to the location of the wireless device relative to the location of the output device.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein:

the wireless device includes a portable computing device.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the signal includes a GPS signal; and

the wireless device includes a configuration to determine the wireless device location information using the GPS signal.

9. A system to locate an output device, comprising:

a wireless device including a configuration to determine and display wireless device location information related to an area using a signal, to display area information, and to operate a proximity indicator to signal a user at a rate dependent upon a distance from the output device, where the wireless device includes a configuration to receive and store the area information;

a storage device configured to store the area information and to send the area information to the wireless device;

a first emitter to emit a first component of the signal;

a second emitter to emit a second component of the signal; and

a third emitter to emit a third component of the signal, where the wireless device includes a configuration to determine the wireless device location information using the first component, the second component, and the third component.

10. A method for locating an output device in an area, comprising:

receiving area information, including a position of the output device, for the area using a wireless device;

receiving a position signal with the wireless device;

determining wireless device position information related to the area using the position signal;

determining direction information to the output device;

displaying the area information on the wireless device;

displaying the wireless device position information on the wireless device; and

operating a proximity indicator to signal a user at a rate dependent upon a distance from the output device on the wireless device.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein:

receiving the position signal includes receiving a plurality of GPS signals.

12. A system, comprising:

a wireless device including means for receiving a signal, means for storing area information, means for processing to determine wireless device location information using the signal and to determine direction information to a location of an output device, means for displaying the wireless device location information, and the area information, and means for operating a proximity indicator to signal a user at a rate dependent upon a distance from the output device; and

means for sending the area information to the means for storing the area information.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the area information includes map information defining a map of an area and output device location information defining the location of the output device in the area; and

the wireless device location information defines a location of the wireless device in the area.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein:

means for displaying the wireless device location information, the area information, and the direction information includes a configuration to display the map of the area and the location of the output device on the map.