Apparatus, method and system for printing from a wireless mobile device over the internet

• US 7,016,062 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ishizuka, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly
• Assistant Examiner(s): EBRAHIMI DEHKORDY, SAEID
• Application Number:
  US09/725,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 358/437, 358/1.15, 382/313, 382/321, 705/26, 705/14, 705/27, 709/221, 709/229, 455/68, 455/41.1, 348/552
• 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 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1287 via internet
• 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: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted

Abstract

A method for printing from a wireless mobile device over a computer network including transmitting to a wide area network (WAN) information a user wishes to print using a wireless mobile device. The transmitted information is received by the WAN and forwarded via the WAN to a printer selected by the user. The printer prints the forwarded information.

Claims

1. A method of printing information comprising:

transmitting information to be printed from a handheld computing device over a wireless connection to an Internet service provider;

receiving, through the Internet service provider and by a wide area network, the information to be printed which was transmitted over the wireless connection;

forwarding the same information transmitted from the handheld computing device to be printed over the wide area network to a printer;

if the printer is available printing the forwarded information using the printer;

if the printer is not available, saving the information in the handheld device, providing an indication of the printer not being available on the handheld computing device, allowing a user of the handheld computing device to delete the information to be printed, and if the user does not delete the information periodically attempting to resend the information to be printed to the printer.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating the information to be printed prior to transmission thereof.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the wide area network is the Internet and the generating comprises:

browsing the Internet for the information to be printed.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the browsing comprises:

shopping on the Internet.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the generating comprises:

generating the information to be printed using an e-mail program.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the forwarding includes:

controlling the printing using the Internet printing protocol (IPP).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless mobile device is configured to transmit the information and the transmitting includes transmitting the information to be printed in response to a single user command.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises selecting the printer connected to the wide area network in which to print to.

9. A system for printing information, comprising:

a wireless handheld mobile device configured to transmit, over a wireless connection, information to be printed to an Internet service provider;

a wide area network configured to receive the information from the Internet service provider and to forward the same information transmitted from the handheld computing device to a printer configured to print the forwarded information; and

a controller configured to;

if the printer is available, print the forwarded information using the printer;

if the printer is not available, save the information in the handheld device, provide an indication of the printer not being available on the handheld computing device, allow a user of the handheld computing device to delete the information to be printed, and if the user does not delete the information periodically attempt to resend the information to be printed to the printer.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the wireless mobile device is configured to generate the information to be printed prior to transmission thereof.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the wide area network is the Internet and the wireless mobile device is configured to browse the Internet for the information to be printed.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the wireless mobile device is configured to enable a user to shop on the Internet.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the wireless mobile device is configured to generate the information to be printed using an e-mail program.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the wide area network is configured to control the printing using the Internet printing protocol (IPP).

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein the wireless mobile device is configured to transmit the information to be printed in response to a single user command.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein the wireless mobile device is configured such that a user can select the printer connected to the wide area network in which to print to.