Method and apparatus for controlling an input or output device over the internet

• US 7,069,341 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2002
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Thummar, Babulal J., Leclair, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINDER, PATRICE L
• Application Number:
  US10/117,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20020109861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 709/208, 715/523, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 709/246
• 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 3/1207 resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
• 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 3/1259 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 3/1265 Printing by reference, e.g. retrieving document/image data for a job from a source mentioned in the job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/133 Protocols for remote procedure calls [RPC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 : Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 : Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 : Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 : Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 : Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3219 : of a job status, e.g. successful execution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission

Abstract

In a network having an initiator, a server, and an input/output (I/O) device remote from the initiator, the initiator transmits to the server a request containing the network location of data to be retrieved from an input device, such as a video camera, fax, or scanner, or output by an output device, such as a printer. Output requests are placed in a queue and scheduled for completion. When an output device is ready, the server retrieves the data from a network storage location different from the queue and transmits the data to the printer or output device for action. When an input device is ready, the server retrieves the data from the input device and transmits it to a network location based on the request. The server can also provide the initiator with status information about the request and the input or output device.

Claims

1. A network printing system comprising:

a printing device having access to a network, and effective for receiving print requests over said network;

a client device having access to said network, and effective for submitting a first print request for a print job to said printing device over said network;

wherein said printing device accepts said first print request and stores it in a queue;

wherein said printing device initiates the downloading of said print job for printing and

wherein said first print request specifies a printing format for said print job, and if said print job is not currently in said specified printing format, then said printing device converts said print job into said specified printing format prior to printing.

2. The network printing system of claim 1, wherein said printing device waits until it is ready to execute said first print request before downloading said print job for printing.

3. The network printing system of claim 1, wherein:

said network is the Internet; and

said client device is remote from said printing device.

4. The network printing system of claim 3, wherein said printing device downloads said print job using HTTP communication protocols.

5. The network printing system of claim 1 further comprising:

a memory store remote from said client device and said printing device, said memory store being accessible over said network;

wherein

said client device stores said print job in said memory store, and includes storage location information of said print job within said first print request; and

said printing device uses said storage location information to download said print job from said memory store over said network.

6. The network printing system of claim 1, wherein if said printing device does not have a conversion capability suitable for converting said print job into said specified printing format, then said printing device locates and downloads over said network the required conversion means for converting said print job into said specified printing format.

7. The network printing system of claim 1, wherein said printing device has direct access to said network.

8. The network printing system of claim 1, wherein said printing device has indirect access to said network through a network-access computing device.

9. An internet printing system comprising:

a printing device having communication access to the internet, and effective for receiving print requests over the internet;

a first computing device remote from said printing device and having access to the internet, said first computing device being effective for submitting a first print request for a print job to said printing device over the internet;

wherein said printing device accepts said first print request and stores it in a queue;

wherein said printing device uses HTTP communication protocols to initiate the downloading of said print job for printing, and

wherein said first print request specifies a printing format for said print job, and if said print job is not currently in said specified printing format, then said printing device converts said print job into said specified printing format prior to printing.

10. The internet printing system of claim 9, wherein said printing device waits until it is ready to execute said first print request before downloading said print job for printing.

11. The internet printing system of claim 9, wherein said printing device uses an HTTP GET object request to download said print job.

12. The internet printing system of claim 9, wherein first computing device uses an HTTP POST command to submit said print request to said printing device.

13. The internet printing system of claim 9, wherein said printing device downloads said print job from said first computing device.

14. The internet printing system of claim 9 further comprising:

a memory store remote from said first computing device and from said printing device, said memory store being accessible over the internet;

wherein

said first computing device stores said print job in said memory store, and includes storage location information of said print job within said first print request; and

said printing device uses said storage location information to locate and download said print job from said memory store over the internet.

15. The internet printing system of claim 9, wherein if said printing device does not have a conversion capability suitable for converting said print job into said specified printing format, then said printing device locates and downloads over the internet the required conversion means for converting said print job into said specified printing format.

16. The internet printing system of claim 9, wherein said printing device has direct access to the internet.

17. The network printing system of claim 9, wherein said printing device has indirect access to the internet through a second computing device.

18. An internet printing system comprising:

a printing device having communication access to the internet;

a network server having communication access to the internet, and effective for receiving print requests over the internet;

a client computing device having communication access to the internet, said first computing device being effective for submitting a first print request for a print job to said network server over the internet;

wherein said network server accepts said first print request and stores it in a queue;

wherein said network server uses HTTP communication protocols to initiate the downloading of said print job for printing and to convey the print job over the internet to said printing device; and

wherein said first print request specifies a printing format for said print job, and if said print job is not currently in said specified printing format, then said network server converts said print job into said specified printing format prior conveying it to said printing device.

19. The internet printing system of claim 18, wherein said client computing device is remote from said network server and said printing device, and wherein said network server is remote from said printing device.

20. The internet printing system of claim 18, wherein said network server waits until said printing device is ready to execute said first print request before downloading said print job for printing.

21. The internet printing system of claim 18, wherein said networks server uses an HTTP GET object request to download said print job.

22. The internet printing system of claim 18, wherein client computing device uses an HTTP POST command submit said print request to said network server.

23. The internet printing system of claim 18, wherein said network server downloads said print job from said client computing device.

24. The internet printing system of claim 18 further comprising:

a memory store accessible over the internet and remote from said client computing device, network server, and printing device;

wherein

said first computing device stores said print job in said memory store, and includes storage location information of said print job within said first print request; and

said network server uses said storage location information to locate and download said print job from said memory store over the internet.

25. The internet printing system of claim 18, wherein if said network server does not have a conversion capability suitable for converting said print job into said specified printing format, then said network server locates and downloads over the internet the required conversion means for converting said print job into said specified printing format.

26. A network data transfer system comprising:

a communication network;

a data input device for generating input data, and for issuing a notification message in response to newly generated input data, wherein said first notification message includes the address of at least one destination computing device;

a first computing device in communication with said data input device and having access to said communication network; and

a second computing device having access to said communication network, wherein said second computing device responds to being identified as said at least one destination computing device by initiating the downloading of said newly generated input data over said communication network;

wherein said second computing device specifies a desired format for said newly generated input data prior to downloading said newly generated input data, and if said newly generated input data is not currently in said specified desired format, then said first computing device converts said newly generated input data into said desired specified format prior conveying it to said second computing device.

27. The network data transfer system of claim 26, wherein said first computing device sends a second notification notice to said second computing device in response to said first notification notice identifying said second computing device as said at least one destination device.

28. The network data transfer system of claim 26, wherein said first notification notice identities a plurality of destination devices and said first computing devices sends said second notification notice to each of said plurality of destination devices.

29. The network data transfer system of claim 28 wherein said data input device is effective for receiving a target list of device addresses, and said plurality of destination devices are determined by said target list.

30. The network data transfer system of claim 26, wherein said communication network is the internet, and said second computing device uses HTTP communication protocols to initiate the downloading of said newly generated input data.

31. The network data transfer system of claim 26, wherein said second computing device is remote from said first computing device.

32. The network data transfer system of claim 26, wherein said second computing device downloads said newly generated input data directly from said first computing device over said communication network.

33. The network data transfer system of claim 26, further comprising:

a memory store accessible over said communication network and remote from said first and second computing devices;

wherein

said first computing device stores said newly generated input data in said memory store, and conveys storage location information for locating the stored input data to each of said destination device; and

said second computing device uses said storage location information to locate and download the stored input data from said memory store over said communication network.

34. The network data transfer system of claim 26, wherein if said first computing device does not have a conversion capability suitable for converting said newly generated input data into said specified desired format, then said second computing device locates and downloads over the internet the required conversion means for converting said newly generated input data into said specified printing format.

35. The network data transfer system of claim 26, wherein said data input device is one of a scanner, digital camera, and facsimile machine.