Automatic network device selection and document delivery system

• US 7,086,001 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1998
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Océ-USA, Inc. (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Océ-USA, Inc. (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Asbury, Ray, Luttmann, Eric, Hay, David, Hartmann, Frank, Hicks, Dennis W., Stephenson, Matt, Gyllenskog, Chris, O'Toole, Lisa, Johnson, Steven C., Johnson, Gary, Newman, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): BASHORE, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US09/175,905
• Time in Patent Office: 2,842 Days
• Field of Search: 707/500, 707/10, 358/1.15, 358/468, 709/201, 709217-223, 709/321, 709/200, 715/500.1, 715/528, 715/523
• US Class Current: 715/209
• 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 3/122 with regard to computing resources, e.g. memory, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1245 by conversion to intermediate or common format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1248 by printer language recognition, e.g. PDL, PCL, PDF
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network

Abstract

A system of networked computers and peripherals and document delivery software which provides a user with a familiar simple user interface to deliver documents to a variety of different destinations. Each document generation device participating in the system is provided with a unified print driver which translates an electronic document into a non-specific or printer independent printer language file and appends to this file a job ticket containing any other rendering characteristics which may not be supported by the printer independent language. This entire file is then transmitted to the system server which analyzes the file, including the rendering characteristics; determines the best output device(s); appends output device specific commands to the general printer language file; and transmits this file to the device(s) for final output.

Claims

1. A system for delivering documents across a network providing an integrated solution to deliver a document to one or more different destinations or recipients, regardless of an end form which the document is presented, which system comprises:

a document generator at a client'"'"'s side and configured to translate an input data stream into a data stream having an output device independent format;

to embed additional data into the data stream indicative of at least two disparate desired output presentations, selected from hard copy print job, fax, archival and email; and

to output the device independent format data steam;

a computer configured to receive the device independent format data stream and programmed to analyze the data stream to determine a best output device by comparing any features required by the data stream with features of any output devices available to the computer; and

the computer further being programmed to translate the device independent data stream into a device specific data stream for the best output device and to transmit the device specific data stream to the best output device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the document generator is further configured to embed data into the data stream indicative of a job ticket containing information including rendering characteristics for a generated document and at least one task.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the computer is further programmed to determine a best output device based upon an affinity value for each output device and whether a particular output device is capable of producing what the data stream requires.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit at least a portion of the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the computer is programmed to assign, for every data stream, an affinity value to each output device;

compare each available output device based upon each of the output devices abilities and any rendering characteristics required by a particular data stream; and

to transmit the data stream to an output device which has a highest affinity value.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices to distribute production of multiple copies of a document out across the commonly capable output devices.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein embedded data includes multiple tasks and each of the tasks is destined for a different output device.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising an output device which is a separate system for delivering documents across a network.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer is at a server side.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer is further programmed to determine a best output device based upon an affinity value for each output device and whether a particular output device is capable of producing what the data stream requires.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the output device includes a a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit at least a portion of the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the computer is programmed to assign, for every data stream, an affinity value to each output device;

compare each available output device based upon each of the output devices abilities and any rendering characteristics required by a particular data stream; and

to transmit the data stream to an output device which has a highest affinity value.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices to distribute production of multiple copies of a document out across the commonly capable output devices.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein embedded data includes multiple tasks and each of the tasks is destined for a different output device.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising an output device which is a separate system for delivering documents across a network.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the computer is at a server side.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit at least a portion of the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the computer is programmed to assign, for every data stream, an affinity value to each output device;

compare each available output device based upon each of the output devices abilities and any rendering characteristics required by a particular data stream; and

to transmit the data stream to an output device which has a highest affinity value.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices to distribute production of multiple copies of a document out across the commonly capable output devices.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein embedded data includes multiple tasks and each of the tasks is destined for a different output device.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising an output device which is a separate system for delivering documents across a network.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the computer is at a server side.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer is programmed to assign, for every data stream, an affinity value to each output device;

compare each available output device based upon each of the output devices abilities and any rendering characteristics required by a particular data stream; and

to transmit the data stream to an output device which has a highest affinity value.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices to distribute production of multiple copies of a document out across the commonly capable output devices.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein embedded data includes multiple tasks and each of the tasks is destined for a different output device.

29. The system of claim 28 further comprising an output device which is a separate system for delivering documents across a network.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the computer is at a server side.

32. The system of claim 1 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices to distribute production of multiple copies of a document out across the commonly capable output devices.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein embedded data includes multiple tasks and each of the tasks is destined for a different output device.

34. The system of claim 33 further comprising an output device which is a separate system for delivering documents across a network.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the computer is at a server side.

37. The system of claim 1 wherein embedded data includes multiple tasks and each of the tasks is destined for a different output device.

38. The system of claim 37 further comprising an output device which is a separate system for delivering documents across a network.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the computer is at a server side.

41. The system of claim 1 further comprising an output device which is a separate system for delivering documents across a network.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the computer is at a server side.

44. The system of claim 1 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the computer is at a server side.

46. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is at a server side.

47. A system for delivering documents across a network providing an integrated solution to deliver a document to one or more different destinations or recipients, regardless of an end form which the document is presented, which system comprises:

a document generator at a client'"'"'s side and configured to selectively translate an input data stream into a data stream having an output device independent format based on selection signals, to selectively output a data stream in a device specific format or the device independent format based on the selection signals, and to embed additional data into the data stream indicative of at least two disparate desired output presentations, selected from hard copy print job, fax, archival and email;

a computer configured to receive the data stream from the document generator programmed to analyze the data stream to determine a best output device by comparing any features required by the data stream with features of any output devices available to the computer; and

the computer further being programmed to translate the data stream into a device specific data stream for the best output device and to transmit the device specific data stream to the best output device.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the document generator is further configured to embed data into the data stream indicative of a job ticket containing information including rendering characteristics for a generated document and at least one task.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein the computer is further programmed to determine a best output device based upon an affinity value for each output device and whether a particular output device is capable of producing what the data stream requires.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit at least a portion of the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein the computer is programmed to assign, for every data stream, an affinity value to each output device;

compare each available output device based upon each of the output devices abilities and any rendering characteristics required by a particular data stream; and

to transmit the data stream to an output device which has a highest affinity value.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices to distribute production of multiple copies of a document out across the commonly capable output devices.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein embedded data includes multiple tasks and each of the tasks is destined for a different output device.

54. The system of claim 53 further comprising an output device which is a separate system for delivering documents across a network.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the computer is at a server side.

57. The system of claim 47 wherein the computer is further programmed to determine a best output device based upon an affinity value for each output device and whether a particular output device is capable of producing what the data stream requires.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit at least a portion of the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices.

59. The system of claim 58 wherein the computer is programmed to assign, for every data stream, an affinity value to each output device;

compare each available output device based upon each of the output devices abilities and any rendering characteristics required by a particular data stream; and

to transmit the data stream to an output device which has a highest affinity value.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices to distribute production of multiple copies of a document out across the commonly capable output devices.

61. The system of claim 60 wherein embedded data includes multiple tasks and each of the tasks is destined for a different output device.

62. The system of claim 61 further comprising an output device which is a separate system for delivering documents across a network.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipients name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the computer is at a server side.

65. The system of claim 47 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit at least a portion of the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein the computer is programmed to assign, for every data stream, an affinity value to each output device;

compare each available output device based upon each of the output devices abilities and any rendering characteristics required by a particular data stream; and

to transmit the data stream to an output device which has a highest affinity value.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices to distribute production of multiple copies of a document out across the commonly capable output devices.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein embedded data includes multiple tasks and each of the tasks is destined for a different output device.

69. The system of claim 68 further comprising an output device which is a separate system for delivering documents across a network.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the computer is at a server side.

72. The system of claim 47 wherein the computer is programmed to assign, for every data stream, an affinity value to each output device;

compare each available output device based upon each of the output devices abilities and any rendering characteristics required by a particular data stream; and

to transmit the data stream to an output device which has a highest affinity value.

73. The system of claim 72 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices to distribute production of multiple copies of a document out across the commonly capable output devices.

74. The system of claim 73 wherein embedded data includes multiple tasks and each of the tasks is destined for a different output device.

75. The system of claim 74 further comprising an output device which is a separate system for delivering documents across a network.

76. The system of claim 75 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein the computer is at a server side.

78. The system of claim 47 wherein the output device includes a plurality of commonly capable output devices and the computer is programmed to transmit the data stream to each of the commonly capable output devices to distribute production of multiple copies of a document out across the commonly capable output devices.

79. The system of claim 78 wherein embedded data includes multiple tasks and each of the tasks is destined for a different output device.

80. The system of claim 79 further comprising an output device which is a separate system for delivering documents across a network.

81. The system of claim 80 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the computer is at a server side.

83. The system of claim 47 wherein embedded data includes multiple tasks and each of the tasks is destined for a different output device.

84. The system of claim 83 further comprising an output device which is a separate system for delivering documents across a network.

85. The system of claim 84 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

86. The system of claim 85, wherein the computer is at a server side.

87. The system of claim 47 further comprising an output device which is a separate system for delivering documents across a network.

88. The system of claim 87 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

89. The system of claim 88, wherein the computer is at a server side.

90. The system of claim 47 wherein the document generator is configured to embed the name of a recipient for a document as opposed to specific device information;

and wherein the computer is configured and programmed to deliver the document to a device based upon the recipient'"'"'s name and any rendering characteristics required by the data stream.

91. The system of claim 90, wherein the computer is at a server side.

92. The system of claim 47, wherein the computer is at a server side.