Portable wireless device and software for printing by reference

• US 7,299,490 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Berkema, Alan C., Morgan, Jeff, Stoltz, Pat, Fischer, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand; Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): POLTORAK, PIOTR
• Application Number:
  US09/897,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,335 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/227, 709/230, 709/235, 709245- 6, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1207 resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1259 Print job monitoring, e.g. job status
• 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 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing

Abstract

A portable wireless device wirelessly communicates a reference to a print device causing the print device to use the reference to obtain a desired set of print content and further causing the print device to print the desired print content. The portable wireless device may also wirelessly communicate the reference to a print service which may respond to the reference by obtaining the desired print content, formatting the desired print content for printing, and communicating the desired print content to the print device for printing.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising a computer readable code stored on a computer readable medium that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to:

transmit a discovery signal for locating one or more print devices, and wait for a response to the discovery signal from a print device before communicating the reference to the print device, wherein the response includes at least one of the location of the print device and a capability of the print device to print the print content,

wirelessly communicate a reference to the print device, the reference identifying a location at which a print content of a content provider is located on a network and a location of a print service located on the network,

wherein the print service is distinct from the content provider, and the location of the print service is distinct from a location of the print device,

wherein the print service is adapted to retrieve the print content of the content provider from the network and format the retrieved print content for printing by the print device.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer readable code further causes the computer to:

wirelessly communicate a security access code to the print device.

3. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the security access code enables usage of the print device.

4. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the security access code enables access to the print content.

5. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the computer readable code further causes the computer to wirelessly communicate the security access code in response to a security challenge received from the print device.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer readable code further causes the computer to;

before wirelessly communicating the reference to the print device, wirelessly communicate a discovery signal for locating one or more print devices; and

in response to the discovery signal, receive a responsive signal from one or more of the print devices including the print device, the responsive signal identifying the location of the print device.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the print device has one or more print capabilities, and wherein the responsive signal further identifies one or more of the print capabilities of the print device, the one or more of the print capabilities identifying a capability of the print device to print the print content.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the reference further comprises billing data.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer readable code further causes the computer to:

after wirelessly communicating the reference to the print device, communicate a request for status information to the print device; and

in response to the request, receive status information from the print device, the status information including at least one of status of retrieval of the print content and status of printing the print content.

10. A computer program product comprising a computer readable code stored on a computer readable medium that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to:

transmit a discovery signal for locating one or more print devices, and wait for a response to the discovery signal from a print device before communicating the reference to the print device, wherein the response includes at least one of the location of the print device and a capability of the print device to print the print content,

wirelessly communicate the reference to the print device, the reference identifying a location at which a print content of a content provider is located on a network, wherein the reference causes the print device to retrieve the print content of the content provider from the, network and to print the print content,

wherein the computer readable code further causes the computer to add information to the reference before wirelessly communicating the reference to the print device,

wherein the information added to the reference comprises a locator, the locator identifying a location of a print service located on the network,

wherein the print service is distinct from the content provider, and the location of the print service is distinct from a location of the print device, and wherein the print service is adapted to format the print content for printing by the print device.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the information added to the reference comprises a security access code.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the information added to the reference comprises billing information.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer readable code further causes the computer to:

after wirelessly communicating the reference to the print device, communicate a request for status information to the print device; and

,

in response to the request, receive status information from the print device, the status information including at least one of status of retrieval of the print content and status of printing the print content.

14. A portable wireless device comprising:

a communication interface adapted to enable wireless communication between the portable wireless device and a print device; and

,

a processor coupled to the communication interface, the processor being adapted to cause the communication interface to wirelessly communicate a reference to the print device, wherein the reference identifies a location of a print content of a content provider on a network and a location of a print service on the network,

wherein the print service is distinct from the content provider, and the location of the print service is distinct from a location, of the print device,

wherein the print device is adapted to supply the reference to the print service, and

wherein the print service is adapted to retrieve the print content of the content provider from the network and format the print content for printing by the print device,

wherein the processor is further adapted to cause the communication interface to;

transmit a discovery signal for locating one or more print devices, and

wait for a response to the discovery signal from the print device before communicating the reference to the print device, wherein the response includes at least one of the location of the print device and a capability of the print device to print the print content.

15. The portable wireless device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further adapted to cause the communication interface to communicate a security access code to the print device.

16. The portable wireless device of claim 15, wherein the security access code enables usage of the print device.

17. The portable wireless device of claim 15, wherein the security access code enables access to the print content.

18. The portable wireless device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further adapted to cause the communication interface to:

after wirelessly communicating the reference to the print device, communicate a request for status information to the print device; and

in response to the request, receive status information from the print device, the status information including at least one of status of retrieval of the print content and status of printing the print content.