System, method and recordable medium for printing services over a network and graphical user interface

• US 8,281,237 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mimeo.com
• Original Assignee: Mimeo.com
• Inventors: Stewart, Jeff, Pinco, Jennifer R.
• Primary Examiner(s): QUELER, ADAM M
• Application Number:
  US09/709,433
• Time in Patent Office: 4,341 Days
• Field of Search: 715/530, 715/526, 715/527, 715/523, 715/524, 715/200, 715/273, 715/274, 715/275, 709/200, 709/202, 709/203, 709/206, 709/237
• US Class Current: 715/273
• 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 3/1219 with regard to consumables, e.g. ink, toner, paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1256 User feedback, e.g. print preview, test print, proofing, pre-flight checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1272 Digital storefront, e.g. e-ordering, web2print, submitting a job from a remote submission screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1287 via internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5683 Storage of data provided by user terminals, i.e. reverse caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

This invention relates to a system and method to configure, view, and order a document online. The document is uploaded from a client and transferred over a network to a server. The server includes software that allows a user to configure and preview the document online. The user may change configuration parameters as desired. Once the configuration process is complete, the user may order the document, specifying multiple recipients as desired. The user is then billed for the order and the document is delivered to the indicated recipient(s).

Claims

1. A method of printing a document over a network, the method comprising:

obtaining document information for a document on a server from system software executing on a client, wherein the system software is configured to enable a user of the client to use an application to request generation of a print file based on the document using the application, generate the print file on the client in response to the request without further user interaction, and initiate transmitting the print file from the client to the server in response to the generation of the print file and without user-initiated interaction with the server;

generating a unique identifier for the document on the server and transmitting the unique identifier for use by the system software in response to obtaining the document information;

obtaining the print file on the server from the system software executing on the client subsequent to obtaining the document information;

storing the print file using the unique identifier;

obtaining a request for a configuration graphical user interface from the client subsequent to obtaining the print file; and

providing the configuration graphical user interface for display in a browser on the client in response to the request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining configuration information for the document on the server from the configuration graphical user interface, wherein the configuration information includes at least one printing option for the document and defines how to assemble a printed copy of the document;

printing a copy of the document based on the print file and the configuration information; and

assembling the copy of the document as defined by the configuration information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the obtaining configuration information includes:

generating a preview of a configured copy of the document on the server based on the print file and the configuration information, wherein the configuration graphical user interface includes a preview area for displaying the preview and a printing option area for obtaining a printing option;

providing the preview for display at the client;

obtaining the printing option for printing the document from the configuration graphical user interface at the server;

modifying the preview on the server based on the print file and the printing option; and

providing the modified preview for display at the client.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

installing the system software on the client, wherein the system software includes at least one print driver for generating the print file on the client and an upload manager for communicating the print file from the client to the server;

generating the print file on the client using one of the at least one print driver on the client; and

transmitting the print file from the client over the network to the server using the upload manager.

5. A method of generating a graphical user interface comprising:

generating content for a display area of the graphical user interface, wherein the display area concurrently includes;

a preview area for displaying a preview of a configured copy of a document, wherein the preview is based on a print file and configuration information for the document, wherein the configuration information includes at least one printing option and defines how to assemble a printed copy of the document;

a navigation area that enables a user to select a portion of the configured copy of the document displayed in the preview area;

an estimate area for displaying a price estimate for printing and assembling the configured copy, wherein the price estimate is based on the print file and the configuration information; and

a configuration area that enables the user to alter the configuration information, wherein the preview area and the estimate area are automatically updated based on the altered configuration information.