Print server, mobile computing device, system and method for printing using a mobile computing device

• US 8,346,903 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Shepherd, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): THIAW, CATHERINE B
• Application Number:
  US11/289,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,590 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-225, 709201-203, 709217-219, 705/10, 705 711- 716, 705/7.22, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 709/223
• 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 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing

Abstract

A print server, a mobile computing device, a method of printing, and a system for printing using a mobile computing device. The print server includes a submission processor, an orchestration processor, and a positioning processor. The print server is configured to track the global position of a mobile computing device and determine a print location and/or print time based upon the global position of the mobile computing device. The method involves tracking the global position of the mobile computing device and determining the print location and/or print time based upon the global position of the mobile computing device.

Claims

1. A print server comprising:

a submission processor configured to receive a print request from a mobile computing device that contains a global positioning component,

a positioning processor configured to track a global position of a mobile computing device, and

an orchestration processor configured to determine a print location that is separate from the mobile computing device and a print time based upon an estimated arrival time of a user, as estimated using an operating system in the mobile computing device and transmitted by the mobile computing device to the print server, wherein the orchestration processor changes the print time and print location in response to tracked changes in the global position of the mobile computing device, and the submission processor receives a file to be printed from one of the mobile computing device and a file server.

2. The print server of claim 1, wherein the orchestration processor selects a printer based upon a first set of global position information for the mobile computing device.

3. The print server of claim 1, wherein the print server transmits the print time to the mobile computing device.

4. The print server of claim 1, wherein the print server is configured to receive a print job status report from a printer and transmit the print job status report to the mobile computing device.

5. The print server of claim 1, wherein the orchestration processor uses data mining to determine at least one of the print time and the print location.

6. The print server of claim 1, wherein the print server is part of a network including multiple print servers and the network includes networking protocols for communication among the multiple print servers.

7. A method of printing using a mobile computing device that contains a global positioning component, comprising:

selecting a file to be printed,

selecting print parameters,

transmitting data indicative of the selected file and the print parameters from a mobile computing device to a print server,

the print server tracking the global position of the mobile computing device,

estimating an arrival time using an operating system in the mobile computing device,

transmitting the estimated arrival time to the print server,

the print server determining a print location that is separate from the mobile computing device and a print time based upon at least one global position of the mobile computing device,

changing the print time and print location in response to tracked changes in the global position of the mobile computing device, and

printing the file to a location that is separate from the mobile computing device,

wherein the file to be printed is located on one of the mobile computing device and a file server connected to the print server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the print time is determined using data mining.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the print time is proximate the expected pick-up time of the printed file.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising rejecting at least one of the print location and print time using the mobile computing device and generating data indicative of at least one of an alternative print location and an alternative print time.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the print location and the print time are determined by the print server.

12. A printing system, comprising:

a mobile computing device containing a global positioning component,

a print server including a submission processor configured to receive a print request from the mobile computing device, a positioning processor configured to track a global position of the mobile computing device, and an orchestration processor configured to determine a print location that is separate from the mobile computing device and a print time based upon an estimated arrival time of a user, as estimated using an operating system in the mobile computing device and transmitted by the mobile computing device to the print server, wherein the orchestration processor changes the print time and print location in response to tracked changes in the global position of the mobile computing device, and the submission processor receives a file to be printed from one of the mobile computing device and the print server, and

a printer configured to receive printing instructions from the print server.

13. The printing system of claim 12, wherein the orchestration processor selects a printer based upon a first set of global position information for the mobile computing device.

14. The printing system of claim 12, wherein the print server transmits the print time to the mobile computing device.

15. The printing system of claim 12, wherein the print server is configured to receive a print job status report from a printer and transmit the print job status report to the mobile computing device.

16. The printing system of claim 12, wherein the orchestration processor uses data mining to determine at least one of the print time and the print location.

17. The printing system of claim 12, wherein the print server is part of a network including multiple print servers and the network includes networking protocols for communication among the multiple print servers.