Printers, printer controllers, printer software, or printer firmware for supporting wireless printing or printing over air

• US 10,140,071 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, William Ho, Liu, Christina Ying
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Marcus T
• Application Number:
  US15/332,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20170039009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• 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 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/122 with regard to computing resources, e.g. memory, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1228 Printing driverless or using generic drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1245 by conversion to intermediate or common format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1258 by updating job settings at the printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/128 Direct printing, e.g. sending document file, using memory stick, printing from a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 : in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 : Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 : Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 : Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 : using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/181 : Receiving print data characterized by its formatting, e.g. particular page description languages
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1836 : Rasterization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 : specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 : Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 : Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 : Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 : with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 : with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00403 : Voice input means, e.g. voice commands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 : the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00488 : providing an audible output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00854 : Recognising an unauthorised user or user-associated action
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00938 : Software related arrangements, e.g. loading applications program loading in general G06F9/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32534 : details of interfacing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32582 : Output interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 : involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/442 : using a biometric data reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 : Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 : Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 : Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 : By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 : Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Printers or printer controllers supporting wireless printing, or printing over air, are herein disclosed and enabled. The printer or printer controller may include wireless communication circuitry to facilitate a client to discover the printer. Subsequent to being discovered by the client, the printer may wirelessly transmit at least part of an output device profile to the client that has discovered the printer or the printer controller, the output device profile includes information related to the printer. After the printer is selected or identified for service, the printer may receive, from the client, print data that is based, at least partly, on the output device profile. A device specific driver may or may not be necessary for printing. The device discovery may be a short range wireless communication or local area network communication. The wireless communication circuitry may support at least part of IEEE 802.11 standards or Bluetooth specifications.

Claims

1. A printing device supporting wireless printing of digital content, comprising:

a memory or storage hardware component to store at least part of an output device profile, the output device profile includes at least one attribute related to the printing device; and

one or more wireless communication units for wireless communication, the one or more wireless communication units include one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets, at least one wireless communication chip or chipset of the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets being compatible, at least partly, with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards; and

wherein the printing device uses the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets to;

wirelessly broadcast availability of the printing device for the one or more wireless information apparatuses to wirelessly discover the printing device for service;

wirelessly transmit at least part of the output device profile, stored within the printing device, to the one or more wireless information apparatuses that have wirelessly discovered the printing device; and

wirelessly receive, from the one or more wireless information apparatuses and via the at least one wireless communication chip or chipset that is compatible, at least partly, with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards, print data that is related to at least part of the digital content for printing at the printing device, and wherein the print data is further related, at least partly, to the at least one attribute included in the output device profile that is wirelessly transmitted from the printing device to the one or more wireless information apparatuses.

2. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the printing device, using the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets, further wirelessly sends identification information to the one or more wireless information apparatuses, the identification information includes one or more of a brand name, a model, an identifier, a registration, or IP address information, individually or in any combination, associated with the printing device.

3. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the output device profile includes capability information related to the printing device, the capability information includes at least an attribute related to at least one of a duplex printing, a color space, a bit depth, or a resolution, individually or in any combination, and the wirelessly received print data from the one or more wireless information apparatuses is in accordance, at least in part, to the capability information included in the output device profile.

4. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the output device profile includes information related to one or more languages or formats supported by the printing device, and wherein the print data received at the printing device is in accordance, at least partly, to the one or more languages or formats supported by the printing device and specified in the output device profile.

5. The printing device of claim 1, wherein wirelessly discovering the printing device, by the one or more wireless information apparatuses, is based, at least in part, on short range wireless communication between the printing device and the one or more wireless information apparatuses.

6. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiving of the print data at the printing device from the one or more wireless information apparatuses is via a wireless local area network connection between the printing device and the one or more wireless information apparatuses.

7. The printing device of claim 6, wherein the printing device is operable to provide a printing service without requiring the one or more wireless information apparatuses to install a device specific driver or device specific software associated with the printing device.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having recorded therein software or firmware for managing, at least in part, output of digital content at a printing device, the printing device includes:

at least one processor,

at least a memory or storage device component for storing at least an output device profile that includes information related to the printing device, and

one or more wireless communication units, the one or more wireless communication units include one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets for wireless communication; and

wherein execution of at least part of the software or firmware by the at least one processor included in the printing device causes the printing device to perform a wireless printing method, comprising;

initiating a discovery process, via the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets included in the printing device, for the printing device to be wirelessly discoverable by a computing device, the computing device being a distinct device from the printing device; and

subsequent to the printing device being wirelessly discovered by the computing device, the wireless printing method further comprises;

wirelessly sending, via the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets and from the printing device to the computing device, at least identification information related to the printing device, the identification information being for selection or for identification of the printing device by the computing device;

wirelessly transmitting, via the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets, to the computing device that has wireless discovered the printing device, at least part of the output device profile that includes the information related to the printing device;

wirelessly receiving, from the computing device and via the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets included in the printing device, print data for printing at the printing device, at least part of the print data received from the computing device is based, at least in part, on the information included in the output device profile transmitted from the printing device to the computing device, and the wireless receiving of the print data being subsequent to having wirelessly sent to the computing device at least the identification information related to the printing device, and

wherein the print data being further related to at least part of the digital content for printing at the printing device, and the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets being compatible, at least partly, with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the identification information includes one or more of a name, a printer brand, a printer model, an identifier, a printer registration, or an IP address, individually or in any combination, associated with the printing device for the selection or for identification of the printing device.

10. The medium of claim 8, wherein the output device profile includes information related to one or more of file formats, data formats, languages, or page description languages, individually or in any combination, supported by the printing device, and the print data received at the printing device corresponding, at least partly, to the one or more of file formats, data formats, languages, or page description languages, supported by the printing device and specified in the output device profile.

11. The medium of claim 8, wherein the output device profile includes at least an attribute related to the printing device, and the attribute includes at least one of a duplex printing attribute, a color space attribute, a bit depth attribute, or a resolution attribute, individually or in any combination.

12. The medium of claim 8, wherein the discovery process for the printing device to be wirelessly discoverable by the computing device is based, at least in part, on at least one of the following, individually or in any combination:

(1) close proximity of the printing device to the computing device;

or

(2) wireless local area network communication between the printing device and the computing device;

or

(3) short range wireless communication between the printing device and the computing device, the short range wireless communication being compatible, at least partly, with at least one protocol within Bluetooth specifications.

13. The medium of claim 9, further comprising:

establishing a wireless communication link between the printing device and the computing device, subsequent to the printing device being wirelessly discovered by the computing device, and wherein the wireless communication link being at least one of the following, individually or in any combination;

(1) direct wireless communication compatible with at least part of IEEE 802.11 wireless standards;

or

(2) wireless local area network communication that is compatible, at least in part, with part of IEEE 802.11 wireless standards.

14. The medium of claim 8, wherein the printing device is operable to provide a printing service without requiring the computing device to install a device specific driver that is specific to the printing device.

15. A method for printing digital content using an output controller that is either included in a printer or that is connectable to a printer, to facilitate a client of the printer to print the digital content to the printer, the client being a client device or a client application executable at the client device, the client device being a distinct device from the output controller and from the printer, the output controller, included in the printer or connectable to the printer, includes:

a wireless communication interface for wireless communication,

one or more memory or storage devices storing software or firmware,

one or more processors to execute at least part of the software or firmware,

wherein the method, facilitated, at least in part, by the execution of at least part of the software or firmware at the output controller or at the printer, comprises;

wirelessly connecting, via the wireless communication interface, the output controller or the printer to a wireless local area network;

facilitating, via the wireless communication interface, the client to wirelessly discover the output controller or the printer for service;

wirelessly communicating, via the wireless communication interface, with the client that has wirelessly discovered the output controller or the printer, the wireless communication includes wirelessly sending at least part of an output device profile, that is stored within the printer or the output controller, from the output controller or the printer to the client, the output device profile includes at least capability information associated with the output controller or the printer, the capability information includes at least one of language information, format information, or page description language information, individually or in any combination, that is acceptable to the output controller or to the printer;

wirelessly receiving, via the wireless communication interface and over the wireless local area network, output data from the client, the output data is related to at least part of the digital content for printing at the printer, and at least part of the received output data is encoded in or conforms to a language or a format that corresponds, at least partly, to the capability information included in the output device profile that was sent from the output controller or the printer to the client; and

delivering, by the output controller, at least part of the received output data related to at least part of the digital content for printing at the printer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication interface further includes one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets, and the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets further facilitate the client to wirelessly discover the output controller or the printer for the service, and wherein the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets are compatible, at least partly, with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards for wireless local area network communication, and wherein the connecting of the output controller or the printer to the wireless local area network includes connecting the output controller or the printer, via the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets, to the wireless local area network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the output controller is internally included in the printer, and wherein the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets, that are included in the output controller, are included in the printer.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the client is a wireless information apparatus, the wireless information apparatus being one or more of a smart phone, an Internet-Phone, a touch sensitive screen phone, an Information-Pad, a digital camera, an Internet appliance, or an Internet-Pad, individually or in any combination, and the wireless information apparatus further includes a client application installed to output at least part of the digital content from the client application to the printer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the output device profile further includes identification information that includes one or more of a name, a printer brand, a printer model, a pointer, an identifier, a description, a printer registration, or an IP address related to the printer, individually or in any combination, for wirelessly transmitting from the output controller or the printer to the wireless information apparatus.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the capability information included in the output device profile further specifies one or more information or attributes, related to the printer, that include one or more of a duplex printing, a color printing, a bit depth, a color space, or a resolution, individually or in any combination, and wherein the received output data, by the output controller or the printer and from the client, is in accordance, at least in part, to the capability information that is included in the output device profile sent from the output controller or the printer to the client.