Obtaining temporary exclusive control of a printing device

• US 20020083114A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Mazzagatte, Craig, Slick, Royce E., Matsubayashi, Don Hideyasu
• Granted Patent: US 7,454,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• 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 3/1222 Increasing security of the print job
• 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 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• 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 3/1267 Job repository, e.g. non-scheduled jobs, delay printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1287 via internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/005 only locally
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1817 Buffers

Abstract

Obtaining exclusive control of a printing device by deferring printing of print data in a print queue. To obtain control, the recipient performs a process which may include authentication of the recipient. Control may be obtained either before the recipient is authenticated or after a successful authentication process. After the recipient has obtained control, print data in the print queue is temporarily deferred from being printed. The recipient may then select a print job to print, including selecting a print job from among the print jobs deferred in the print queue, or selecting a file to print over a network, including the Internet or an intranet. Further, printing device resources utilized in printing data during the period of exclusive control may be tracked and correlated to the recipient who has control.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining exclusive control of a printing device by a recipient to print data intended for the recipient, the method comprising the steps of:

authenticating the recipient;

providing the recipient exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities after the recipient has been authenticated; and

temporarily deferring print data not intended for the recipient from being printed and printing print data intended for the recipient during a period in which the recipient has exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the print data not intended for the recipient is deferred by the printing device providing a busy indication.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the print data not intended for the recipient is deferred by being temporarily stored and a reference to a print data storage location is sent to a print queue until the recipient relinquishes control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the print data not intended for the recipient is deferred by being rejected by the printing device.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein, once the recipient has exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities, the recipient selects which print jobs to print.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the print data intended for the recipient is stored in a location other than in a print queue and a reference to the stored print data location is provided to the print queue.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the recipient gains exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities by being authenticated utilizing a smart card device.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the recipient gains exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities by being authenticated utilizing a keypad and entering a user code, a personal identification number, or a password.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the recipient gains exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities by being authenticated utilizing a biometric device.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of providing exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities includes verifying that the recipient is authorized to obtain exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities.

11. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

tracking printing device resources utilized in printing data during the period in which the recipient has exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities; and

correlating the tracked resources to the authenticated recipient.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the tracked resources comprise at least one of a number of printed pages, recording medium type, and amount of ink, toner or other medium utilized in printing the data.

13. A method according to claim 5, wherein, once the recipient has gained exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities, the recipient selects print data to print from a network.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the print data not intended for the recipient is deferred by the apparatus providing a busy indication.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the print data not intended for the recipient is deferred by being temporarily stored and a reference to a print data storage location being sent to a print queue until the recipient relinquishes control of the apparatus'"'"' print capabilities.

17. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the print data not intended for the recipient is deferred by being rejected by the apparatus.

18. An apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a print job selection device, wherein, once the recipient has control of the apparatus'"'"' print capabilities, the recipient selects which print jobs to print.

19. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the print data intended for the recipient is stored in a location other than in the print queue and a reference to the stored print data location is provided to the print queue.

20. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the recipient gains control of the apparatus'"'"' print capabilities by being authenticated utilizing a smart card device.

21. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the recipient gains control of the apparatus'"'"' print capabilities by being authenticated utilizing a keypad and entering a user code, a personal identification number, or a password.

22. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the recipient gains control of the apparatus'"'"' print capabilities by being authenticated utilizing a biometric device.

23. An apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising:

a tracking device that tracks printing resources utilized in printing data during the period in which the recipient has control over to the apparatus'"'"' print capabilities; and

a correlating device that correlates the tracked resources to the authenticated recipient.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the tracked resources comprise at least one of a number of printed pages, recording medium type, and amount of ink, toner or other medium utilized in printing the data.

25. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the selection device provides an interface with an network such that, once the recipient has gained control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities, the recipient selects print data to print from the network.

27. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 26, wherein the print data not intended for the recipient is deferred by the printing device providing a busy indication.

28. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 26, wherein the print data not intended for the recipient is deferred by being temporarily stored and a reference to a print data storage location being sent to a print queue until the recipient relinquishes control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities.

29. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 26, wherein the print data not intended for the recipient is deferred by being rejected by the printing device.

30. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 26, wherein, once the recipient has exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities, the recipient selects which print jobs to print.

31. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 26, wherein the print data intended for the recipient is stored in a location other than in a print queue and a reference to the stored print data location is provided to the print queue.

32. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 26, wherein the recipient gains exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities by being authenticated utilizing a smart card device.

33. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 26, wherein the recipient gains exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities by being authenticated utilizing a keypad and entering a user code, a personal identification number or a password.

34. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 26, wherein the recipient gains exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities by being authenticated utilizing a biometric device.

35. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 26, wherein said step of providing exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities includes verifying that the recipient is authorized to obtain exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities.

36. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 26 further comprising the steps of:

tracking printing device resources utilized in printing data during the period in which the recipient has exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities; and

correlating the tracked resources to the authenticated recipient.

37. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 36, wherein the tracked resources comprise at least one of a number of printed pages, recording medium type, and amount of ink, toner or other medium utilized in printing the data.

38. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 30, wherein, once the recipient has gained exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities, the recipient selects print data to print from a network.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the obtaining control step comprises deferring of all print jobs submitted to a print queue for printing by the printing device.

41. A method according to claim 39, wherein the obtaining control step comprises control over all communication interfaces of the printing device.

42. A method according to claim 39, wherein the obtaining control step comprises control over network access to the printing device.

43. A method according to claim 39, wherein control over the print operations comprises control over print engine operations of the printing device.

44. A method according to claim 39, wherein the performing step comprises accessing print data over a network to be printed by the printing device.

45. A method according to claim 44, wherein the network is an Internet or an intranet.

46. A method according to claim 40, wherein the performing step comprises accessing at least one print job in the print queue.

47. A method according to claim 39, wherein the performing step comprises performing a copying operation.

48. A method according to claim 39, wherein the performing step comprises performing a facsimile operation.

49. A method according to claim 39, wherein the obtaining control step comprises authenticating a recipient.

50. A method according to claim 49, wherein the recipient obtains control before the recipient is authenticated.

51. A method according to claim 49, wherein the recipient obtains control after the recipient is authenticated.

52. A method according to claim 49, further comprising the steps of:

tracking printing device resources utilized during the performing step; and

correlating the tracked resources to the authenticated recipient.

53. A method according to claim 52, wherein the tracked resources comprise at least one of a number of printed pages, recording medium type, and amount of ink, toner or other medium utilized in the performing step.

132. A method according to claim 13, wherein the network is an Internet or an intranet.

133. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the network is an Internet or an intranet.

134. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 38, wherein the network is an Internet or an intranet.

135. A method according to claim 1, wherein the recipient gains exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities by being authenticated utilizing a hardware token.

136. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the recipient gains exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities by being authenticated utilizing a hardware token.

137. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 26, wherein the recipient gains exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities by being authenticated utilizing a hardware token.

14. An apparatus for printing images, comprising:

an authentication device that authenticates a recipient;

a print engine controlling printing operations of the apparatus;

a print queue temporarily storing and buffering print data submitted to the apparatus for printing; and

control means for permitting a recipient to control print capabilities of the apparatus after the recipient has been authenticated,

wherein, after the recipient is authenticated, print data not intended for the recipient is temporarily deferred from being printed and print data intended for the recipient is printed out during a period in which the recipient has control over the apparatus'"'"' print capabilities.

26. Computer-executable process steps for obtaining exclusive control of a printing device by a recipient to print data intended for the recipient, the computer-executable process steps comprising:

authenticating the recipient;

providing the recipient exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities after the recipient has been authenticated; and

temporarily deferring print data not intended for the recipient from being printed and printing print data intended for the recipient during a period in which the recipient has exclusive control of the printing device'"'"'s print capabilities.

39. A method of printing images on a printing device, comprising the steps of:

obtaining control over printing operations of the printing device; and

performing a process to print out an image by the printing device during a period of control over the printing device.

54. A method of controlling printing operations of a printing device, comprising the steps of:

obtaining control over the printing operations of the printing device; and

maintaining control over the printing operations until control is manually relinquished by a recipient who has obtained control.

55. A method according to claim 54, wherein the recipient performs a process to access print data to print out an image by the printing device while control is maintained over the printing device.

56. A method according to claim 54, wherein the obtaining control step comprises deferring of all print jobs submitted to a print queue for printing by the printing device.

57. A method according to claim 54, wherein the obtaining control step comprises control over all communication interfaces of the printing device.

58. A method according to claim 54, wherein the obtaining control step comprises control over network access to the printing device.

59. A method according to claim 54, wherein control over the print operations comprises control over print engine operations of the printing device.

60. A method according to claim 55, wherein the performing step comprises accessing print data over a network to be printed by the printing device.

61. A method according to claim 60, wherein the network is an Internet or an intranet.

62. A method according to claim 56, wherein the performing step comprises accessing at least one print job in the print queue of the printing device.

63. A method according to claim 55, wherein the performing step comprises performing a copying operation.

64. A method according to claim 55, wherein the performing step comprises performing a facsimile operation.

65. A method according to claim 54, wherein the obtaining control step comprises authenticating a recipient.

66. A method according to claim 65, wherein the recipient obtains control before the recipient is authenticated.

67. A method according to claim 65, wherein the recipient obtains control after the recipient is authenticated.

68. A method according to claim 65, further comprising the steps of:

the authenticated recipient performing a process to print out an image by the printing device while control is maintained over the printing device;

tracking printing device resources utilized during the performing step; and

correlating the tracked resources to the authenticated recipient.

69. A method according to claim 68, wherein the tracked resources comprise at least one of a number of printed pages, recording medium type, and amount of ink, toner or other medium utilized in the performing step.

70. A printing apparatus, comprising:

a print engine controlling printing operations of the apparatus;

a control device for permitting a recipient to obtain control over the printing operations of the apparatus; and

a print data access device for performing a process to access print data to be printed by the printing apparatus.

71. A printing apparatus according to claim 70, wherein the control device defers printing of all print jobs submitted to a print queue of the apparatus.

72. A printing apparatus according to claim 70, wherein the control device controls all communication interfaces of the apparatus.

73. A printing apparatus according to claim 70, wherein the control device controls network access to the apparatus.

74. A printing apparatus according to claim 70, wherein the control device controls the print engine.

75. A printing apparatus according to claim 70, wherein the access device performs a process to access print data over a network.

76. A printing apparatus according to claim 75, wherein the network is an intranet or an Internet.

77. A printing apparatus according to claim 71, wherein the access device performs a process to access at least one deferred print job in the print queue.

78. A printing apparatus according to claim 70, wherein the access device performs a copying process.

79. A printing apparatus according to claim 70, wherein the access device performs a facsimile process.

80. A printing apparatus according to claim 70, wherein the control device comprises an authentication device for performing an authentication process of the recipient.

81. A printing apparatus according to claim 80, wherein the control device permits the recipient to obtain control before the recipient is authenticated.

82. A printing apparatus according to claim 80, wherein the control device permits the recipient to obtain control after the recipient is authenticated.

83. A printing apparatus according to claim 80, further comprising:

a tracking device that tracks printing resources utilized in printing data during a period in which the recipient has control of the printing operations; and

a correlating device that correlates the tracked resources to the recipient.

84. A printing apparatus according to claim 83, wherein the tracked resources comprise at least one of a number of printed pages, recording medium type, and amount of ink, toner or other medium utilized in printing the data.

85. A printing apparatus, comprising:

a print engine controlling printing operations of the apparatus;

a control device for permitting a recipient to obtain control over the printing operations of the apparatus and to maintain control until a time when the recipient relinquishes control; and

a relinquishing device for relinquishing control over the apparatus'"'"' printing operations.

86. A printing apparatus according to claim 85, further comprising a print data access device for performing a process to access print data to be printed by the printing apparatus during a period in which the recipient has control over the printing device.

87. A printing apparatus according to claim 85, wherein the control device defers printing of all print jobs submitted to a print queue of the apparatus.

88. A printing apparatus according to claim 85, wherein the control device controls all communication interfaces of the apparatus.

89. A printing apparatus according to claim 85, wherein the control device controls network access to the apparatus.

90. A printing apparatus according to claim 85, wherein the control device controls the print engine.

91. A printing apparatus according to claim 86, wherein the access device performs a process to access print data over a network.

92. A printing apparatus according to claim 91, wherein the network is an intranet or an Internet.

93. A printing apparatus according to claim 86, wherein the access device performs a process to access at least one deferred print job in a print queue.

94. A printing apparatus according to claim 86, wherein the access device performs a copying process.

95. A printing apparatus according to claim 86, wherein the access device performs a facsimile process.

96. A printing apparatus according to claim 85, wherein the control device comprises an authentication device for performing an authentication process of the recipient.

97. A printing apparatus according to claim 96, wherein the control device permits the recipient to obtain control before the recipient is authenticated.

98. A printing apparatus according to claim 96, wherein the control device permits the recipient to obtain control after the recipient is authenticated.

99. A printing apparatus according to claim 96, further comprising:

a tracking device that tracks printing resources utilized in printing data during a period in which the recipient has control of the printing operations; and

a correlating device that correlates the tracked resources to the recipient.

100. A printing apparatus according to claim 99, wherein the tracked resources comprise at least one of a number of printed pages, recording medium type, and amount of ink, toner or other medium utilized in printing the data.

101. Computer-executable process steps for printing images on a printing device, comprising the steps of:

obtaining control over printing operations of the printing device; and

performing a process to print out an image by the printing device during a period of control over the printing device.

102. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 101, wherein the obtaining control step comprises deferring of all print jobs submitted to a print queue for printing by the printing device.

103. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 101, wherein the obtaining control step comprises control over all communication interfaces of the printing device.

104. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 101, wherein the obtaining control step comprises control over network access to the printing device.

105. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 101, wherein control over the print operations comprises control over print engine operations of the printing device.

106. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 101, wherein the performing step comprises accessing print data over a network to be printed by the printing device.

107. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 106, wherein the network is an Internet or an intranet.

108. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 102, wherein the performing step comprises accessing at least one print job in the print queue.

109. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 101, wherein the performing step comprises performing a copying operation.

110. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 101, wherein the performing step comprises performing a facsimile operation.

111. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 101, wherein the obtaining control step comprises authenticating a recipient.

112. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 111, wherein the recipient obtains control before the recipient is authenticated.

113. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 111, wherein the recipient obtains control after the recipient is authenticated.

114. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 111, further comprising the steps of:

tracking printing device resources utilized during the performing step; and

correlating the tracked resources to the recipient.

115. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 114, wherein the tracked resources comprise at least one of a number of printed pages, recording medium type, and amount of ink, toner or other medium utilized in the performing step.

117. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 116, wherein the recipient performs a process to access print data to print out an image by the printing device while control is maintained over the printing device.

118. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 116, wherein the obtaining control step comprises deferring of all print jobs submitted to a print queue for printing by the printing device.

119. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 116, wherein the obtaining control step comprises control over all communication interfaces of the printing device.

120. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 116, wherein the obtaining control step comprises control over network access to the printing device.

121. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 116, wherein control over the print operations comprises control over print engine operations of the printing device.

122. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 117, wherein the performing step comprises accessing print data over a network to be printed by the printing device.

123. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 122, wherein the network is an Internet or an intranet.

124. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 117, wherein the performing step comprises accessing at least one print job in a print queue of the printing device.

125. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 117, wherein the performing step comprises performing a copying operation.

126. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 117, wherein the performing step comprises performing a facsimile operation.

127. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 116, wherein the obtaining control step comprises authenticating a recipient.

128. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 127, wherein the recipient obtains control before the recipient is authenticated.

129. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 127, wherein the recipient obtains control after the recipient is authenticated.

130. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 127, further comprising the steps of:

the recipient performing a process to access print data to print out an image by the printing device while control is maintained over the printing device;

tracking printing device resources utilized during the performing step; and

correlating the tracked resources to the recipient.

131. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 130, wherein the tracked resources comprise at least one of a number of printed pages, recording medium type, and amount of ink, toner or other medium utilized in the performing step.

116. Computer-executable process steps for controlling printing operations of a printing device, comprising the steps of:

obtaining control over the printing operations of the printing device; and

maintaining control over the printing operations until control is manually relinquished by a recipient who has obtained control.