Method and System for Communicating Between a Remote Printer and a Server

• US 20080278751A1
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Senshin Capital LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Winestein, Leonid, Moyer, Alan L., LeBlanc, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,958,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1207 resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1222 Increasing security of the print job
• 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 3/1259 Print job monitoring, e.g. job status
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1267 Job repository, e.g. non-scheduled jobs, delay printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1287 via internet
• 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

In order to enable downloading to a mobile printer data items from a server, a method comprising the steps of establishing communication connection end points (“sockets”), communicating with the server, where the communication includes sending a request for authentication to the server, receiving an authentication response, requesting print data portions from the server, receiving the requested print data portions, and notifying the server after each print data portion has been printed. The method also includes the step of terminating their communication connection when a printing session ends or if an error occurs. The method constitutes a printer-server protocol.

Claims

1-63. -63. (canceled)

64. A method for enabling a mobile printer to download data items from a server, said data items comprising print data portions to be printed, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing an interprocess communication mechanism comprising a connection end point and a network address, said network address identifying a server in a network;

communicating with said server, said communication comprising;

sending a request for authentication to the server from the mobile printer;

receiving from the server an authentication response;

requesting from the server print data portions to be downloaded, if the authentication is successful;

attempting to receive from the server print data portions to be printed or viewed,

repeating the attempting step if the attempting step fails to receive all of the print data portions;

notifying the server after print completion; and

, terminating the communications connection when a printing session ends or if an error occurs.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein the step of receiving from the server an authentication response further comprises the step of:

receiving from the server status information, a specified number for the data items to be printed, and, a specified number for the print data portions to be downloaded.

66. The method of claim 64 wherein the steps of requesting from the server print data portions and attempting to receive from the server said print data portions further comprise the steps of:

a) sending a request to the server for one print data portion, upon receiving the specified number of data items to be printed and a specified number of copies to be printed of each of said specified number of data items;

b) receiving a response from the server including said one print data portion and a status for the data portion request;

c) optionally sending one or more ping commands to the server to inform the server to keep the communications connection open;

d) terminating the communications connection if the printer determines there was a transmission failure;

e) printing said one print data portion, if the printer determines there was a transmission success;

f) sending a notification of print completion to the server upon completion of printing; and

terminating the communications connection if print completion was not successful.

67. The method of claim 66 further comprising the step of:

repeating steps d) through f) until the specified number of copies to be printed of said one print data portion are printed, if print completion was successful.

68. The method of claim 66 further comprising the step of:

g) repeating steps d) through f) until the specified number of copies to be printed of said one print data portion is printed, if print completion was successful; and

h) repeating steps a) through g) until the specified number of print data portions to be down loaded has been downloaded.

69. The method of claim 64 wherein the step of communicating with said server further comprising the step of:

obtaining from the server an updated specified number of data items to be printed and an updated specified number of print data portions to be downloaded.

70. The method of claim 64, wherein the step of receiving from the server an authentication response further comprises the steps of:

sending to the server data identifying the characteristics of the mobile printer;

receiving from the server an authentication response, status information, a specified number for the data items to be printed, and a specified number for the print data portions to be downloaded;

examining the status;

terminating the connection if the printer determines there was a failure;

determining if previous communication failed to successfully notify print completion to the server, if status indicates a success;

if previous communication connection failed to successfully notify print completion to the server, performing the step of;

sending a notification of print completion to the server.

71. The method of claim 64 further comprising the steps of:

determining identifying data for at least two documents;

identifying data for the print data portion in one of said at least two documents and identifying data for an offset in said print data portion, said at least two documents comprising a next document to be printed and a last document printed and said print data portion corresponding to the next document to be printed;

receiving from the server a status;

terminating the communications connection if the printer determines there was a transmission failure; and

if the status from a previous communication indicates a partial data sent status, performing the steps comprising of;

receiving from the server a specific print data portion having a given size; and

increasing the offset by the given size of the specific print data portion.

72. The method of claim 71, further comprising the step of:

receiving from the server identifying data for a document and identifying data for the print data portions in the document.

73. The method of claim 64, further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the server a security indicator for each of said print data portions, each of said security indicators being calculated from each of said print data portions;

calculating at the printer a printer calculated security indicator for each of said print data portions;

comparing, for each print data portion, the printer calculated security indicator with the security indicator provided by the server; and

generating, if the comparison of security indicators yields a difference, a status indicating a transmission failure for the corresponding print data portion.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the security indicator is a cyclic redundancy code.

75. The method of claim 64,

wherein said attempting step comprises:

receiving from the server a security indicator for the specific print data portion, said security indicator being calculated from said print data portion;

calculating at the printer a printer calculated security indicator for the specific print data portion;

comparing the printer calculated security indicator with the security indicator provided by the server; and

generating, if the comparison of security indicators yields a difference, a status indicating a transmission failure for the specific print data portion.

76. The method of claim 64 wherein the print data portions comprise compressed data.

77. The method of claim 76 further comprising the step of:

uncompressing said print data portions.

78. The method of claim 66 wherein said one print data portion comprises compressed data.

79. The method of claim 78 further comprising the step of:

uncompressing said print data portions.

80. A method for enabling a server to provide data items to a mobile printer said data items comprising print data portions to be printed, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a process to control communications through a communication connection endpoint to another communication connection endpoint, upon said another communication connection endpoint being established;

communicating with said mobile printer, said communication comprising;

sending an authentication response, upon receipt of an authentication request from the mobile printer;

sending print data portions to be printed, upon receipt of a request from the mobile printer for print data portions to be downloaded; and

,

optionally sending one or more ping commands to the server to inform the server to keep the communications connection open; and

,

attempting to receive from the mobile printer notification after completion of printing;

repeating said attempting step if the attempting step fails to receive the notification;

sending status information in response to receipt of notification after printing; and

,

terminating the communications connection when a printing session ends or if an error occurs;

81. The method of claim 80,

wherein the step of sending an authentication response further comprises the step of:

sending to the mobile printer status information, a specified number for the data items to be printed, and a specified number for the print data portions to be downloaded.

82. The method of claim 80,

wherein the step of communicating with said mobile printer further comprising the step of:

sending to the mobile printer an updated specified number of data items to be printed and an updated specified number of print data portions to be downloaded.

83. The method of claim 80,

wherein said step of sending to the mobile printer an authentication response further comprises the steps of

receiving from the mobile printer data identifying characteristics of the mobile printer;

comparing the characteristics of the mobile printer to data in a database;

determining if the characteristics of the mobile printer are found in the database;

sending to the mobile printer a specified number for the data items to be printed, and a specified number for the print data portions to be downloaded, if the characteristics of the mobile printer are found in the database; and

if the characteristics of the mobile printer are not found in the database, performing a registration process comprising the steps of;

registering the characteristics of the mobile printer in the database,

determining if the registration was successful;

sending to the mobile printer a specified number for the data items to be printed, and a specified number for the print data portions to be downloaded, if the registration was successful; and

sending to the mobile printer an error status, if the registration was not successful.

84. The method of claim 80,

wherein the step of sending print data portions to be printed further comprises the steps of:

obtaining identifying data for a next document to be printed, identifying data for a next print data portion to be printed, identifying data for a last document which was printed, and identifying data for a last print data portion which was printed;

determining if a request for print data portions is immediately subsequent to a mobile printer registration;

sending to the mobile printer at least one welcome print data portion, if a request for print data portions is immediately subsequent to a mobile printer registration;

sending to the mobile printer at least one welcome print data portion, if the next document to be printed is a welcome print document;

determining if a specific data portion is requested by the mobile printer;

sending a next data portion in a print queue, if a specific data portion was not requested by the mobile printer,

if a specific data portion was requested by the mobile printer, performing the steps comprising of;

determining if a partial data portion is requested by the mobile printer;

sending the partial data portion, if a partial data portion was requested by the mobile printer;

if a partial data portion was not requested by the mobile printer, performing the steps comprising;

sending the specific data portion; and

sending to the mobile printer data for an offset, said offset being set to zero.

85. The method of claim 80,

wherein the step of communicating with said mobile printer further comprises the steps of:

calculating a security indicator for each of said print data portions; and

sending each of said security indicators calculated for each of said print data portions to the mobile printer.

86. The method of claim 84, further comprising the step of:

calculating a security indicator for each said print data portion; and

sending each of said security indicators calculated from each said print data portions to the mobile printer.

87. The method of claim 85 wherein the security indicator is a cyclic redundancy code.

88. The method of claim 86 wherein the security indicator is a cyclic redundancy code.

89. The method of claim 80 further comprising the step of:

compressing said print data portions.

90. A printer comprising:

a processor;

at least one computer-accessible memory, said at least one computer-accessible memory having computer instructions embodied therein, said instructions comprising;

means for establishing an interprocess communication mechanism comprising a connection end point and a network address, said network address identifying a server in a network and an entry point into an application at said server;

means for communicating with said server, said communication comprising;

sending a request for authentication to the server from the mobile printer;

receiving from the server an authentication response;

requesting from the server print data portions to be downloaded, if the authentication is successful;

attempting to receive from the server print data portions to be printed;

repeating the attempting step if the attempting step fails to receive all of the print data portions;

optionally sending one or more ping commands to the server to inform the server to keep the communications connection open;

notifying the server after print completion; and

,

terminating the communications connection when a printing session ends or if an error occurs.

91. The printer of claim 90,

wherein said communication further comprises:

receiving from the server status information, a specified number for the data items to be printed, and a specified number for the print data portions to be downloaded.

92. The printer of claim 90, further comprising:

means for sending a request to the server for one print data portion, upon receiving the specified number of data items to be printed and a specified number of copies to be printed of each of said specified number of data items;

means for receiving a response from the server including said one print data portion and a status for in the data portion request;

means to optionally sending one or more ping commands to the server to inform the server to keep the communications connection open;

means for terminating the communications connection if the printer determines there was a transmission failure;

means for printing said one print data portion and sending a notification of print completion to the server upon completion of printing, if the printer determines there was transmission success;

means for terminating the communications connection if print completion was not successful;

means for repeatedly applying means d) and e) until the specified number of copies to be printed of said one print data portion is printed, if print completion was successful; and

means for repeatedly applying means a through f until the specified number of print data portions to be down loaded has been downloaded.

93. The printer of claim 90,

wherein the computer instructions embodied in the at least one computer-accessible memory further comprise:

means for obtaining from the server an updated specified number of data items to be printed and an updated specified number of print data portions to be downloaded.

94. The printer of claim 90,

wherein the computer instructions embodied in the at least one computer readable memory further comprise:

means for sending to the server data identifying the characteristics of the mobile printer;

means for examining the status upon receiving from the server an authentication response, status information, a specified number for the data items to be printed, and, a specified number for the print data portions to be downloaded;

means for terminating the connection if status indicates a failure;

means for determining if previous communication connection failed to successfully notify print completion to the server,

if status indicates a success;

if previous communication connection failed to successfully notify print completion to the server, providing means for;

sending a notification of print completion to the server.

95. The printer of claim 90,

wherein the computer instructions embodied in the at least one computer-accessible memory further comprise:

means for determining identifying data for at least two documents, identifying data for the print data portion in one of said at least two documents and identifying data for an offset in said print data portion, said at least two documents comprising a next document to be printed and a last document printed and said print data portion corresponding to the next document to be printed;

means for receiving from the server a status;

means for terminating the communications connection if the printer determines there was a transmission failure;

if a saved status from a previous communication indicates a partial data sent status, providing means for;

receiving from the server a specific print data portion having a given size; and

increasing the offset by the given size of the specific print data portion.

96. The printer of claim 90,

wherein the computer instructions embodied in the at least one computer readable memory further comprise:

means for receiving from the server a security indicator for each of said print data portions, each of said security indicators being calculated from each of said print data portions;

means for calculating at the printer a printer calculated security indicator for each of said print data portions;

means for comparing, for each print data portion, the printer calculated security indicator with the security indicator provided by the server; and

means for generating, if the comparison of security indicators yields a difference, a status indicating a transmission failure for the corresponding print data portion.

97. The printer of claim 96,

wherein the security indicator is a cyclic redundancy code.

98. The printer of claim 90 wherein said print data portions comprise compressed data and the computer instructions embodied in the at least one computer readable memory further comprise:

means for uncompressing said print data portions.

99. A server providing data items to a mobile printer, said server comprising:

a processor;

at least one computer-accessible memory, said at least one computer-accessible memory having computer instructions embodied therein, said instructions comprising;

means for establishing a process to control communications through a communication connection endpoint to another communication connection endpoint, upon said another communication connection endpoint being established;

means to measure the time since the last command from said mobile printer was received and to terminate the communications connection if this time exceeds a timeout constant;

means for communicating with said mobile printer, said communication means comprising;

means for sending an authentication response upon receipt of an authentication request from the mobile printer;

means for attempting to send print data portions to be printed, upon receipt of a request from the mobile printer for print data portions to be downloaded;

means for repeating the attempting step if the attempting step fails to send all the print data portions;

means for receiving from the mobile printer notification after print completion; and

means for sending status information in response to receipt of notification after printing.

100. The server of claim 99,

wherein the computer instructions embodied in the at least one computer-accessible memory status information, a specified number for the data items to be printed, and, a specified number for the print data portions to be downloaded, upon receipt of an authentication request from the mobile printer.

101. The server of claim 99,

wherein the computer instructions embodied in the at least one computer accessible memory further comprise:

means for sending to the mobile printer an updated specified number of data items to be printed and an updated specified number of print data portions to be downloaded.

102. The server of claim 99, further comprising:

means for terminating the communications connection when a printing session ends or if the time between commands received from the printer exceeds a constant timeout period or if an error occurs.

means for receiving from the mobile printer data identifying characteristics of the mobile printer;

means for comparing the characteristics of the mobile printer to data in a database;

means for determining if the characteristics of the mobile printer are found in the database;

means for sending to the mobile printer a specified number for the data items to be printed, and, a specified number for the print data portions to be downloaded, if the characteristics of the mobile printer are found in the database;

means for performing, if the characteristics of the mobile printer are not found in the database, a registration process comprising the steps of;

means for registering the characteristics of the mobile printer in the database, means for determining if the registration was successful;

means for sending to the mobile printer a specified number for the data items to be printed, and, a specified number for the print data portions to be downloaded, if the registration was successful; and

means for sending to the mobile printer an error status, if the registration was not successful.

103. The server of claim 99,

wherein the computer instructions embodied in the at least one computer-accessible memory further comprise:

means for obtaining identifying data for a next document to be printed, identifying data for a next print data portion to be printed, identifying data for a last document which was printed, and identifying data for a last print data portion which was printed;

means for determining if a request for print data portions is immediately subsequent to a mobile printer registration;

means for sending to the mobile printer at least one welcome print data portion, if a request for print data portions is immediately subsequent to a mobile printer registration;

means for sending to the mobile printer at least one welcome print data portion, if the next document to be printed is a welcome print document;

means for determining if a specific data portion is requested by the mobile printer;

means for sending a next data portion in a print queue, if a specific data portion was not requested by the mobile printer,

if a specific data portion was requested by the mobile printer, providing means for performing the steps comprising;

determining if a partial data portion is requested by the mobile printer;

sending the partial data portion, if a partial data portion was requested by the mobile printer;

if a partial data portion was not requested by the mobile printer, providing means for performing the steps comprising of;

sending the specific data portion;

sending to the mobile printer data for an offset, said offset being set to zero.

104. The server of claim 99,

wherein the computer instructions embodied in the at least one computer-accessible memory further comprise:

means for calculating a security indicator for each of said print data portions; and

,

means for sending each of said security indicators calculated for each of said print data portions to the mobile printer.

105. The server of claim 104,

wherein the security indicator is a cyclic redundancy code.

106. The server of claim 99,

wherein the computer instructions embodied in the at least one computer readable memory further comprise:

means for compressing said print data portions.

107. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable code stored therein for enabling a mobile printer to download data items from a server, said data items comprising print data portions to be printed, said code causing a computer system to;

establish an interprocess communication mechanism comprising a connection end point and a network address, said network address identifying a server in a network;

communicate with said server, said communication comprising;

sending a request for authentication to the server from the mobile printer;

receiving from the server an authentication response;

requesting from the server print data portions to be downloaded, if the authentication is successful;

repeating the attempting step if the attempting step fails to receive all the print data portions; and

notifying the server after print completion; and

,

terminate the interprocess communication mechanism when a printing session ends or if an error occurs.

108. A computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for enabling a server to provide data items to a mobile printer said that items comprising print that portions to be printed, said code causing a computer system to;

establish a process to control communications through a communication connection endpoint to another communication connection endpoint, upon said another communication connection endpoint being established;

communicate with said mobile printer, said communication comprising;

sending an authentication response;

attempting to send print data portions to be printed, upon receipt of a request from the mobile printer for print data portions to be downloaded;

repeating the attempting step if the attempting step fails to send all of the print data portions;

receiving from the mobile printer notification after print completion;

sending status information in response to receipt of notification after printing; and

,

terminate the communications connection when a printing session ends or if the time between commands received exceed a timeout constant or if an error occurs.