SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING AN IMAGING OPERATION USING A WIRELESS REMOVABLE STORAGE DEVICE

• US 20110026069A1
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gaebel, Gary Lin, Johnson, Alex Lane, Ellis, Stephen W., Jesudason, Basil Isaiah
• Application Number:
  US12/533,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20110026069A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 3/1228 Printing driverless or using generic drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/128 Direct printing, e.g. sending document file, using memory stick, printing from a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32432 in a particular memory file for retrieval by the user, e.g. in a facsimile mailbox
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0036 Detecting or checking connection
• 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 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• 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: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A method for performing an imaging operation using a wireless removable storage device is described. A wireless removable storage device is connected to an imaging device. The wireless removable storage device comprises a wireless transceiver for wireless communications, memory and a communications port for connecting to other devices. Wireless communications are established between the wireless removable storage device and a mobile computing device. An imaging operation is performed relating to a document file, and the document file is communicated between the wireless removable storage device and the imaging device. The document file is also communicated between the wireless removable storage device and the mobile computing device.

Claims

1. A method for performing an imaging operation using a wireless removable storage:

device, the method comprising;

connecting a wireless removable storage device to an imaging device, wherein the wireless removable storage device comprises a wireless transceiver for wireless communications, memory and a communications port for connecting to other devices;

establishing wireless communications between the wireless removable storage device and a mobile computing device; and

performing an imaging operation relating to a document file and communicating the document file between the wireless removable storage device and the imaging device, wherein the document file is also communicated between the wireless removable storage device and the mobile computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging operation comprises printing the document file, and wherein communicating the document file further comprises:

receiving, by the wireless removable storage device, the document file from the mobile computing device; and

communicating the document file from the wireless removable storage device to the imaging device for printing.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving a print command at the imaging device.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising exposing a file system of the wireless removable storage device to the imaging device so that the file system can be browsed at a front panel of the imaging device.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising exposing a file system of the mobile computing device to the imaging device through the wireless removable storage device so that the file system of the mobile computing device can be browsed at a front panel of the imaging device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging operation comprises scanning a document into the document file, and wherein communicating the document file further comprises:

communicating the document file from the imaging device to the wireless removable storage device; and

communicating the document file from the wireless removable storage device to the mobile computing device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving a scan command at the imaging device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is a multi-functional peripheral (MFP).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless removable storage device includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting further comprises inserting the wireless removable storage device into a local Universal Serial Bus (USB) port on the imaging device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless removable storage device uses a Bluetooth wireless connection.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless removable storage device uses an infrared wireless connection.

13. A wireless removable storage device comprising:

a processor;

a wireless transceiver for wireless communications;

a communications port for connecting to other devices;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to;

connect to an imaging device using the communications port;

establish wireless communications with a mobile computing device; and

communicate a document file that relates to an imaging operation between the wireless removable storage device and the imaging device using the communications port, and communicate the document file between the wireless removable storage device and the mobile computing device using the wireless transceiver.

14. The wireless removable storage device of claim 13, wherein the imaging operation comprises printing the document file, and wherein the instructions to communicate the document file are further executable to:

receive the document file from the mobile computing device; and

communicate the document file to the imaging device for printing.

15. The wireless removable storage device of claim 14, further comprising instructions executable to expose a file system of the wireless removable storage device to the imaging device so that the file system can be browsed at a front panel of the imaging device.

16. The wireless removable storage device of claim 14, further comprising instructions executable to expose a file system of the mobile computing device to the imaging device through the wireless removable storage device so that the file system of the mobile computing device can be browsed at a front panel of the imaging device.

17. The wireless removable storage device of claim 13, wherein the imaging operation comprises scanning a document into the document file, and wherein the instructions to communicate the document file are further executable to:

receive the document file from the imaging device; and

communicate the document file to the mobile computing device.

18. The wireless removable storage device of claim 13, wherein the memory comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive.

19. The wireless removable storage device of claim 13, wherein the instructions executable to connect comprise instructions executable to establish communication through a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

20. The wireless removable storage device of claim 13, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured for a Bluetooth wireless protocol.

21. The wireless removable storage device of claim 13, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured for an infrared wireless connection.