E-mail transmission of print-ready documents

• US 7,375,835 B1
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Poppink, Derek E, Hull, Jonathan J
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins; Twyler Lamb
• Assistant Examiner(s): DULANEY, BENJAMIN O
• Application Number:
  US10/189,752
• Time in Patent Office: 2,149 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15
• 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 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1209 resulting in adapted or bridged legacy communication protocols, e.g. emulation, protocol extension
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1214 at the submitting node
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1228 Printing driverless or using generic drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1287 via internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for transmitting print-ready electronic documents to a printer using e-mail as a transport mechanism. Responsive to a user request, a source PC transmits a document in print-ready format, so that there is no need for the printer to run or activate the software application that was used to generate the document. Furthermore, by rendering the document at the source PC, the invention ensures that the user'"'"'s selected print settings and preferences are preserved. The user need not be concerned with whether the destination printer has the appropriate software or is configured appropriately for the user'"'"'s document. In alternative embodiments, the user grants permission to print a local document. Subsequently, when a recipient wishes to print the document, the most current version is retrieved from the source PC, so that the printed document reflects any changes that may have been made after the permission was granted.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for transmitting a document to a printer, comprising:

receiving at a source device, from a user, a command to print a document and a user-specified print preference setting;

generating a first electronic mail message addressed to a remote device, the first electronic mail message including a link identifying the document on the source device;

transmitting the first electronic mail message to the remote device;

receiving at the source device a print request including the link to the document, and using the link to identify the document to be printed;

responsive to the received print request;

rendering at the source device the document identified by the link in a print-ready format according to the user-specified print preference setting;

generating a second electronic mail message addressed to the printer, the second electronic mail message having an attachment comprising the rendered print-ready document; and

transmitting the second electronic mail message to the printer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first electronic mail message comprises transmitting the message across a firewall.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the received print request specifies a printer, and wherein transmitting the second electronic mail message comprises transmitting the second electronic mail message to the specified printer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the second electronic mail message comprises transmitting the second electronic mail message to the remote device for routing to the printer via an e-mail transport mechanism.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device comprises a computer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the printer, an acknowledgment message.

7. A system for transmitting a document to a printer, comprising:

a user interface for receiving, from a user, a command to print a document and a user-specified print preference setting;

an electronic mail generation module, coupled to the user interface, for generating a first electronic mail message addressed to a remote device, the first electronic mail message comprising a link to the document on the source device;

an electronic mail transmission module, coupled to the electronic mail generation module, for transmitting the first electronic mail message to the remote device;

an inbound electronic mail processing module, for receiving a print request including the link to the document, the inbound electronic mail processing module identifying the document to be printed using the link; and

a document renderer, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for, responsive to the received print request, rendering the document in a print-ready format according to a user-specified print preference setting, the document render coupled to the electronic mail generation module;

wherein, responsive to the received print request, the electronic mail generation module generates a second electronic mail message addressed to the printer, and the electronic mail transmission module transmits the second electronic mail message to the printer, the second electronic mail message having an attachment comprising the rendered document.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronic mail transmission module transmits the first electronic mail messages across a firewall.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the received print request specifies a printer, and wherein the electronic mail transmission module transmits the second electronic mail message to the specified printer.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronic mail transmission module transmits the second electronic mail message to the remote device for routing to the printer via an e-mail transport mechanism.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the remote device comprises a computer.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives, from the printer, an acknowledgment message.