System and method for users of mobile computing devices to print documents

• US 8,068,247 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2005
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wu, Zhanbing
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins; Twyler
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dhingra; Pawandeep
• Application Number:
  US11/038,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20050132094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,504 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.13, 358/407, 358/1.1, 358/1.16, 358/1.6, 725/112, 707/9, 707/10, 707/104.1, 709/203, 709/216, 709/226, 715/523, 715/741, 715/760
• 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 3/1206 resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing

Abstract

A print service is provided on a network, such as the Internet or a corporate intranet, for mobile computing devices, such as laptops, PDA'"'"'s and Web cell phones, etc., to print documents. When the user of a mobile device wants to print a document, the mobile device is used to access the print service and send a print request that specifies the location the document on the network in terms of URL. In response, the print service validates the print request, retrieves the document, renders the document for printing, and prints the document as requested by the user. Alternatively, the document may be directly provided by the mobile device to the print service.

Claims

1. In a networking environment, a method for providing a print service, the method comprising:

automatically detecting a location of a client;

receiving a client selection of a print center from a plurality of print centers presented to the client, the plurality of print centers being presented to the client based at least in part on the physical proximity of each print center to the location of the client;

presenting a service interface associated with the selected print center for a client to enter print request data, the service interface including a list of file extension formats supported by the selected print center and the print request data comprising;

credentials associated with the client and enabling access to a non-HTML document associated with the client and a URL of the non-HTML document;

a document file format selected from the list of file extension formats; and

location criteria for the print service to use in selecting a target printing device to print the non-HTML document, the location criteria not identifying a printing device to be used to print the document;

validating the print request data effective to determine that the credentials enable access to the non-HTML document and providing feedback to the client;

obtaining the non-HTML document to be printed;

rendering the non-HTML document into the document file format for printing; and

printing the rendered document in accordance with the print request data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the networking environment comprises the Internet.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the service interface comprises a Web page via which the client enters the print request data.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein obtaining the non-HTML document comprises receiving a transmission of the non-HTML document from the client over the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein rendering the non-HTML document comprises running an application corresponding to a format of the non-HTML document.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein rendering the non-HTML document comprises invoking a remote printing rendering service.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein printing the rendered document comprises printing on a local printer of the print service.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein printing the rendered document comprises printing on a remote printer.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the networking environment comprises an intranet.

10. A computer-readable storage medium containing computer-executable instructions for a method for a user of a mobile computing device to print a non-HTML document, the method comprising:

automatically detecting a location of the mobile computing device;

presenting to the user a plurality of print centers via the mobile computing device, the plurality of print centers being presented based at least in part on a physical proximity of each of the plurality of print centers to the location of the mobile computing device;

receiving a selection from the user of a print center from the plurality of print centers;

using the mobile computing device to connect to a network on which a print service associated with the selected print center resides;

accessing a service interface presented by the print service for receiving print requests, the service interface including a list of file extension formats supported by the print service;

entering, via the service interface, print request data for printing the non-HTML document, the print request data comprising;

a URL of the non-HTML document and credentials associated with the user of the mobile computing device, the credentials enabling access to the non-HTML document;

a document file format for rendering the non-HTML document, wherein the document file format is selected from the list of file extension formats; and

location criteria for the print service to use in selecting a target printing device to print the non-HTML document, the location criteria not identifying a printing device to be used to print the document; and

receiving a confirmation from the print service acknowledging receipt of the print request data.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the service interface comprises a Web page via which the user enters the print request data.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein entering print request data comprises sending the non-HTML document to the print service over the Internet.

13. A method for providing a print service, the method comprising:

causing to be displayed on a portable computing device a print service interface for a client to enter print request data, the print service interface displaying a list of file extension formats supported by the print service, the print request data comprising;

credentials associated with the client and enabling access to a non-HTML document associated with the client and a URL of the non-HTML document, the credentials further enabling the print service to bill the client for printing the non-HTML document;

location criteria for the print service to use in selecting a target printing device to print the non-HTML document, the location criteria not identifying a printing device to be used to print the document;

a file format chosen by the client from the displayed list of file extension formats to be used in printing the non-HTML document; and

printing device settings for printing the non-HTML document;

validating the print request data effective to determine that the credentials enable access to the non-HTML document and providing feedback to the client, the feedback comprising a confirmation that the print request data has been received and a print job identifier;

obtaining the non-HTML document to be printed;

rendering the non-HTML document into a document format that corresponds to the file format chosen by the client for printing;

causing to be printed the rendered non-HTML document in accordance with the print request data.

14. One or more computer-readable storage media containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, implement a method comprising:

displaying on a portable computing device a print service interface for a client to enter print request data, the print service interface displaying a list of document file formats supported by the print service, the list of document file formats comprising a plurality of filename extensions supported by the print service, the print request data comprising;

credentials associated with the client and enabling access to a non-HTML document associated with the client and a URL of the non-HTML document, the credentials further enabling the print service to bill the client for printing the non-HTML document;

location criteria for the print service to use in selecting a target printing device to print the non-HTML document, the location criteria not identifying a printing device to be used to print the document;

a document file format chosen by the client from the displayed list of document file formats to be used in printing the non-HTML document; and

printing device settings for printing the non-HTML document;

validating the print request data effective to determine that the credentials enable access to the non-HTML document and providing feedback to the client, the feedback comprising a confirmation that the print request data has been received and a print job identifier;

obtaining the non-HTML document to be printed;

rendering the non-HTML document into the document file format chosen by the client for printing;

printing the rendered non-HTML document in accordance with the print request data.

15. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to;

initiate a print service interface for display on a portable computing device, the print service interface configured to enable a client to enter print request data, the print service interface displaying a list of file extension formats supported by the print service, the print request data comprising;

credentials associated with the client and enabling access to a non-HTML document associated with the client and a URL of the non-HTML document, the credentials further enabling the print service to bill the client for printing the non-HTML document;

location criteria for the print service to use in selecting a target printing device to print the non-HTML document, the location criteria not identifying a printing device to be used to print the document;

a file format chosen by the client from the displayed list of file extension formats to be used in printing the non-HTML document; and

printing device settings for printing the non-HTML document;

validate the print request data effective to determine that the credentials enable access to the non-HTML document and providing feedback to the client, the feedback comprising a confirmation that the print request data has been received and a print job identifier;

obtain the non-HTML document to be printed;

render the non-HTML document into a document format that corresponds to the file format chosen by the client for printing;

cause to be printed the rendered non-HTML document in accordance with the print request data.