( 1 9 ) United S ta tes

US 201 201 40285Al

( 1 2) Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion ( 1 0) Pub. N 0. : US 201 2/01 40285 A1
Ka ma th et a l. ( 43 ) Pub. D a te: Jun. 7 , 201 2
( 54) CLOUD PRIN TER WITH A COMMON US ER ( 86 ) PCT N o. : PCT/US 1 0/21 442
PRIN T EXPERIEN CE
3 7 1 ( 0X1 )
( 2) , ( 4) D a te: Ja n. 25, 201 2
( 7 6 ) Inv entor s : Ha r is h B . Ka ma th, B a ng a lor e Publica tion Cla s s i? ca tion
( IN ) ; S r idha r S olur , London ( G B ) ; ( 51 ) Int Cl
D a v id Pltk lll, G I' OIOII, MA ( Us ) ; V1 y", Chenna i ( IN ) ( 52) us . Cl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 58/1 1 5
( 57 ) AB S TRACT
( 21 ) APP1 ~ N 05 1 3 /3 87 , 029 One embodiment is a por ta ble electr onic dev ice tha t pr ints a
document to a pr inter . A common us er pr int ex per ience is
dis pla yed r eg a r dles s of a type of oper a ting s ys tem ins ta lled on
( 22) PCT F iled: Ja n. 20, 201 0 the por ta ble electr onic dev ice.
1 00
\ Web S er v ice
1 49
Cioud N otif ica tion lns ia ileiion
Pr oces s or S er v ices Hea der
i 85 i 9 0 1 3 5
Req ues t Job Lis t Job Lis t
( 1 5mm ( 3 501 1 6 Ha ndler Pr oces s or Cr ea tor
S er v er 1 - I I ES er v er M 1 59 $7 6 1 3 g
1 2C! 1 2C
N e tw or k i' s )
E
Pr inter is )
Us er i
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Pr ints - a ds )
Us er 2
i 3 4
Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion Jun. 7 , 201 2 S heet 1 0f 6 US 201 2/01 40285 A1
1 00
Web S er v ice
E
( 3 5mm N a ti? ca ticn ins ia iia tis n
Pmces s mr E S er v ices Ha nder
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S er v er 1 - I I S er v er M m E w
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- - - Us a r i Us er 2 I I I Us er N
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Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion Jun. 7 , 201 2 S heet 2 0f 6 US 201 2/01 40285 A1
Ca nnect pr inter 1 1 0 inter net
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Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion Jun. 7 , 201 2 S heet 3 0f 6 US 201 2/01 40285 A1
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Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion Jun. 7 , 201 2 S heet 4 0f 6 US 201 2/01 40285 A1
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S eiected Pr inter : /
45% HP La s er Jet Penn Pia z e 452
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Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion Jun. 7 , 201 2 S heet 5 0f 6 US 201 2/01 40285 A1
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559 552
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Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion Jun. 7 , 201 2 S heet 6 0f 6 US 201 2/01 40285 A1
S eier z t pr int buttcm er : eiectr mr r ir ; dev ice
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US 201 2/01 40285 A1
CLOUD PRIN TER WITH A COMMON US ER
PRIN T EXPERIEN CE
F IELD OF THE IN VEN TION
[ 0001 ] The pr es ent inv ention r ela tes to a por ta ble electr onic
dev ice tha t per f or ms a pr int oper a tion With a common us er
pr int ex per ience.
B ACKG ROUN D
[ 0002] D ocument pr inting is a chiev ed With a n a s s ocia ted
a pplica tion of a pla tf or m ex ecuted by a n oper a ting s ys tem.
The pla tf or ms a nd a s s ocia ted a pplica tions v a r y Widely f r om
one dev ice to a nother dev ice. A us er ca n ha v e dif f er ent pr int
ex per iences While pr inting f r om one computer to a nother
computer . This v a r ia tion occur s beca us e dif f er ent pr int pla t
f or ms a nd a s s ocia ted a pplica tions pr ov ide us er s With dif f er
ent pr int menus , options , a nd s teps - to- pr int.
[ 0003 ] In a ddition to thes e v a r ious us er pr int ex per iences ,
ma ny us er s do not k noW or under s ta nd the complex s et of
pr ocedur es needed to ins ta ll a pr inter to a r emote pr int s er v er
or pr int to s uch a r emote pr inter . Pr inting a cr os s a netWor k ca n
be f ur ther complica ted f or us er s s ince a cur r ent pr int dr iv er
ma y not be ins ta lled or a ha r dWa r e inter f a ce not s uppor ted.
F ur ther mor e, us er s need to be a Wa r e of loca tion deta ils to
a cces s pr inter r es our ces . S uch r es our ces ma y be embedded in
a pr inter or pr ov ided by a v endor on a CD or on a Web- s ite.
Us er s ma y ha v e to cons ult r ef er ence ma ter ia l to deter mine
hoW to ins ta ll a pr int dr iv er or pr int to a netWor k pr inter .
N etw or k ed pr inter s , typica lly in a home or home- of ? ce env i
r onment, a r e is ola ted f r om the computer Which is con? g ur ed
to Wor k on a v ir tua l pr iv a te netWor k ( VPN ) .
B RIEF D ES CRIPTION OF THE D RAWIN G S
[ 0004] F IG . 1 s hoWs a cloud pr int s ys tem in a ccor da nce
With a n ex a mple embodiment.
[ 0005] F IG . 2 s hoWs a How dia g r a m to r eg is ter a neW pr inter
With a cloud pr int s er v er in a ccor da nce With a n ex a mple
embodiment.
[ 0006 ] F IG . 3 s hoWs a How dia g r a m to pr int to a pr inter
ins ta lled on a cloud in a ccor da nce With a n ex a mple embodi
ment.
[ 0007 ] F IG . 4 s hoWs a dis pla y of a n electr onic dev ice pr o
v iding a common us er pr int ex per ience in a ccor da nce With a n
ex a mple embodiment.
[ 0008] F IG . 5 s hoWs a nother dis pla y of a n electr onic dev ice
pr ov iding a common us er pr int ex per ience in a ccor da nce With
a n ex a mple embodiment.
[ 0009 ] F IG . 6 s hoWs a How dia g r a m of pr inting With thr ee
k ey a ctua tions in a ccor da nce With a n ex a mple embodiment.
[ 001 0] F IG . 7 is a computer s ys tem in a cloud pr int s ys tem
in a ccor da nce With a n ex a mple embodiment.
S UMMARY OF THE IN VEN TION
[ 001 1 ] One embodiment is a por ta ble electr onic dev ice tha t
per f or ms a pr int oper a tion to a cloud pr inter . A common us er
pr int ex per ience is dis pla yed r eg a r dles s of a type of oper a ting
s ys tem ins ta lled on the por ta ble electr onic dev ice.
D ETAILED D ES CRIPTION
[ 001 2] Ex a mple embodiments pr ov ide us er s With a com
mon or uni? ed pr int ex per ience While per f or ming a pr int
oper a tion to cloud pr inter s f r om dif f er ent por ta ble electr onic
Jun. 7 , 201 2
dev ices r unning dif f er ent oper a ting s ys tems , pr int pla tf or ms ,
a nd a s s ocia ted pr int a pplica tions . F or ex a mple, a us er pr inting
f r om a la ptop computer Will ha v e a s imila r pr int ex per ience to
a us er pr inting f r om a s ma ll por ta ble electr onic dev ice, s uch
a s a bla ck ber r y, ca mer a , or mobile phone.
[ 001 3 ] In one embodiment, us er s ca n per f or m a pr int oper a
tion to a cloud pr inter With a s ma ll or minima l number of s teps
or inter a ctions With the electr onic dev ice. As us ed her ein a
pr int oper a tion includes , but is not limited to, pr inting to a
cloud pr inter , ma na g ing a pr int j ob or cloud pr inter or pr int
pa r a meter s etting s of a cloud pr inter f r om a r emote electr onic
dev ice, ins ta lling or r eg is ter ing a cloud pr inter , a nd monitor
ing a cloud pr inter or pr int j ob f r om a r emote electr onic
dev ice. F or ex a mple, us er s ca n pr int With thr ee a ctua tions or
thr ee click oper a tions f r om a n electr onic dev ice r eg a r dles s of
Wha t type of oper a ting s ys tems a r e being ex ecuted ( i. e. , s uch
a s S ola r is , Ma cintos h, Linux , WindoWs , etc. ) . Thes e a ctua
tions include ( 1 ) s electing a pr int button or pr int oper a tion, ( 2)
s electing a cloud pr inter f r om a lis t of a v a ila ble or r elev a nt
pr inter s , a nd ( 3 ) con? r ming the pr int oper a tion to the s elected
cloud pr inter . Once thes e thr ee a ctiv ities occur , the electr onic
dev ice Will per f or m a pr int oper a tion ov er the Web to a des
ig na ted cloud pr inter or Web- ena bled pr inter .
[ 001 4] With ex a mple embodiments , us er s a r e not r eq uir ed
to ins ta ll a pr int dr iv er to per f or m pr int oper a tions f r om a n
electr onic dev ice to a r emote pr inter in communica tion With a
cloud pr int s er v er . In other Wor ds , the electr onic dev ice ca n
ex ecute a pr int j ob Without a pr int dr iv er . Pr inting s teps or a
pr int button on the electr onic dev ice a r e not tied to the oper
a ting s ys tem ex ecuting on the electr onic dev ice.
[ 001 5] Us er s ca n a cces s a netWor k of cloud pr inter s a nd
s end pr int r eq ues ts or pr int j obs to thes e pr inter s . S election of
a pr inter is ba s ed on pr int r eq uir ements or pr int pa r a meter s
des ir ed by the us er , s uch a s pr inting With a cer ta in color , lev el
of s ecur ity, g eog r a phica l loca tion, pr int q ua lity, time f r a me to
complete pr int j ob, etc.
[ 001 6 ] In one embodiment, us er s ins ta ll pr inter s ov er the
inter nee With a n Inter net Pr int S er v ice ( IS P) . Pr inter s a nd
other electr onic dev ices ( including multi- f unctiona l dev ices
tha t s ca n, copy, a nd/or pr int) a r e ins ta lled With a n ins ta lla tion
pr oces s tha t includes identif ying the us er a nd pr inter , con? g
ur ing pr int pa r a meter s a nd other s etting s , a nd r eg is ter ing the
us er a nd pr inter With a cloud pr int s er v er . The ins ta lla tion
pr oces s includes a n a utoma ted mecha nis m to ins ta ll pr inter s
With the IS P a nd be s elf - con? g ur ed to s ta r t r eceiv ing pr int
j obs a f ter ins ta lla tion.
[ 001 7 ] Ex a mple embodiments f a cilita te the ins ta lla tion
pr oces s of a pr inter ov er a netWor k to a r emote s er v er . F or
ex a mple, the ins ta lla tion pr oces s f or us er s is s impli? ed s ince
f eW s teps a r e us ed. Technica l ex per tis e is not r eq uir ed s ince
ins ta lla tion is la r g ely a utoma ted With f eW ma nua l s teps per
f or med by the us er . Ins ta lla tion of the pr inter ca n occur With
out a us er ha v ing k noWledg e of pr inter ca pa bilities , s uch a s
pr inter la ng ua g e being s uppor ted, pr inter r es olution, duplex
ca pa bility, etc.
[ 001 8] D ur ing ins ta lla tion pr inter s a r e uniq uely identi? ed,
a nd identi? ca tion occur s independently of TCP/ IP netWor k in
Which the pr inter is phys ica lly loca ted ( TCP/IP is a n Inter net
Pr otocol S uite: Tr a ns mis s ion Contr ol Pr otocol a nd Inter net
Pr otocol) . The ins ta lla tion pr oces s With ex a mple embodi
ments a ls o ov er comes ? r eWa ll r es tr ictions tha t nor ma lly
hinder Web s er v ices a cces s to netWor k per ipher a ls . Ins ta lla
US 201 2/01 40285 A1
tion ca n occur ins ide or a cr os s a ? r ew a ll. Ins ta lla tion occur s
w ithout, f or ex a mple, con? g ur a tion of netw or k elements a nd
con? g ur a tions of a r outer .
[ 001 9 ] Af ter the pr inter connects to the IS P a nd the us er
per f or ms a f ew s teps , the us er ca n pr int to the pr inter f r om a
r emote electr onic dev ice. Us er s a r e a ble to pr int ema ils , docu
ments , photos , w eb pa g es , etc. f r om a v a r iety of dif f er ent
por ta ble dev ices r unning dif f er ent oper a ting s ys tems . Mobile
us er s ca n pr int to one or mor e pr inter s f r om a ny w or ldw ide
loca tion tha t pr ov ides intemet a cces s , r eg a r dles s of w hether
the us er is loca ted a t home, in the o? ice, on the r oa d, in a
f or eig n countr y, etc. The pr int s er v ices pr ov ided by the cloud
pr int s ys tem a r e pr inter - a g nos tic a nd dr iv er les s ( i. e. , the com
puter s of the us er s a r e not r eq uir ed to ha v e a pr int dr iv er :
s of tw a r e tha t conv er ts da ta to be pr inted to a f or m s peci? c to
the pr inter ) . Althoug h one embodiment us es dr iv er les s s ys
tems , other embodiments ha v e pr inting thr oug h a dr iv er to
pr int s er v ices f r om client pla tf or ms . F or ex a mple, the dr iv er
ca n be a univ er s a l pr int dr iv er , a nd the pr int s er v ice tr a ns la tes
da ta to be pr inter s peci? c. F ur ther mor e in one embodiment,
f unctions of the pr int dr iv er a r e pr ov ided by the cloud, not the
electr onic dev ice tha t initia ted the pr int j ob r eq ues t.
[ 0020] Af ter the pr inter is uniq uely identi? es its elf to the
IS P, the pr inter a utoma tica lly communica tes its pr oper ties to
the IS P. An ex a mple is ena bling color output only if the pr inter
s uppor ts color output. The pr inter pr oper ties a r e s tor ed a nd
ins ta lled into the cloud pr int s ys tem by ma k ing us e of RES T
API by the pr inter . Once the pr inter identity is es ta blis hed
w ith the cloud pr int s ys tem, a s eq uence of oper a tions occur s .
B y w a y of ex a mple, s uch oper a tions ca n include
[ 0021 ] 1 . Va lida tion of connectiv ity of the pr inter to the
cloud pr int s er v ice;
[ 0022] 2. Recog nition by the cloud pr int s er v ice of
r eceiv ing the pr inter pa r a meter s a nd being a ble to pr o
ces s s uch inf or ma tion ( f or ex a mple, a ck now ledg e is pr o
v ided w ith v is ible output a t the pr inter ) .
[ 0023 ] D ur ing the a uto- s etup pha s e, ow ner s hip of the
pr inter is a ls o es ta blis hed. The cloud pr int s er v ice a s s ig ns or
des ig na tes ea ch pr inter w ith a n ow ner ( f or ex a mple, a per s on
w ho ha s not only pr inting r ig hts but a ls o a dminis tr a tiv e
r ig hts ) .
[ 0024] Con? r ma tion of this ow ner s hip ca n occur a t the
pr inter ( f or ex a mple, the pr inter pr ints a tes t pa g e or dis pla ys
a ck now ledg ement of ow ner s hip on a dis pla y) , F ur ther mor e,
the pr inter ca n a ls o con? r m s ucces s f ul ins ta lla tion of the
pr inter to the cloud pr int s er v ice ( f or ex a mple, w ith a pr intout,
dis pla y mes s a g e, ema il or tex t to ow ner , etc. ) .
[ 0025] In a nother ex a mple embodiment, ow ner s hip is
es ta blis hed a f ter the pr inter is ins ta lled w ith the cloud s er v er .
In this ins ta nce, the us er ID , us er pa s s w or d, a nd uniq ue iden
ti? ca tion of the pr inter a r e us ed f or ta g g ing ow ner s hip.
[ 0026 ] In one ex a mple embodiment, once ow ner s hip is
es ta blis hed, a uniq ue identi? ca tion is pr ov ided to the ow ner
( f or ex a mple, the ow ner is pr ov ided w ith a us er ID a nd a
pa s s w or d is a s s ocia ted w ith the us er ID ) . Ther ea f ter , the us er
ca n log in to cloud pr int s er v ice w ith the us er ID a nd pa s s w or d
a nd pr int to the pr inter . Log in ca n occur f r om a ny w or ldw ide
loca tion w ith netw or k or Inter net a cces s ( s uch a s a us er log
g ing in w ith a r emote por ta ble electr onic dev ice a nd s ending
a pr int j ob to the pr inter ) . F r om the pr inter or a r emote elec
tr onic dev ice, the ow ner ca n a ls o per f or m v a r ious s ys tem
cha ng es to the pr inter ( s uch a s cha ng ing def a ult pr int s etup f or
the pr inter , cha ng ing us er na me a nd/ or pa s s w or d, des ig na ting
other indiv idua ls w ith pr inting r ig hts to the pr inter , etc. ) .
Jun. 7 , 201 2
[ 0027 ] In one embodiment, ins ta lla tion of the pr inter w ith
the cloud pr int s er v ice occur s w ithout the us e of a per s ona l
computer ( PC) . Communica tion betw een the pr inter a nd
cloud pr int s er v ice is s u? icient to ins ta ll the pr inter w ith the
cloud a nd ena ble s ubs eq uent r emote pr inting w ith a n elec
tr onic dev ice by the ow ner .
[ 0028] F IG . 1 s how s a cloud pr int s ys tem 1 00 in a ccor da nce
w ith a n ex a mple embodiment of the pr es ent inv ention. The
s ys tem includes a plur a lity of us er s or computer s 1 1 0 ( s how n
a s us er 1 to us er N ) , a plur a lity of cloud s er v er s 1 20 ( s how n a s
cloud s er v er 1 to cloud s er v er M) , a plur a lity of pr inter s 1 3 4
f or the us er s , a w eb s er v ice 1 40, a nd a da ta ba s e 1 45 in com
munica tion w ith ea ch other thr oug h one or mor e netw or k s
1 50 ( s uch a s the inter net a nd w or ld w ide w eb or w eb) . The
w eb s er v ice 1 40 f ur ther includes a r eq ues t ha ndler 1 6 0, j ob
lis t pr oces s or 1 7 0, j ob lis t cr ea tor 1 80, cloud pr oces s or 1 85,
noti? ca tion s er v ices 1 9 0, a nd ins ta lla tion ha ndler 1 9 5. The
cloud pr oces s or 1 85 per f or ms pr oces s ing f unctions f or the
cloud, a nd the noti? ca tion s er v ices 1 9 0 noti? es a us er , com
puter , or a dminis tr a tor of j ob s ta tus , s uch a s pr int j ob com
plete, pr inting er r or , etc. The ins ta lla tion ha ndler 1 9 5 com
munica tes w ith the pr inter s 1 3 4 to ins ta ll the pr inter s , a s
dis cus s ed her ein w ith ex a mple embodiments .
[ 0029 ] The cloud pr int s ys tem pr ov ides pr inting s er v ices to
us er s w ho connect to the cloud thr oug h the intemet. Us er s a r e
a ble to pr int to their pr inter s f r om dif f er ent g eog r a phica l
loca tions a r ound the w or ld upon ins ta lling a pr inter a nd es ta b
lis hing ow ner s hip or us er r ig hts w ith the pr inter .
[ 003 0] G ener a lly, a pr int j ob w or k item is per f or med w ith
the f ollow ing oper a tions : ha ndling us er r eq ues ts , cr ea ting a
j ob lis t, a nd pr oces s ing the j ob lis t. The pr int j ob r eq ues t
ha ndler 1 6 0 a cts on us er r eq ues ts . The j ob lis t cr ea tor 1 80
cr ea tes j ob s teps , a nd the j ob lis t pr oces s or 1 7 0 ex ecutes the
j ob s teps a ccor ding to the a s s ig ned pr ior ities . Thes e ta s k s a r e
mor e f ully dis cus s ed in Us . pa tent a pplica tion ha v ing S er .
N o. 1 2/ 544, 223 entitled Web Pr inting w hich w a s ? led 20
Aug . 2009 a nd incor por a ted her ein by r ef er ence.
[ 003 1 ] F IG . 2 s how s a ? ow dia g r a m to r eg is ter a new pr inter
w ith a cloud pr int s er v er in a ccor da nce w ith a n ex a mple
embodiment.
[ 003 2] Accor ding to block 200, the pr inter is connected to
a netw or k , s uch a s the inter net. B y w a y of ex a mple, the pr inter
ca n be a n ex is ting pr inter of a us er or a new ly pur cha s ed
pr inter ( i. e. , a n out- of - the- box pr inter ) .
[ 003 3 ] Accor ding to block 205, netw or k con? g ur a tion
inf or ma tion, s uch a s a pr ox y Inter net Pr otocol ( IP) a ddr es s , is
enter ed. In one embodiment, the pr inter ha s a contr ol pa nel
a nd dis pla y thr oug h w hich a us er ca n enter inf or ma tion.
[ 003 4] Accor ding to block 21 0, cloud pr int s etup is s elected
f r om a menu dis pla y a t the pr inter . Af ter the pr inter is pow
er ed- on, the us er ca n na v ig a te thr oug h one or mor e menu
options dis pla yed on the pr inter a nd s elect a n option to con
nect the pr inter to s er v er a nd cloud pr int s er v ices . Altema
tiv ely, the pr inter ca n be con? g ur ed to a utoma tica lly pr ov ide
this option to the us er ( f or ex a mple, upon pow er - up, the
pr inter a s k s the us er if he or s he des ir es to connect to the cloud
pr int s er v er ) . As yet a nother a lter na tiv ely, upon pow er - up a nd
being connected to a netw or k , the pr inter a utoma tica lly con
nects to the cloud pr int s er v er ( i. e. , w ithout input f r om the
us er ) .
[ 003 5] Accor ding to block 220, the pr inter pr ompts the us er
to enter a us er na me a nd pa s s w or d, a nd the pr inter connects to
the cloud pr int s er v er . The us er na me uniq uely identi? es the
US 201 2/01 40285 A1
us er to the cloud pr int s er v er Which s tor es a lis t of pr ev ious ly
r eg is ter ed us er s a nd their a s s ocia ted pr inter s .
[ 003 6 ] Accor ding to block 23 0, a q ues tion is a s k ed Whether
the us er na me a nd pa s s Wor d a r e v a lid.
[ 003 7 ] If the us er na me a nd pa s s Wor d a r e not v a lid, then
? oW pr oceeds to block 240. Her e, the cloud pr int s er v er
r eq ues ts the us er to es ta blis h a us er na me a nd pa s s Wor d. N eW
us er s ma y not be r eg is ter ed With the cloud pr int s er v er a nd ca n
r eg is ter a t this time. B y Wa y of ex a mple, r eg is tr a tion includes
the us er pr ov iding per s ona l inf or ma tion, s uch a s na me,
a ddr es s , des ig na tion other indiv idua ls Who a r e a uthor iz ed to
pr int to the pr inter , identi? ca tion of por ta ble electr onic
dev ices f r om Which the us er Will pr int to the pr inter , g eo
g r a phica l loca tion, phone number s , ema il a ddr es s , etc. Once
the us er es ta blis hed a n a ccount ( i. e. , us er na me a nd pa s s
Wor d) , then ? oW pr oceeds ba ck to block 220.
[ 003 8] If the us er na me a nd pa s s Wor d a r e v a lid, then ? oW
pr oceeds to block 250. Her e, the pr inter is r ea dy to pr int f r om
the cloud With a n electr onic dev ice. Once the pr inter is s uc
ces s f ully log g ed into the cloud, the us er ca n pr int to the
pr inter f r om a ny electr onic dev ice tha t ca n communica te With
the cloud. In one embodiment, the us er enter s his or her
us er na me a nd pa s s Wor d f r om the electr onic dev ice. The cloud
pr int s er v er s tor es the us er na mes a nd their a s s ocia ted
ins ta lled pr inter s . Alter na tiv ely, the electr onic dev ice its elf is
pr ev ious ly r eg is ter ed With the cloud pr int s er v er a s being
oWned by the us er . The us er connects to the s er v er With the
electr onic dev ice, a nd the s er v er a utoma tica lly r ecog niz es the
electr onic dev ice a s belong ing to the us er .
[ 003 9 ] Once the pr inter s ucces s f ully connects to the cloud
pr int s er v er , pr inting pr oper ties of the pr inter a r e ins ta lled or
uploa ded to the cloud pr int s er v er . B y Wa y of ex a mple, s uch
pr inting pr oper ties include, but a r e not limited to, the f olloW
ing : PD L ( Pos tS cr ipt, PCL 5c, PCL 6 , PD F , etc. , ) , D ef a ult
pa per s iz e ( Letter or A4 or . . . ) , Color s uppor t, D uplex
s uppor t, etc. In one ex a mple embodiment, the pr inting pr op
er ties a r e ins ta lled us ing r epr es enta tiona l s ta te tr a ns f er a ppli
ca tion pr og r a m inter f a ce ( RES T API) .
[ 0040] The us er ca n a ls o be r eq ues ted to enter a na me of the
pr inter a nd other pa r a meter s , s uch a s g eo- code, loca tion of
the pr inter , per s ona l inf or ma tion, etc. As s hoWn in F IG . 1 f or
ex a mple, a s ing le us er ( s uch a s Us er 1 ) ca n ha v e multiple
dif f er ent pr inter s ( s uch a s Pr inter s f or Us er 1 a t 1 3 4) r eg is
ter ed a nd ins ta lled on the cloud. In or der to dis ting uis h
betWeen thes e pr inter s , the us er or oWner des ig na tes a na me
f or ea ch of the pr inter s ( s uch a s Home Pr inter or Of ? ce
Pr inter or D es k top Pr inter , etc. ) . When the us er is mobile
a nd a Wa y f r om the phys ica l loca tion of the pr inter s , the us er
ca n a cces s ea ch of the pr inter s ov er the cloud. Af ter the cloud
s er v er es ta blis hes a n identity of the us er , the us er ca n s elect
f r om a lis t of na mes to deter mine to Which pr inter the us er
des ir es to pr int or a cces s .
[ 0041 ] Once the pr inter is s ucces s f ully ins ta lled a nd r eg is
tr a tion or ins ta lla tion of the pr inter is v a lida ted, the pr inter is
noW Web- ena bled a nd r ea dy to pr int f r om r emote electr onic
dev ices of the us er .
[ 0042] F IG . 3 s hoWs a How dia g r a m to per f or m a pr int
oper a tion to a pr inter ins ta lled on a cloud in a ccor da nce With
a n ex a mple embodiment. F or illus tr a tion, the How dia g r a m is
dir ected to per f or ming a pr int j ob to a cloud pr inter f r om a
r emote electr onic dev ice. Ex a mple embodiments , hoWev er ,
a r e not limited to pr inting , but include other pr int oper a tions ,
s uch a s ma na g ing , ins ta lling , r eg is ter ing , a nd monitor ing a
pr int j ob a nd/ or cloud pr inting dev ice.
Jun. 7 , 201 2
[ 0043 ] Accor ding to block 3 00, the electr onic dev ice is
connected to the inter net, a nd the us er a nd/ or electr onic
dev ice log ins to the cloud pr int s er v er . F or ex a mple, the us er
enter s a us er na me a nd pa s s Wor d to log in to the cloud.
[ 0044] Accor ding to block 3 1 0, the us er s elects a document
to pr int. In one embodiment, the document cur r ently dis
pla yed on the electr onic dev ice is , by def a ult, a document
s elected f or pr inting . In a nother embodiment, the us er ca n
s elect a document s tor ed on the electr onic dev ice, s tor ed on
the cloud, or s tor ed a t a nother netWor k loca tion.
[ 0045] Accor ding to block 3 20, a s ea r ch f or r elev a nt pr int
er s occur s . In one embodiment, r elev a nt pr inter s a r e pr inter s
a s s ocia ted With the us er ( f or ex a mple, the us er ha s r ig hts or
pr iv ileg es to pr int to thes e cloud pr inter s , Which include both
public a nd pr iv a te pr inter s ) . The electr onic dev ice s ubmits a
s ea r ch q uer y to the cloud s er v er to loca te r elev a nt pr inter s to
Which the us er of the electr onic dev ice is a uthor iz ed to pr int.
[ 0046 ] In one embodiment, a lis t of a ll a v a ila ble or r elev a nt
pr inter s is pr ov ided to the us er ( i. e. , a ll pr inter s to Which the
us er ha s pr inting pr iv ileg es ) . In a nother embodiment, a s ea r ch
ca n be per f or med f or one or mor e s peci? c pr inter s . F or
ex a mple, a us er ca n enter a g eog r a phica l loca tion f or pr inter s
( e. g . , ? nd pr inter s loca ted in a s peci? c city) , enter a s peci? c
na me of a pr inter ( e. g . , ? nd home or of ? ce pr inter of the
us er ) , or enter a cur r ent loca tion a nd ? nd pr inter s Within a
s peci? c pr ox imity of this loca tion ( e. g . , enter cur r ent G PS
inf or ma tion a nd ? nd pr inter s Within l- lO k ilometer s of this
loca tion) . Ins tea d of the us er enter ing this inf or ma tion to ? nd
a pr inter , the electr onic dev ice ca n a utoma tica lly per f or m this
s tep f or the us er a nd loca te the r elev a nt pr inter s .
[ 0047 ] Accor ding to block 3 3 0, the us er is pr ov ided With a
lis t of a v a ila ble pr inter s a ccor ding to the s ea r ch a nd f or Which
the us er ha s a uthor iz ed a cces s . In one embodiment, thes e
pr inter s a r e dis pla yed on a dis pla y of the electr onic dev ice.
[ 0048] Accor ding to block 3 40, the us er s elects a pr inter
f r om the lis t of a v a ila ble pr inter s . F or ex a mple, With a click
oper a tion or other a ctua tion ( e. g . , a menu s election) , the us er
s elects one of the r elev a nt pr inter s .
[ 0049 ] Accor ding to block 3 50, the s elected document is
s ubmitted f or pr inting to the cloud pr inter . The pr int j ob
r eq ues t is tr a ns mitted f r om the electr onic dev ice ov er the
inter net to the cloud pr int s er v er .
[ 0050] Accor ding to block 3 6 0, the us er a nd/or electr onic
dev ice is pr ov ided With a noti? ca tion of s ucces s f ully com
pleted pr int j ob. Alter na tiv ely, if the pr int j ob is not s ucces s
f ully completed ( e. g . , a pr int er r or occur s ) , the us er is noti? ed.
[ 0051 ] F IG . 4 s hoWs a dis pla y 41 0 of a n electr onic dev ice
400 pr ov iding a common us er pr int ex per ience in a ccor da nce
With a n ex a mple embodiment.
[ 0052] As us ed her ein, a common us er pr int ex per ience
mea ns tha t dif f er ent electr onic dev ices ( s uch a s la ptops , ca m
er a s , mobile telephone, per s ona l dig ita l a s s is ta nts , etc. )
ex ecuting dif f er ent oper a ting s ys tems dis pla y a s a me or s imi
la r s et of s teps or pr ocedur es to per f or m a pr int oper a tion f r om
the electr onic dev ice ov er the Inter net to a cloud pr inter . This
common us er pr int ex per ience occur s r eg a r dles s of the oper
a ting s ys tem ex ecuting on the electr onic dev ice, Which is not
r eq uir ed to ha v e a n ins ta lled pr int dr iv er . This common us er
pr int ex per ience ex is ts When pr inting f r om a nd/ or to dif f er ent
electr onic dev ices a nd/or dif f er ent pla tf or ms ( e. g . , f r om dif
f er ent oper a ting s ys tems , to dif f er ent pr inter s f r om dif f er ent
ma nuf a ctur er s , s uch a s a n ink j et pr inter f r om one ma nuf a c
tur er a nd a la s er pr inter of a nother ma nuf a ctur er ) . F ur ther
mor e, this common us er pr int ex per ience occur s r eg a r dles s of
US 201 2/01 40285 A1
g eog r a phica l loca tion of the us er or the pr inter on the cloud
( s uch a s a home pr inter , o? ice pr inter , or public pr inter ) tha t is
a cces s ed a cr os s a ny netWor k ( intemet, intr a net, VPN , etc) .
F ur ther yet, pr int j obs a r e not limited to a ny pa r ticula r type of
document a nd include dif f er ent document types , s uch a s PD F ,
D OC, PPT, etc. Additiona lly, a common us er pr int ex per ience
is not limited to per f or ming pr int j obs but includes other
oper a tions , s uch a s monitor a nd/ma na g ing a pr int j ob, a
pr inter or pr inting dev ice, etc. ( e. g . , j ob ca ncel, monitor
pr inter s ta tus , etc. ) .
[ 0053 ] The common us er ex per ience is not limited to being
pr es ented on a dis pla y of the electr onic dev ice. This ex per i
ence ca n be a chiev ed thr oug h inter a ction ? oW cons is ting of
s imila r s teps . F or ex a mple, this inter a ction ca n be ex ecuted
thr oug h a v is ua l inter f a ce ( dis pla y, s cr een, etc. ) , v oice inter
f a ce or g es tur e a nd or multi- moda l inter f a ce.
[ 0054] F IG S . 4 a nd 5 illus tr a te ex a mple dis pla ys being
pr es ented to us er s dur ing this common us er pr int ex per ience.
The items being dis pla yed ( e. g . , g r a phics a nd tex t) ca n occur
on dif f er ent electr onic dev ices tha t ex ecute dif f er ent oper a t
ing s ys tems . F or ex a mple, a us er ex ecuting a pr inter oper a tion
on a la ptop computer ca n v is ua lly s ee on the dis pla y a s imila r
or s a me s et of tex t a nd g r a phics a s a us er ex ecuting a pr int
oper a tion on a mobile telephone or B la ck B er r y dev ice. Lik e
Wis e, the us er on the la ptop Would under g o s imila r or s a me
s teps to pr int a s the us er on the mobile telephone.
[ 0055] As s hoWn in F IG . 4, the dis pla y 41 0 depicts a docu
ment tha t the us er des ir es to pr int to a cloud pr inter ( f or
ex a mple, a s dis cus s ed in block 3 1 0 of F IG . 3 ) .
[ 0056 ] The us er s elects a n a ction to per f or m on the docu
ment. F or ex a mple, f r om a pull- doWn menu, the us er is pr o
v ided With a lis t of pos s ible a ctions 420 tha t include pr int,
s a v e, s end, clos e, open, neW. The pr int option 422 is s elected
a s the des ir ed option.
[ 0057 ] Once the pr int option 422 is s elected, a s ea r ch f or
pr inter s box 425 a ppea r s on the dis pla y 41 0. The s ea r ch f or
pr inter s box 425 includes a q uer y a r ea or box 43 0 a nd a r es ults
dis pla y a r ea or box 43 2. As illus tr a ted in F IG . 4, the us er ha s
enter ed N ew Yor k City a s the loca tion to be s ea r ched f or
r elev a nt pr inter s ( f or ex a mple, a s dis cus s ed in block 3 20 of
F IG . 3 ) . The r es ults of the s ea r ch a r e dis pla yed in dis pla y a r ea
43 2 ( f or ex a mple, a s dis cus s ed in block 3 3 0 of F IG . 3 ) . F our
r elev a nt pr inter s a r e dis pla yed to the us er ( HP La s er Jet Penn
Pla z a , Hotel 1 53 5 B r oa dWa y, La G ua r dia Air por t Loung e, a nd
My Home Pr inter ) .
[ 0058] The pr inter s dis pla yed to the us er a r e a lis t of a ll
a v a ila ble or r elev a nt pr inter s to Which the us er is a uthor iZ ed to
pr int. This lis t ca n include public pr inter s ( i. e. , pr inter s a v a il
a ble to the g ener a l public, s uch a s the pr inter a t the La G ua r dia
Air por t Loung e) a nd pr iv a te pr inter s ( s uch a s home or of ? ce
pr inter s , one being s hoWn a s My Home Pr inter ) . As illus tr a ted
in F IG . 4, the us er ha s s elected to pr int to HP La s er Jet Penn
Pla Z a ( f or ex a mple, a s dis cus s ed in block 3 40 of F IG . 3 ) .
[ 0059 ] Af ter the us er s elects one of the lis ted r elev a nt pr int
er s , a pr int box 440 a ppea r s on the dis pla y 41 0. This box
dis pla ys the s elected inf or ma tion a nd r eq ues ts con? r ma tion
of pr inting . B y Wa y of illus tr a tion, the dis pla y pr ov ides pr int
noti? ca tion 442 ( Your a r e pr inting ) , s our ce of the document
being pr inted 444 ( S our ce: Outlook , ema il ) , na me of the
document s elected f or pr inting 446 ( D ocument: HP Pr es en
ta tion ) , a nd the pr inter s elected f or the pr inter oper a tion 448
( S elected Pr inter : HP La s er Jet Penn Pla Z a ) . The pr int box
440 a ls o r eq ues ts con? r ma tion f or the pr int oper a tion, a nd the
us er is pr ov ided With tWo choices : ca ncel 450 or pr int 452.
Jun. 7 , 201 2
S election of ca ncel 450 ca ncels the pr int oper a tion, a nd s elec
tion of pr int 452 per f or ms the pr int oper a tion.
[ 006 0] F IG . 5 s hoWs a dis pla y 51 0 of a n electr onic dev ice
500 pr ov iding a common us er pr int ex per ience in a ccor da nce
With a n ex a mple embodiment. The dis pla y 51 0 depicts a
document tha t the us er des ir es to pr int to a cloud pr inter ( f or
ex a mple, a s dis cus s ed in block 3 1 0 of F IG . 3 ) .
[ 006 1 ] The dis pla y 51 0 includes a pr int icon or Widg et 51 5.
In or der to pr int the document, the us er per f or ms a dr a g a nd
dr op oper a tion Wher ein the document is mov ed or dr a g g ed to
the pr int icon 51 5. This a ction s elects the document f or pr int
ing . Alter na tiv ely, the us er ca n click or a ctua tion the pr int icon
to commence the pr int oper a tion of the document.
[ 006 2] Once the pr int option is s elected, a s ea r ch f or pr int
er s box 525 a ppea r s on the dis pla y 51 0. The s ea r ch f or pr int
er s box 525 includes a q uer y a r ea or box 53 0 a nd a r es ults
dis pla y a r ea 53 5 tha t lis ts With icons r elev a nt pr inter s . As
illus tr a ted, thr ee r elev a nt pr inter s a r e dis pla yed: a home
pr inter 53 6 , a n of ? ce pr inter 53 7 , a nd a public pr inter 53 8 ( f or
ex a mple, a s dis cus s ed in block 3 3 0 of F IG . 3 ) . As illus tr a ted
in F IG . 5, the us er ha s s elected to pr int to Home pr inter 53 6
( f or ex a mple, a s dis cus s ed in block 3 40 of F IG . 3 ) .
[ 006 3 ] In one embodiment, the us er does not s elect a pr inter
f r om the lis t of a v a ila ble pr inter s . Ins tea d, a pr inter is a uto
ma tica lly s elected, s uch a s a pr inter being s elected a s a def a ult
pr inter or a pr inter la s t us ed.
[ 006 4] In one embodiment, the thr ee icons a r e dis pla yed to
r epr es ent thr ee cla s s es of pr inter s : home, o? ice, a nd public.
Click ing on one of thes e icons dis pla ys a ll r elev a nt pr inter s
f or the s elected cla s s . F or ex a mple, When the us er click s on
the Public pr inter icon 53 8, a ll r elev a nt public pr inter s a r e
dis pla yed to the us er . As a nother ex a mple, When the us er
click s on the O? ice pr inter icon 53 6 , a ll r elev a nt of ? ce
pr inter s a r e dis pla yed to the us er .
[ 006 5] Af ter the us er s elects one of the lis ted r elev a nt pr int
er s , a pr int box 540 a ppea r s on the dis pla y 51 0. This box
dis pla ys the s elected inf or ma tion a nd r eq ues ts con? r ma tion
of pr inting . B y Wa y of illus tr a tion, the dis pla y pr ov ides pr int
noti? ca tion 542 ( Your a r e pr inting ) , s our ce of the document
being pr inted 544 ( S our ce: Outlook , ema il ) , na me of the
document s elected f or pr inting 546 ( D ocument: HP Pr es en
ta tion ) , a nd the pr inter s elected f or the pr inter oper a tion
( Home pr inter icon 53 6 being s elected) . The pr int box 540
a ls o r eq ues ts con? r ma tion f or the pr int oper a tion, a nd the us er
is pr ov ided With tWo choices : ca ncel 550 or pr int 552. S elec
tion of ca ncel 550 ca ncels the pr int oper a tion, a nd s election of
pr int 552 per f or ms the pr int oper a tion.
[ 006 6 ] F IG . 6 s hoWs a How dia g r a m of pr inting With thr ee
k ey or click a ctua tions in a ccor da nce With a n ex a mple
embodiment.
[ 006 7 ] Accor ding to block 6 00, a pr int button is s elected on
the electr onic dev ice. F or ex a mple, the us er click s a pr int icon
dis pla yed on the electr onic dev ice. Alter na tiv ely, the us er
s elects a pr int option f r om a menu dis pla yed on the electr onic
dev ice.
[ 006 8] Accor ding to block 6 1 0, a r elev a nt pr inter is
s elected. One or mor e r elev a nt pr inter s ca n be r eg is ter ed a nd
connected to the cloud f or Which the us er is a uthor iz ed to
pr int. Thes e pr inter s ca n be pr ov ided or dis pla yed to the us er
f or s election. Alter na tiv ely, a r elev a nt cloud pr inter ca n be
a utoma tica lly s elected f or the us er .
[ 006 9 ] Accor ding to block 6 20, a con? r ma tion of pr int is
s elected. Once a pr inter is s elected f or the pr int j ob, a con? r
ma tion is pr ov ided on the dis pla y of the electr onic dev ice to
US 201 2/01 40285 Al
the us er . The con? r ma tion con? r ms the pr int oper a tion a nd
other inf or ma tion, s uch a s na me of pr inter , loca tion of pr inter ,
na me of document to be pr inted, loca tion of document, etc.
[ 007 0] One ex a mple embodiment thus ena bles a us er to
pr int a document to a cloud pr inter With thr ee click s or a ctua
tions : ( 1 ) s electing a pr int button or pr int comma nd, ( 2) s elect
ing a r elev a nt pr int to Which the document Will be pr inted, a nd
( 3 ) con? r ming the pr int oper a tion.
[ 007 1 ] Once the r elev a nt pr inter is s elected, the us er ca n
a ls o be pr ov ided With a n option to v ieW a nd/ or cha ng e pr int
pa r a meter s . F or ex a mple, the us er ca n v ieW a nd/or cha ng e
one or mor e of the number of copies being pr inted, the pr int
q ua lity, the color , s elect pa g es to pr int, or ienta tion ( la nds ca pe
or por tr a it) , loca tion to s tor e the document ( e. g . , s tor e on
cloud s er v er ) , etc.
[ 007 2] In one embodiment, the us er ca n pr int With les s tha n
thr ee a ctua tions or click s . The electr onic dev ice a nd/or cloud
s er v er ca n a utoma tica lly s elect a pr inter f or the us er . F or
ex a mple, the electr onic dev ice includes a g loba l pos itioning
s ys tem ( G PS ) tha t a utoma tica lly loca tes the loca tion of the
electr onic dev ice a nd tr a ns mits this loca tion to the cloud pr int
s er v er . The s er v er , in tur n, deter mines a pr inter clos es t to the
us er a nd s elects this pr inter a s the cur r ent def a ult pr int. Alter
na tiv ely, the us er ca n ha v e a lis t of f a v or ite pr inter s . The s er v er
s elects f r om this lis t of f a v or ite pr inter s depending on the
loca tion of the us er . As yet a nother a lter na tiv e, the s er v er
s elects a pr inter ba s ed on the a v a ila bility of the r elev a nt pr int
er s . If one r elev a nt pr inter is bus y pr inting other pr int j obs , the
s er v er s elects a nother or lea s t bus y pr inter to ex pedite pr inting
of the document f or the us er .
[ 007 3 ] With ex a mple embodiments , us er s a r e a ble to pr int
f r om a mobile or por ta ble electr onic dev ice f r om a ny loca tion
( home, o? ice, on the g o) to a ny r elev a nt cloud pr inter . The
electr onic dev ice is not r eq uir ed to ha v e a pr int dr iv er . Ins tea d,
pr inting is per f or med to the cloud pr int s er v er us ing a minima l
( e. g . , thr ee) click s or a ctua tions on the electr onic dev ice.
Reg a r dles s of the electr onic dev ice, us er s a r e pr ov ided With a
unif or m or s imila r pr int ex per ience ( i. e. , the s teps f or per
f or ming a pr int oper a tion to a cloud pr int s er v er a r e eq uiv a lent
f r om one dev ice to a nother dev ice r eg a r dles s of the OS
ex ecuting on the dev ices ) . The electr onic dev ices ca n a ls o be
pr ov ided With a pr int button, icon, or Widg et embedded in a n
a pplica tion ex ecuting on the electr onic dev ice. Pr inting to a
r elev a nt cloud pr inter commences With a s ing le click of this
button or a s ing le dr a g - a nd- dr op oper a tion of a document to
the icon.
[ 007 4] Us er s ca n s ea r ch f or r elev a nt pr inter s or ha v e the
electr onic dev ice in conj unction With the pr int s er v er s ea r ch
f or s uch pr inter s . A r elev a nt pr inter f or a us er ca n be ba s ed on
loca tion of the us er a nd/ or electr onic dev ice ( e. g . , G PS loca
tion, pos ta l Z ip code, s tr eet a ddr es s , etc. ) , time, f ea tur es
des ir ed f or pr inting , etc. F ur ther mor e, us er s ca n pr int in v ir
tua l pr iv a te netWor k ( VPN ) a nd non- VPN env ir onments .
[ 007 5] With ex a mple embodiments , us er s ca n pr int f r om a n
a pplica tion s uch a s br oWs er , cus tom a pplica tions , Widg et,
etc. , to a cloud pr inter on the Web. Va r ious types of documents
ca n be pr inted, s uch a s tex t, ima g es , PD F , etc. The electr onic
dev ice s ubmitting the pr int r eq ues t ma y not conta in a s s oci
a ted a pplica tion.
[ 007 6 ] Ex a mple embodiments pr ov ide a n a bility to s epa
r a te out a s s ocia tion f or document v ieWing a nd f or pr inting . A
s peci? c a pplica tion ( s uch a s Wor d) is not r eq uir ed to pr int
a s s ocia ted documents f r om a g iv en dev ice. Pr inter identi? ca
tion, a cces s , connectiv ity is s impli? ed s ince us er s ex per ience
Jun. 7 , 201 2
common a cr os s pla tf or ms a nd oper a ting s ys tems . This com
mon ex per ience ca n include us er s per f or ming thr ee s teps f or
s ubmitting a pr int j ob: ( 1 ) s ea r ch a pr inter ba s ed on loca tion,
( 2) s elect a document, a nd ( 3 ) s ubmit a pr int j ob.
[ 007 7 ] Pr ov is ioning of a pr inter is a ls o s impli? ed r eg a r d
les s of the OS or the type of pr inter . The pr inter oWner ca n
a ctiv a te the pr inter by mea ns of r eg is tr a tion pr oces s ov er the
Web. The r eg is tr a tion pr oces s inv olv es dev ice type r ecog ni
tion, ma nua lly link ing the dev ice to a pr inter oWner a nd
a s s ocia ting pr inter us a g e cha r a cter is tics s uch a s s ha r ed, loca
tion, etc. , Pr inter pr ov is ioning elimina tes the need f or cr e
a tion of log ica l dev ices s uch a s US B dev ice, LPT dev ice, TCP
pr inter por t, etc. , on oper a ting s ys tem.
[ 007 8] F IG . 7 is a block dia g r a m of a n electr onic dev ice 7 00
in a cloud pr int s ys tem in a ccor da nce With a n ex a mple
embodiment. The electr onic dev ice 7 00 includes memor y
7 1 0, a lg or ithms 7 20, dis pla y 7 3 0, pr oces s ing unit 7 40, a nd
one or mor e bus es 7 50. The pr oces s or unit includes a pr oces
s or ( s uch a s a centr a l pr oces s ing unit, CPU, micr opr oces s or ,
a pplica tion- s peci? c integ r a ted cir cuit ( AS IC) , etc. ) f or con
tr olling the ov er a ll oper a tion of memor y 7 1 0 ( s uch a s r a ndom
a cces s memor y ( RAM) f or tempor a r y da ta s tor a g e, r ea d only
memor y ( ROM) f or per ma nent da ta s tor a g e, a nd ? r mWa r e) .
The pr oces s ing unit 7 40 communica tes With memor y 7 1 0 a nd
a lg or ithms 520 v ia one or mor e bus es 7 50 a nd per f or ms
oper a tions a nd ta s k s tha t implement one or mor e block s of the
How dia g r a ms dis cus s ed her ein. The memor y 7 1 0, f or
ex a mple, s tor es a pplica tions , da ta , pr og r a ms , a lg or ithms ( in
cluding s of tWa r e to implement or a s s is t in implementing
embodiments in a ccor da nce With the pr es ent inv ention) a nd
other da ta .
D EF IN ITION S
[ 007 9 ] As us ed her ein a nd in the cla ims , the f olloWing
Wor ds a r e de? ned a s f olloWs :
[ 0080] The ter m cloud is a computer netWor k a cces s ible
ov er the intemet a nd/or Web tha t is dyna mica lly s ca la ble With
v ir tua liZ ed r es our ces , s uch a s pr inting r es our ces . Us er s a r e
not r eq uir ed to ha v e k now ledg e or ex per tis e in the inf r a s tr uc
tur e of the cloud tha t r elies on the Inter net to s a tis f y the
computing or pr inting needs of us er s . The cloud pr ov ides
computer a nd/or pr inter s er v ices With bus ines s a pplica tions
tha t a r e a cces s ible f r om a Web br oWs er While s of tWa r e a nd
da ta a r e s tor ed on s er v er s in the cloud. F or ex a mple, a pr inting
cloud s ys tem s uppor ts inf r a s tr uctur e f or pr inter s er v ices , pla t
f or m f or the pr inter s er v ices , a nd s of tWa r e f or the pr inter
s er v ices .
[ 0081 ] The ter m pr inter mea ns a n electr onic dev ice tha t
pr ints a nd includes multi- f unctiona l electr onic dev ices tha t
per f or m f unctions s uch a s pr inting , s ca nning , a nd/or copying .
[ 0082] The ter m Web- ena bled pr inter is a pr inter tha t is
a cces s ed to pr int documents ov er the Web.
[ 0083 ] The ter m Wor ld Wide Web or Web is a s ys tem of
link ed hyper tex t documents a cces s thr oug h the intemet.
Us ing a Web br oWs er , a us er ca n v ieW Web pa g es tha t include
tex t, ima g es , v ideo, a nd other media a nd na v ig a te betWeen
thes e pa g es With hyper link s .
[ 0084] Ex a mple embodiments a r e dis cus s ed in connection
With a pr inter . Ex a mple embodiments , hoWev er , a r e not lim
ited to a pr inter but include v a r ious other types of electr onic
dev ices tha t per f or m one or mor e f unctions s uch a s pr inting ,
s ca nning , or copying .
[ 0085] In one ex a mple embodiment, one or mor e block s or
s teps dis cus s ed her ein a r e a utoma ted. In other Wor ds , a ppa
US 201 2/01 40285 A1
r a tus , s ys tems , a nd methods occur a utoma tica lly. The ter ms
a utoma ted or a utoma tica lly ( a nd lik e v a r ia tions ther eof )
mea n contr olled oper a tion of a n a ppa r a tus , s ys tem, a nd/or
pr oces s us ing computer s a nd/or mecha nica l/electr ica l
dev ices Without the neces s ity of huma n inter v ention, obs er
v a tion, ef f or t a nd/ or decis ion.
[ 0086 ] The methods in a ccor da nce With ex a mple embodi
ments of the pr es ent inv ention a r e pr ov ided a s ex a mples a nd
s hould not be cons tr ued to limit other embodiments Within
the s cope of the inv ention. F ur ther , methods or s teps dis
cus s ed Within dif f er ent ? g ur es ca n be a dded to or ex cha ng ed
With methods of s teps in other ? g ur es . F ur ther yet, s peci? c
numer ica l da ta v a lues ( s uch a s s peci? c q ua ntities , number s ,
ca teg or ies , etc. ) or other s peci? c inf or ma tion s hould be inter
pr eted a s illus tr a tiv e f or dis cus s ing ex a mple embodiments .
S uch s peci? c inf or ma tion is not pr ov ided to limit the inv en
tion.
[ 0087 ] In s ome ex a mple embodiments , the methods illus
tr a ted her ein a nd da ta a nd ins tr uctions a s s ocia ted ther eWith
a r e s tor ed in r es pectiv e s tor a g e dev ices , Which a r e imple
mented a s one or mor e computer - r ea da ble or computer - us
a ble s tor a g e media or mediums . The s tor a g e media include
dif f er ent f or ms of memor y including s emiconductor memor y
dev ices s uch a s D RAM, or S RAM, Er a s a ble a nd Pr og r a m
ma ble Rea d- Only Memor ies ( EPROMs ) , Electr ica lly Er a s
a ble a nd Pr og r a mma ble Rea d- Only Memor ies ( EEPROMs )
a nd ? a s h memor ies ; ma g netic dis k s s uch a s ? x ed, ? oppy a nd
r emov a ble dis k s ; other ma g netic media including ta pe; a nd
optica l media s uch a s Compa ct D is k s ( CD s ) or D ig ita l Ver
s a tile D is k s ( D VD s ) . N ote tha t the ins tr uctions of the s of tWa r e
dis cus s ed a bov e ca n be pr ov ided on one computer - r ea da ble
or computer - us a ble s tor a g e medium, or a lter na tiv ely, ca n be
pr ov ided on multiple computer - r ea da ble or computer - us a ble
s tor a g e media dis tr ibuted in a la r g e s ys tem ha v ing pos s ibly
plur a l nodes . S uch computer - r ea da ble or computer - us a ble
s tor a g e medium or media is ( a r e) cons ider ed to be pa r t of a n
a r ticle ( or a r ticle of ma nuf a ctur e) . An a r ticle or a r ticle of
ma nuf a ctur e ca n r ef er to a ny ma nuf a ctur ed s ing le component
or multiple components .
[ 0088] In the v a r ious embodiments in a ccor da nce With the
pr es ent inv ention, embodiments a r e implemented a s a
method, s ys tem, a nd/or a ppa r a tus . As one ex a mple, ex a mple
embodiments a nd s teps a s s ocia ted ther eWith a r e imple
mented a s one or mor e computer s of tWa r e pr og r a ms to imple
ment the methods des cr ibed her ein. The s of tWa r e is imple
mented a s one or mor e modules ( a ls o r ef er r ed to a s code
s ubr outines , or obj ects in obj ect- or iented pr og r a mming ) .
The loca tion of the s of tWa r e Will dif f er f or the v a r ious a lter
na tiv e embodiments . The s of tWa r e pr og r a mming code, f or
ex a mple, is a cces s ed by a pr oces s or or pr oces s or s of the
computer or s er v er f r om long - ter m s tor a g e media of s ome
type, s uch a s a CD - ROMdr iv e or ha r d dr iv e. The s of tWa r e
pr og r a mming code is embodied or s tor ed on a ny of a v a r iety
of k noWn phys ica l a nd ta ng ible media f or us e With a da ta
pr oces s ing s ys tem or in a ny memor y dev ice s uch a s s emicon
ductor , ma g netic a nd optica l dev ices , including a dis k , ha r d
dr iv e, CD - ROM, ROM, etc. The code is dis tr ibuted on s uch
media , or is dis tr ibuted to us er s f r om the memor y or s tor a g e of
one computer s ys tem ov er a netWor k of s ome type to other
computer s ys tems f or us e by us er s of s uch other s ys tems .
Alter na tiv ely, the pr og r a mming code is embodied in the
memor y a nd a cces s ed by the pr oces s or us ing the bus . The
techniq ues a nd methods f or embodying s of tWa r e pr og r a m
Jun. 7 , 201 2
ming code in memor y, on phys ica l media , a nd/ or dis tr ibuting
s of tWa r e code v ia netWor k s a r e Well k noWn a nd Will not be
f ur ther dis cus s ed her ein.
[ 0089 ] The a bov e dis cus s ion is mea nt to be illus tr a tiv e of
the pr inciples a nd v a r ious embodiments of the pr es ent inv en
tion. N umer ous v a r ia tions a nd modi? ca tions Will become
a ppa r ent to thos e s k illed in the a r t once the a bov e dis clos ur e
is f ully a ppr ecia ted. It is intended tha t the f olloWing cla ims be
inter pr eted to embr a ce a ll s uch v a r ia tions a nd modi? ca tions .
Wha t is cla imed is :
1 ) A method ex ecuted by a por ta ble electr onic dev ice,
compr is ing :
r eceiv ing , a t the por ta ble electr onic dev ice, a s election to
pr int a document ov er a n intemet to a pr inter r eg is ter ed
With a s er v er ; a nd
dis pla ying a common us er pr int ex per ience on the elec
tr onic dev ice r eg a r dles s of a type of oper a ting s ys tem
ins ta lled on the por ta ble electr onic dev ice.
2) The method of cla im 1 , Wher ein the common us er pr int
ex per ience mea ns tha t dif f er ent por ta ble electr onic dev ices
ex ecuting dif f er ent oper a ting s ys tems dis pla y a s a me s et of
s teps to per f or m a pr int oper a tion to the pr inter r eg is ter ed With
the s er v er .
3 ) The method of cla im 1 , Wher ein the common us er pr int
ex per ience occur s Without a pr int dr iv er ins ta lled on the por
ta ble electr onic dev ice.
4) The method of cla im 1 f ur ther compr is ing , pr inting the
document to the pr inter With thr ee click s on the por ta ble
electr onic dev ice tha t include s electing a pr int button, s elect
ing the pr inter , a nd s electing con? r ma tion to pr int to the
pr inter .
5) The method of cla im 1 f ur ther compr is ing :
dis pla ying a s ea r ch box on the por ta ble electr onic dev ice;
r eceiv ing a s ea r ch ter m in the s ea r ch box ;
s ea r ching f or a r elev a nt pr inter ba s ed on the s ea r ch ter m to
Which a us er of the electr onic dev ice is a uthor iZ ed to
pr int.
6 ) A ta ng ible computer r ea da ble s tor a g e medium ha v ing
ins tr uctions f or ca us ing a n electr onic dev ice to ex ecute a
method, compr is ing :
tr a ns mitting , f r om the electr onic dev ice, a pr int r eq ues t to
pr int a document ov er a n intemet to a cloud pr inter
r eg is ter ed With a cloud s er v er ; a nd
pr ov iding a common us er pr int ex per ience on the elec
tr onic dev ice to pr int the document to the cloud pr inter
r eg a r dles s of a type of oper a ting s ys tem ins ta lled on the
electr onic dev ice.
7 ) The ta ng ible computer r ea da ble s tor a g e medium of
cla im 6 f ur ther compr is ing , dis pla ying a lis t of cloud pr inter s
to Which a us er of the electr onic dev ice ha s pr inting pr iv i
leg es .
8) The ta ng ible computer r ea da ble s tor a g e medium of
cla im 6 f ur ther compr is ing , tr a ns mitting , f r om the electr onic
dev ice to the cloud s er v er , a q uer y to s ea r ch f or r elev a nt
pr inter s to Which a us er of the electr onic dev ice is a uthor iZ ed
to pr int.
9 ) The ta ng ible computer r ea da ble s tor a g e medium of
cla im 6 f ur ther compr is ing , s imulta neous ly dis pla ying on the
electr onic dev ice a pr int box tha t includes a na me of the
document, a s our ce of the document, a na me of the cloud
pr inter , a nd a con? r ma tion to pr int to the cloud pr inter .
1 0) The ta ng ible computer r ea da ble s tor a g e medium of
cla im 6 f ur ther compr is ing , dis pla ying a pr int icon the elec
tr onic dev ice to initia te the common us er pr int ex per ience.
US 201 2/01 40285 A1
1 1 ) A por ta ble electr onic dev ice, compr is ing :
a dis pla y;
a memor y s tor ing a n a lg or ithm; a nd
a pr oces s or connected to the memor y to ex ecute the a lg o
r ithm tha t:
tr a ns mits , to a cloud s er v er ov er a netw or k , a document
to pr int a t a pr inter r eg is ter ed With the cloud s er v er ;
a nd
dis pla ys a common us er pr int ex per ience on the dis pla y
r eg a r dles s of a type of oper a ting s ys tem ins ta lled on
the por ta ble electr onic dev ice.
1 2) The por ta ble electr onic dev ice of cla im 1 1 , Wher ein the
pr oces s or f ur ther ex ecutes the a lg or ithm to dis pla y a plur a lity
of cloud pr inter s tha t include home pr inter s , of ? ce pr inter s ,
a nd public pr inter s tha t a r e a v a ila ble f or pr inting to a us er of
the por ta ble electr onic dev ice.
Jun. 7 , 201 2
1 3 ) The por ta ble electr onic dev ice of cla im 1 1 , Wher ein the
pr oces s or f ur ther ex ecutes the a lg or ithm to tr a ns mit s ea r ch
r eq ues t to the cloud s er v er to s ea r ch f or r elev a nt cloud pr inter s
Within a s peci? ed g eog r a phica l loca tion of the electr onic
dev ice.
1 4) The por ta ble electr onic dev ice of cla im 1 1 , Wher ein the
common us er pr int ex per ience mea ns tha t dif f er ent por ta ble
electr onic dev ices ex ecuting dif f er ent oper a ting s ys tems dis
pla y a s a me s et of s teps to per f or m a pr int oper a tion to the
pr inter r eg is ter ed With the cloud s er v er .
1 5) The por ta ble electr onic dev ice of cla im 1 1 Wher ein the
pr oces s or f ur ther ex ecutes the a lg or ithm to r eg is ter the pr inter
With the cloud s er v er s o the pr inter ca n s ubs eq uently r eceiv e
pr int j obs f r om a por ta ble electr onic dev ice.
* * * * *