System and method for walk-up printing

Abstract

Disclosed are various systems and methods for printing documents. In one embodiment, a printing system is provided that comprises a host and a local printer coupled thereto, the local printer having a portable device communications port with which to establish a communications link a portable device. The local printer includes means for relaying a non-rendered document received via the portable device communications port to the host for rendering. The host includes means in the host for orchestrating a rendering of the non-rendered document into a rendered document with a printer format compatible with the local printer, the non-rendered document being rendered using one of a number of applications in the host, and, means in the host for transmitting a rendered document to the local printer to be printed.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention is generally related to the field of printing and, more particularly, is related to a system and method for walk-up printing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Recent years have seen a proliferation of portable electronic devices such as personal digital assistants (PDA's), cellular telephones, and / or other portable electronic devices. Some such devices also include input / output ports to communicate with computer systems, printers, and other devices using either electrical cables or wireless communication interfaces such as Infrared data communications interfaces. In many cases, these portable electronic devices feature limited computing capacity and correspondingly limited functionality. For example, some personal digital assistants may include enough memory to store a specific number of documents, but may not be able to execute larger applications that are necessary to render the stored documents into a format that is compatible with a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides various systems and methods for printing a document. One embodiment involves receiving a non-rendered document from a local printer in a host computer, identifying an application compatible with the non-rendered document, and rendering the document using the selected application. The rendered document is then sent to the local printer for printing. Another embodiment involves a program that provides a rendering service in the host, which identifies the file type of a non-rendered document and launches the compatible application to render the document. A system embodiment involves a printer that can relay non-rendered documents to a host for rendering and printing. The invention allows for easy printing of non-rendered documents and compatibility with various applications."

Problems solved by technology

In many cases, these portable electronic devices feature limited computing capacity and correspondingly limited functionality.

For example, some personal digital assistants may include enough memory to store a specific number of documents, but may not be able to execute larger applications that are necessary to render the stored documents into a format that is compatible with a particular printer for printing.

In other situations, a portable electronic device such as a laptop computer may not be limited in terms of computer capacity, but may not include the proper applications to render a particular document for a particular printer.

Even thought the user has access to a printer that can interface with the portable electronic device, unfortunately, the document cannot be rendered for printing by the portable electronic device since the portable electronic device does not include the specific word processor.

If any of the above situations exists, a user may find themselves in a place with a printer that can communicate with their portable electronic device, but they would be frustrated in any attempt to print a document from the portable electronic device.

Images