Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
  • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
  • G06F3/1205—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
  • G06F3/1218—Reducing or saving of used resources, e.g. avoiding waste of consumables or improving usage of hardware resources
  • G06F3/1219—Reducing or saving of used resources, e.g. avoiding waste of consumables or improving usage of hardware resources with regard to consumables, e.g. ink, toner, paper
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
  • G06F3/1237—Print job management
  • G06F3/125—Page layout or assigning input pages onto output media, e.g. imposition
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
  • G06F3/1237—Print job management
  • G06F3/1253—Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
  • G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
  • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
  • G06F3/1204—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
  • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
  • G06F3/1208—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
  • G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
  • G06F3/1288—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server in client-server-printer device configuration

Definitions

• This invention relates to a method for printing a multi-page document, to a computer program, to a computer when programmed with the program and to a computer program product, such as a data carrier, carrying the program.
• search for and collect all types of information using the Internet there is for example a search method such that a keyword input by the user is entered into a search engine, and the addresses of all of the pages hit using that keyword are output.
• the present invention seeks to provide a new and useful method for accessing multi-page documents stored on a remote computer, such as an internet server, as well as to a computer which can perform the method, and a computer program product which can cause a computer to perform the method.
• a remote computer such as an internet server
• a method for printing a copy of a multi-page document originally stored on a remote computer comprising the steps of:
• the method does not require the intervention of the computer user between the copying of two or more pages (or more preferably between the first and last page) of the multi-page document.
• This may be achieved by the translation of the request by the local computer (or optionally by the remote computer) into the URLs corresponding to the location of pages of the multi-page document on the remote computer.
• the local computer may also avoid any need for intervention of the computer user between the printing of two or more of the pages, or even the first and last page, of the multi-page document by the 'automation' it provides.
• the remote computer When the remote computer translates the request into the URLs corresponding to the location of pages of the multi-page document on the remote computer there should be no requirement or intervention by then computer user (e.g. no need to input data) between the copying of two or more of the pages, or preferably between the copying of the first and last page, of the multi-page document.
• the local and remote computers may be connected by any suitable means, preferably by a network, more preferably by a local area network or the Internet.
• the multi-page document may be converted to a single page document after the multi-page document has been copied to the local computer or to the computer specified by the local computer.
• the method does not require the intervention of the computer user between step (iv) and step (v). This may be achieved, for example, where the documents are in the .pdf file format (as favoured by Esp@cenet and Canadian patent office) by using Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4.0 or higher, available from http://www.adobe.com.
• the multi-page document is preferably a patent specification (or a portion of a patent specification), more preferably a PCT, US, European, UK, Canadian, Japanese, Community patent or patent application filed under the Community Patent convention, or a national German, Swiss, French, Austrian, Australian, ARIPO, Italian, Dutch, Belgian, Korean, Taiwanese or Chinese patent application or patent.
• the user may have the option of selecting whether the entire patent specification is printed out, or only a selected portion (e.g. only the figures and description).
• the user may have the option of selecting more than one patent document (or respective portions from more than one patent document), the method in this case including (e.g. successively) obtaining the documents from the remote server (or even from more than one remote servers).
• the method further comprises translating the text on one or more of the pages of the multi-page document by means of a computer program from a first language to a second language which is different from the first language, for example from German or French into English.
• first and second languages include English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Welsh, Croatian, Russian,
• the translation from the first language to the second language is preferably performed on by the local computer or by a computer other than the local computer or the remote computer from which the document was obtained.
• the text may be sent to the Systransoft site at http://www.systransoft.com/ , translated there and returned to the local computer.
• the text may be sent to the Intertran web site at http://www.tranexp.com/lnterTran.cgi , translated there and returned to the local computer.
• the preference for the Intertran site is because this can, at present, translate 729 language pairs whereas the Systran site has a more limited number of translation options.
• the remote computer may be, for example, located at, controlled by or operated by a National or supra-national patent office (e.g. the European patent Office or the World Intellectual Property Organisation) or International Business Machines ("IBM"). Examples include the remote computers which host the Esp@cenet or US Patent and Trademark Office collection of patent specifications.
• the present invention may also be expressed as a computer program product which, when read by a computer, causes the computer, upon reception of a request from a computer user for a multi-page document stored on a remote computer, to: translate the request into a plurality of URLs corresponding to the location of pages of the multi-page document on the remote computer; copy the pages of the multi-page document from the remote computer by means of the URLs to itself or to a computer specified by the computer user; and optionally send or instruct the specified computer to send the multi-page document to be printed.
• the multi-page document may be printed by the program or, more preferably, by a second program installed on the local computer or the computer specified by the local computer.
• the computer performs a further step between steps (i) and (iii) of translating the text on one or more of the pages of the multi-page document by means of a computer program from a first language to a second language which is different from the first language.
• the printing step (iii) is optional but preferred.
• another expression of the present invention is a computer program product which, when read by a computer, causes the computer, upon reception of a request from a computer user for a multi-page document stored on a remote computer, to translate the request into a plurality of URLs corresponding to the location of pages of the multi-page document on the remote computer; instruct copying of the pages of the multi-page document from the remote computer by means of the URLs to itself or to a computer specified by the computer user; and optionally send or instruct the specified computer to send the multi-page document to be printed; wherein text on one or more of the pages of the multi-page document is translated by means of a computer program from a first language to a second language which is different from the first language after step (i) or, more preferably, after step (ii).
• the text is preferably in HTML format, for example so that it can be 'cut and pasted' into a Word document.
• the computer program product referred to in any of the above statements of the invention may be a data carrier, especially a floppy disc, a hard disc, a compact disc ("CD”) or a magnetic tape carrying the program according to the present invention. Alternatively, it may be an electronic signal, encoding the program.
• the URLs also known as Uniform Resource Locators, are addresses of documents on server computers. Browsers such as Internet Explorer, Netscape and the like loaded on a local computer are able to use the URLs to communicate by HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) through the world wide web (WWW) on the Internet to remote computers. Information, often including embedded documents, images etc. may be downloaded from remote computers to local computers using the URLs to tell the local computer where to connect to. URLs typically have the format "service://hostname/directory path/filename”. The service is often "http" or "ftp". Preferred URLs for obtaining copies of multi-page patent documents begin with http://dips-2.dips.org or http://www.uspto.gov and equivalents.
• the method of the invention may further include a step of concatenating a plurality of files from the remote server (e.g. files which contain respective pages of the patent document, or files which each contain a respective set of pages) to generate a single file.
• the resultant single file (which may be stored on the local computer for example) is easier to handle than the separate files, e.g. for transmission to other locations, storage on disc, etc.
• the plurality of files are separate graphics files, such as separate .tiff files.
• Software to concatenate .tiff files is already publicly available.
• a method according to the invention preferably further comprises a step of the local computer or the computer specified by the local computer changing the size and/or the resolution of some or all pages of the multi-page document.
• the ability to change the size of the document is a big advantage because it enables the computer user to print-off the document on paper used in his own country. For example, a non-US document originally in A4 size can be reduced to fit on the size of paper commonly used in the USA. Furthermore, the freely available patent documents located on the IBM server are greater than A4 in size, leading to a great deal of paper wastage when they are printed-off. By reducing them in size to fit local paper sizes there are significant cost savings.
• the ability to change the resolution of the pages has the big advantage of allowing the user to save printer consumables such as toner and ink by printing of a lower resolution copy. Furthermore, lower resolution images print-off quicker, saving the computer user time.
• the file format of the pages making up the multi-page document is not crucial.
• the pages may be in a variety of different file formats or, more preferably, they are all in the same file format.
• Preferred file formats include .pdf, .html, .tif, .tiff, .jpeg, .jpg, .doc, and .xls, especially .pdf, .tiff and .tif.
• multi-page documents in the .pdf file format the computer preferably has Adobe Acrobat Reader installed thereon(available from http://www.adobe.com), especially version 4.0 or higher as this facilitates printing of all pages without intervention by the computer user.
• a browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape (preferably version 4.0 or higher) with a plugin .tif or .tiff viewer may be used.
• the AlternaTIFF plugin is particularly good, although other programs such as Quick View Plus, Paint Shop Pro etc may be used.
• the pages may be changed in size and/or resolution using a standard graphics package. Paint Shop Pro works well and is available as a shareware program.
• the printer is preferably a laser or ink jet printer.
• the sheet material is preferably a paper.
• the computer program contains an algorithm which generates URLs corresponding to one, two or more versions of the specification.
• the algorithm generates URLs corresponding to one or more of the A1 , A2, A3, B and C specifications.
• This has the big advantage that a computer user often does not know in advance whether a patent was published as an A1 or A2 application, or whether it has been granted as a B or C specification.
• the computer program may also enable the computer user to select which of the A1 , A2, A3, B and C specifications are sent to be printed.
• the program preferably also uses the country code (e.g. US, EP, WO, GB etc.) and optionally the patent number to determine which remote computer to download the multi- page patent documents from.
• the user may also specify which file format of the multi-page documents he wishes to print -off so that when two different file formats are obtained (e.g. the USPTO web site provides both .html and .tif formats for the same patent specification) he can print off only the format he wants.
• the URL history and any errors may be viewed by the computer user. In this way he may more easily find out the cause of any difficulties in obtaining the multi-page document.
• the program is compatible with Windows 3.x, Windows 95, 98 and NT and
• the program may also allow the user to specify the proxy settings and or the ports to be used for accessing the Internet. User identification and passwords may also be included for security reasons.
• the present invention also provides a computer programmed to perform that method.
• FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 2A is a flowchart illustrating how to obtain a copy of US patent No. 5,000,000 from the US Patent and Trademark Office website according to the method of the present invention
• FIG. 2B is a flowchart illustrating how to obtain a copy of GB patent application No. 2,222,222 from the Esp@cenet website according to the method of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of the arrangement of a computer which performs a method according to the invention.
• a computer user inputs a request for a multi page document to a local computer the user is received (step S1), and this request is translated, usually by the local computer, into a plurality of URLs (step S2).
• the URLs are used to download the pages to the local computer (step S3).
• the pages are re-sized and/or the resolution altered (step S4).
• the pages are sent to the printer (step S5) and printed off (step S6).
• FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B illustrate two specific cases where the user inputs a request in the format "patent://US5000000” or "patent://gb2222222a1" respectively (step s1) to obtain copies of the relevant patent specifications.
• the requests are translated into URLs by the local computer for the USPTO and Esp@cenet servers respectively (step S2).
• the pages of the patent specifications are downloaded to the local computer (step S3), optionally resized/resolution altered (step S4), sent to a printer automatically (step S5) and printed (step 6) to give the computer user a complete copy of the multi-page patent specification.
• the program may translate the request into a plurality of URLs corresponding to the location of pages of the multi-page document on the remote computer by means of an algorithm.
• the algorithm may be determined by, for example, accessing the pages of the multi-page document and identifying the URLs for each page and determining the pattern used for the URL of each page.
• pages 1 , 2 and 3 of US patent No. 5,000,000 are currently located at the following URLs on the USPTO server:
• Fig. 3 shows a computer 1 (e.g. a personal computer) according to the invention. It includes a processor 3, a screen 5, a user-operated input device 7 (such as a keyboard and/or mouse device, etc).
• the computer includes two internal databases 9,1 1 , and is connected to a printer 13 proximate the computer 1.
• a user uses the device 7 to specify at least one patent document (or portion of at least one patent document) to the processor 3. Normally, this information includes data specifying a remote server 17 which stores the data.
• the processor 3 may have access to a database (not shown) indicating which patent documents a given set of remote servers store, so that the computer 1 can itself determine a server containing the document specified by the user, or present to the user a list of servers storing the document, so that the user himself can make the selection.
• a database not shown
• the processor 3 Based on the specification of the remote server, the processor 3 extracts information from the database 9 indicating the format of the URLs for that server. Using this information, and the information supplied by the user indicating which patent document is required, the processor 3 can generate the URLs of the pages of interest.
• the processor 3 may communicate via a network 15 (such as the world wide web) with the remote server 17, to access the pages corresponding to the URLs, and extract the information from them.
• the computer 1 may display the information extracted, e.g. after concatenation to form a single file, on the display device 5. Then (e.g. upon a command by the user) the computer 1 may send the file to the proximate printer 13.
• the computer may organise for the information from the server 17 to be transmitted (e.g. again using the Internet 15) to a second computer 19. This may be done by commanding the server 17 to transmit the information to the computer 19 directly, or the computer 1 receiving the information and re- transmitting it.
• the computer 1 further maintains a database 11 of format data, indicating printer data for various page formats.
• the processor 3 accesses this data to convert data received by the remote server 17 into a suitable form for printing out using printer 13 in a format which the printer 13 can deal with, or, if the printer 13 can cope with any of a number of formats, one of those formats specified by the user.
• the invention has been explained in relation to downloading a single file, but alternatively the user may be able to specify a plurality of multi-page documents (e.g. by pasting a list of numbers from a clipboard), and the method according to the invention may be performed for each of these documents.
• a single embodiment of a computer according to the invention has been described above, the invention is not limited in this respect. Rather a number of modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as will be clear to an expert.
• a remote location e.g. a central location
• a plurality of users, each having a computer 1 may employ these databases. This make it easier to keep the system up-to-date, by modifying the databases at the central location.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
• Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=26243673

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2000
  • 2000-06-23 WO PCT/GB2000/002444 patent/WO2001001234A2/en active Search and Examination
  • 2000-06-23 EP EP00940610A patent/EP1292881A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-06-23 AU AU55522/00A patent/AU5552200A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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