EP1334424A2

EP1334424A2 - A web-based imaging system utilizing "cookies" to provide an automatic printing option

Info

Publication number: EP1334424A2
Application number: EP01990264A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ward Foster; Kris Livingston
Original assignee: Hewlett Packard Co
Current assignee: HP Inc
Priority date: 2000-11-13
Filing date: 2001-10-29
Publication date: 2003-08-13
Also published as: WO2002039247A3; JP2004530177A; WO2002039247A2

Abstract

The user goes to a Web imaging homepage. The user selects a printer from the list of available printers. The user then goes to the configuration options screen that is the various options available for the printer. The user then select options desired as a default. Preferably, the user selects the print immediately option. After selecting options desired, the user has to select a document to be printed. The user then merely clicks on the document to be printed and the document is printed.

Description

A WEB-BASED IMAGING SYSTEM UTILIZING "COOKIES" TO PROVIDE AN

AUTOMATIC PRINTING OPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The effect of the present invention is that after the user has submitted a print job, the user enters the Web-based imaging system. The Web-based imaging system, then proceeds to print the job without any intervention with the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Presently, in Web-based imaging, in order for the user to print a document, the user clicks on the link provided for the selected printer and a Web page setting forth the operating options of the printer is shown. The user then selects from the various options, those options that the user wants implemented in printing the document. After the options have been selected, user clicks on the Print button. This causes the web-based imaging system to begin sending the document to the printer to begin printing according to the requested options. Consequently, a more advantageous printing system, then, would be presented if the number of steps to print a document could be reduced.

Ease-of-use issues are a big concern in the field of Internet applications. Many technologies have been developed in order to make it easier for the user to interact with Web sites. For example, cookies are frequently used. Cookies are pieces of data that can be placed on a hard drive of the user's computer by a Web browser when the user visits a Web site. These cookies make it easier for the user to interact with Web sites that require personal information, such as the user's name and address. The cookie stores personal information on the user's hard drive and supplies that information to the associated Web site on subsequent visits, so the user does not have to enter the personal information every time.

It is known, in e-commerce systems, to employ a one-click method for placing purchase orders via the Internet. Exemplary of such prior art is U.S. Patent No. 5,960,41 1 ('41 1 ) to Hartman et. al., entitled "Method and System for Placing a Purchase Order Via a Communications Network." While the ' 41 1 reference employs a one-click method for ordering books via the Internet, the user must interact with the server system in order to purchase the books. However, if the user wants to print anything; such as a copy of a list of the books to be purchased, to use the Web-based imaging printing model, the user must execute the printing steps previously discussed. Consequently, a further advantageous printing system would be presented if an automatic printing option could be utilized.

It is apparent from the above that there exists a need in the art for a Web-based printing system that provides an automatic printing option. It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill this and other needs in the art in a manner more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, this invention fulfills these needs by providing a method for an automatic printing, comprising the steps of accessing a Web imaging set up page, selecting an immediate print option from the Web imaging set up page, and selecting a document to the printed, wherein said document is automatically scheduled to be printed on a default printer. In certain preferred embodiments, the document to be printed is composed/selected at a computer by a user. Also, the step of selecting an immediate print option includes the steps of accessing a Web imaging homepage, selecting a default printer to be used, accessing a configuration's options homepage, and selecting an automatic print feature. The user can also select to print from a simplified print page, a Web imaging homepage, or a default printer homepage. The default settings for the default printer are stored in a cookie. Finally, the status of the printing progress of the document to be printed is provided for the user.

In another further preferred embodiment, the use of the automatic printing option and cookie allows the user to print the document without continually having to review the printer Web homepage.

The preferred printing system, according to this invention, offers the following advantages: ease-of-use and increased user efficiency between print jobs. In fact, in many of the preferred embodiments, these factors of ease-of-use and increased user efficiency are optimized to an extent that is considerably higher than heretofore achieved in prior, known Web-based printing systems. The above and other features of the present invention, which will become more apparent as a description proceeds, are best understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters represent like parts throughout the several views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a Web-based system for processing data in a distributed environment, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a Web-based printing system that employs an automatic printing option, according to present invention;

Figure 3 is a flowchart that illustrates the configuration of the automatic printing Web imaging homepage, according to present invention;

Figure 4 is a flowchart that illustrates the automatic printing sequence of the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates the Web imaging system homepage of the present invention;

Figure 6 illustrates the Web imaging page for the default printer, according to present invention;

Figure 7 illustrates the automatic printing Web imaging setup page of the present invention; and

Figure 8 illustrates the automatic, printing progress Web imaging page of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The field of network computers is presently in its infancy. It is expected, however, to evolve rapidly for a number of reasons. For example, it is difficult to imagine the computing power that exists over the INTERNET. In fact, the computing power that is available over the INTERNET is expanding everyday and there is no end in sight. The possibility of providing a personal computer with the ability to make use of even a portion of this computing power would be a tremendous advantage. Unfortunately, before we can reach this vision of the future there are a number of problems that must be overcome. One major problem that must be overcome involves the ease at which a computer can make use of other devices over a network, such as the INTERNET.

To facilitate a complete understanding of the invention, a glossary of terms and acronyms and a description of several preferred embodiments is provided below:

The following terms and acronyms are used throughout the detailed description:

Client-Server. A model of interaction in a distributed system in which a program at one site sends a request to a program at another site and waits for a response. The requesting program is called the "client," and the program that responds to the request is called the "server." In the context of the World Wide Web (discussed below), the client is a "Web browser" (or simply "browser") which runs on a computer of a user; the program which responds to browser requests by serving Web pages, or other types of Web content, is commonly referred to as a "Web server."

Content. A set of executable instructions that is served by a server to a client and which is intended to be executed by the client so as to provide the client with certain functionality. Web content refers to content that is meant to be executed by operation of a Web browser. Web content, therefore, may include (the following is a non-exhaustive list) one or more of the following: HTML code, JavaScript™, Java Program(s) and C-"Sharp" code. Hyperlink. A navigational link from one document to another, from one portion (or component) of a document to another, or to a Web resource, such as a Java applet. Typically, a hyperlink is displayed as a highlighted word or phrase that can be selected by clicking on it using a mouse to jump to the associated document or document portion or to retrieve a particular resource.

Hypertext System. A computer-based informational system in which documents (and possibly other types of data entities) are linked together via hyperlinks to form a user-navigable "web." Internet. A collection of interconnected (public and/or private) networks that are linked together by a set of standard protocols (such as TCP/IP and HTTP) to form a global, distributed network. (While this term is intended to refer to what is now commonly known as the Internet, it is also intended to encompass variations that may be made in the future, including changes and additions to existing standard protocols.) World Wide Web ("Web"). Used herein to refer generally to both (i) a distributed collection of interlinked, user-viewable hypertext documents (commonly referred to as Web documents or Web pages) that are accessible via the Internet, and (ii) the client and server software components which provide user access to such documents using standardized Internet protocols. Currently, the primary standard protocol for allowing applications to locate and acquire Web documents is HTTP, and the Web pages are encoded using HTML. However, the terms "Web" and "World Wide Web" are intended to encompass future markup languages and transport protocols that may be used in place of (or in addition to) HTML and HTTP.

Web Site. A computer system that provides informational content over a network using the standard protocols of the World Wide Web. Typically, a Web site corresponds to a particular Internet domain name, such as "HP.com," and includes the content associated with a particular organization.

As used herein, the term is generally intended to encompass both (i) the hardware/software server components that serve the informational content over the network, and (ii) the "back end" hardware/software components, including any non- standard or specialized components, that interact with the server components to perform services for Web site users. Importantly, a Web Site can have additional functionality, For example, a Web site may have the ability to print documents, scan documents, etc.

HTML (HvoerText Markup Language). A standard coding convention and set of codes for attaching presentation and linking attributes to informational content within documents. (HTML 2.0 is currently the primary standard used for generating

Web documents.) During a document authoring stage, the HTML codes (referred to as "tags") are embedded within the informational content of the document. When the Web document (or HTML document) is subsequently transferred from a Web server to a browser, the codes are interpreted by the browser and used to display the document. Additionally in specifying how the Web browser is to display the document, HTML tags can be used to create links to other Web documents (commonly referred to as "hyperlinks"). For more information on HTML, see Ian S. Graham, The HTML Source Book, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1 995 (ISBN 0471 -1 1 894-4). HTTP (HvoerText Transport Protocol). The standard World Wide Web client-server protocol used for the exchange of information (such as HTML documents and client requests for such documents) between a browser and a Web server. HTTP includes a number of different types of messages that can be sent from the client to the server to request different types of server actions. For example, a "GET" message, which has the format GET < URL> , causes the server to return the document or file located at the specified URL.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator). A unique address which fully specifies the location of a file or other resource on the Internet or a network. The general format of a URL is protocol: //machine address:port/path/filename. With respect to Figure 1 , FIG. 1 provides an architectural diagram illustrating a client-server system 10. Client-server system 10 includes a client machine 1 2, first server machine 14, and second server machine 1 6 connected via network 17. It is noted, however, that client-server system 10 may include more that one client machine and one or more than two server machines.

Client machine 12 includes browser 18, storage module 20, display device 21 (e.g., a CRT monitor) and user input device 22 (e.g., a keyboard). It is noted that the storage module 20 may represent any type of data storage device.

Additionally, browser 1 8 includes extension 24 that provides an interface between Web content executing in browser 1 8 and storage module 20. Further details regarding the functionality of the extension 24 are provided below.

First server machine 14 includes first server 30. First server 30 can respond to receiving an appropriate request (over network 17) from browser 18 by serving to browser 1 8 a first Web content 32. Similarly, second server 33 can respond to receiving a request from browser 1 8 by serving to browser 1 8 a second Web content 34.

It is important to note that client machine 1 2, first Web content 32 and second Web content 34 are all in accordance with a system wide standard. This standard specifies "generic access instructions" and "target data". For purposes of this application, the term "generic access instruction" refers to an executable instruction that is intended to cause the executing device to access a set of target data. A generic access instruction, however, does not include the location of the target data itself. Importantly, the target data is pre-selected (typically by a user) and its location is determined from information that is maintained locally to the executing computer. For this reason, the target data for a particular computer is said to be "associated" with that computer. Thus, the target data that is associated with computer A is the data that computer A will access in response to a generic access instruction. The target data that is associated with computer B is the data that computer B will access in response to the identical generic access instruction.

Furthermore, in the case wherein the target data represents an image, that image is referred to herein as the "target image". In this simplified example, it will be assumed that all generic access instructions specified by the system wide standard mentioned above are for accessing data that describes an image.

Extension 24 is configured to respond to the execution of generic access instructions by generating corresponding (device specific) commands that causes the target data for the client machine 1 2 to be accessed. How the target data for the client machine 1 2 is identified is explained below.

It will be understood by a person skilled in the art, after a consideration of this document, that the extension 24 may be implemented by an application programming interface (API). The API being in accordance with the system wide standard mentioned above. Thus, the generic access instructions may cause API calls to be issued to the API in order to affect the data access. It will also be recognized that there are many other ways (both hardware and software) to implement this same functionality. The present invention is not limited to any one way.

Both first Web content 32 and second Web content 34 includes generic access instructions. For illustration purposes, it is assumed that first Web content 32 is for causing a client machine to display the image represented by that machine's local target data. The Web content 34 is for causing a client machine to transmit its target image to a printer for printing. It is to be understood that the above description relates to the environment we will refer to as Web-based imaging. In fact, the above discussion can be found in greater detail in co-pending, commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application, Hewlett-Packard Docket NoJ 0003352-1 , to S. Simpson et. al., entitled "System and Method for Processing Data in a Distributed Environment", filed on November 13, 2000 and incorporated entirely by reference. With reference first to Figure 2, there is illustrated one preferred embodiment for use of the concepts of this invention. As shown in Figure 2, printing system 2 is illustrated. Printing system 2 includes, in part, conventional document composing/selecting device 4, cookie 5, conventional data storage device 6, conventional network 8, server 10, and printer 1 1 2. Conventional document composing/selecting device 4 can be any suitable device which permits the user to input information that allows a document to be composed and/or selects a document to be printed. Such devices can be, but are not limited to, personal computers (PCs), desktop computers, personal digital assistant devices (PDA), telephonic devices, pagers or the like.

With respect to Figure 2, a user prepares a document to be printed and/or selects a document to be printed from conventional document composing/selecting device 4. It is to be understood that the user may merely be selecting a document to be printed from the Internet. The document is converted into imaging information by conventional techniques in the document composing/selecting device 4. This imaging information is conventionally stored in a personal storage of data storage device 6. It is to be understood that data storage device 6 can also be located on network 8. The user then browses through a Web browser (not shown) located on document composing/selecting device 4 to a Web imaging service (Figure 5) located on server -10 through network 8. This Web-based imaging service (Figure 5) is responsible for helping user locate various other Web-based imaging devices, such as printer 1 1 2 (List 52 in Figure 5). If printer 1 1 2, for example, is selected to be utilized by the user, server 1 0 contacts printer 1 1 2 and is provided with a link from printer 1 1 2 that is forwarded through network 8 to a Web browser (not shown) running on document composing/selecting device 4. This link is shown on document composing/selecting device 4, as shown in Figure 6. Therefore, document composing/selecting device 4 will always select printer 1 1 2 as the default printer in that printer 1 1 2 will always be used as the printer of choice of the user unless the user specifies another printer from the list of available printers (default printer 1 12 as shown in Figure 5) . The user causes printing to be completed on printer 1 1 2 through an automatic routing mechanism employed by Web-based imaging system (selected via element 60 in Figure 7). When a print job is submitted by conventional means, the automatic routing mechanism of the Web-based imaging system forwards the job to the default printer where printing begins as soon as the printer is able, as shown in Figure 8. The last settings of printer 1 1 2 that were employed in printing a previous document can be remembered and stored in a cookie 5 located in document composing/selecting device 4 (Figure 2). In this manner, the user does not need to view Figures 6 or 7. The user merely submits the print job to the Web-based imaging system by conventional means, the document is scheduled to be printed, and then printed.

With respect to Figure 3, a flowchart is illustrated which shows how the zero-click or automatic printing option is configured. In particular, Web imaging homepage (Figure 5) is shown on document composing/selecting device 4 by conventional techniques, as shown in step1 20. The user then selects from a list (element 52 in Figure 5) of available printers that printer which the user wants the document to be printed upon, as shown in step 1 22. If the selected printer is not currently indicated as the "default printer" then the user clicks on the link to go to the selected printer's page, and once there, takes appropriate action to set this printer as the default printer, as shown in steps 1 24 and 1 26. The user then goes to the Web imaging setup page (Figure 7) where the user can select from the various print options configured, as shown in step 128. Preferably, if the user selects the "just print" option as shown in step 130 and element 60 of Figure 7, this configuration tells the Web-based imaging system to immediately schedule a document to be printed when the user submits a print job by conventional techniques, such as clicking the print icon in a desktop application, as shown in step 132. It is to be understood that after step 1 30, if a print job is submitted to the Web-based imaging system by conventional means, such as by clicking the print icon in a desktop application, the Web-based imaging system will automatically begin printing on the default printer, and the browser will show the print status page, as shown in Fig. 8. Figure 4 illustrates the automatic printing procedure of the present invention. After printing system 2 has been configured as previously described with respect to Figure 3 and shown in step 1 130 of Figure 4, the user merely has to prepare a document to be printed and/or select a document to be printed from conventional document composing/selecting device 4. The user then conventionally activates the printing function, as shown in stepl 132, which submits the print job to the Web-based imaging system. The document is then printed on the pre-configured default printer, as shown in step 1 134. It is to be understood that a printing progress on the pre-configured default printer page (Figure 8) will appear in a browser window (not shown) after the Web-based imaging system has begun printing a document.

There are various configurations of printing system 2. In particular, as shown in step 1 24 of Figure 3, the user must choose a behavior option for the Web-based imaging system. Preferably, step 1 24 of Figure 3 causes a Web imaging setup page (Figure 7) to be shown to the user. The user then must select how printing system 2 will behave when print jobs are submitted to it by conventional means. As shown in Figure 7, the user has a variety of print options. Preferably, the user selects the zero-click option 60 in Figure 7. However, the user can select other options. It is to be understood that these other options are merely illustrative of other possibilities. One skilled in the art could employ other similar print options. For example, the user may decide to employ a simplified printer page, wherein a simplified setup of printer options can be utilized, as shown in element 62 of Figure 7. The user may also decide to go to the Web imaging homepage (Figure 5) after each document is submitted, as shown in element 64 of Figure 7. Finally, the user may decide to go to a default printer page (Figure 6).

It is to be understood that the zero-click or automatic option of the present invention arises from the fact that once the user has decided upon a document to be printed, all the user has to do is merely submit that document to the Web-based imaging system by conventional means and the Web-based imaging system will automatically forward the document to the default printer without further interaction with the user. Printing options used by the default printer, such as the number copies, would be selected according to some pre-configured specification, such as a set of default options for the default printer. Once given the above disclosure, many other features, modifications or improvements will become apparent to the skilled artisan. Such features, modifications or improvements are, therefore, considered to be a part of this invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is Claimed is:

1 . A method for automatic printing, wherein said method is comprised of the steps of: accessing a Web imaging set up page; selecting an immediate print option from said Web imaging set up page; selecting a document to be printed, wherein said document is automatically scheduled to be printed on a default printer; and printing said document.

2. The method, as in Claim 1 , wherein said Web imaging set up page is further comprised of: a plurality of printer options.

3. The method, as in Claim 2, wherein said plurality of printer options is further comprised of: a zero-click option.

4. The method, as in Claim 2, wherein said plurality of printer options is further comprised of: a simplified set of printer options.

5. The method, as in Claim 2, wherein said plurality of printer options is further comprised of: opening a Web imaging homepage.

6. The method, as in Claim 2, wherein said plurality of printer options is further comprised of: opening a default printer page.

7. The method, as in Claim 1 , wherein said step of selecting a document to be printed is further comprised of step of: activating an activation device substantially over said document to be printed.

8. The method, as in Claim 1 , wherein said step of selecting an immediate print option is further comprised of the steps of: accessing a Web imaging homepage; selecting a printer to be used as a default printer; and configuring how said default printer will print.

9. The method, as in Claim 1 , wherein said step of selecting a document to be printed is further comprised of the step of: providing a notification of when said document will be printed.