WO2013141413A1

WO2013141413A1 - Printing from a cellular phone

Info

Publication number: WO2013141413A1
Application number: PCT/KE2013/000030
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mary MWANGI
Original assignee: Mwangi Mary
Priority date: 2012-03-23
Filing date: 2013-01-17
Publication date: 2013-09-26
Also published as: AP2014008031A0; AP2012006403A0; CN104520803A; EP2828734A1

Abstract

A mobile printing system for printing a document from received electronic print data is provided, the system comprising a mobile cellular device in communication with a cellular network and in communication with a printer and including a network module and a removable storage media, the network module identifying the mobile cellular device to the cellular network as an electronic print data storage device for receipt of electronic print data; the electronic print data being stored on the storage media, said electronic print data being converted to an electronic print document by the mobile cellular device for transmission and printing by the printer.

Description

COMBINATION CELLULAR AND PRINTER DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is broadly concerned with improvements in imaging devices in communication with cellular phones.

[0002] Cellular devices are increasing in popularity and functionality and are becoming a central part of many electronic systems in part because of the expanding communication protocols available to both printers and cellular devices, e.g., WI-FI, Bluetooth, 3G and 4G. However, despite the growth of cellular devices the ability to print from these devices has been limited. Generally, both cellular devices and printers have limited computer processor abilities with smaller processors and less memory. Traditional printing systems involve transmitting content to a printer from an electronic device in a printer-friendly format such as postscript, PCL or other print ready format. Converting the material to a printer friendly format takes a sufficient processor capability which is not traditionally provided on a cellular phone. The present invention is designed to overcome these disadvantages and limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention provides improvements in certain areas of printing from cellular devices. A mobile printing system for printing a document from received electronic print data, said system comprising a mobile cellular device in communication with a cellular network said mobile cellular device in communication with a printer and including a network module and a storage media, said network module identifying said mobile cellular device to the cellular network as an electronic print data storage device for receipt of electronic print data; and said electronic print data being stored on said storage media, wherein said electronic print data is converted to an electronic print document by said mobile cellular device for transmission and printing by said printer. The cellular device can be a standalone device, embedded into a cellular phone, ATM machine, ticketing machine or embedded into a printer. The cellular device may allow for communication with the printer device via a wired connection such as a USB port or cable or may be connected wirelessly using Bluetooth or WI-FI.

[0003] Various objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The drawings constitute a part of this specification, include exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and illustrate various objects and features thereof. This is achieved by the features of the independent claims.

• FIG. 1 illustrates the functional components of the printing device according to the present

invention.

• FIG. 2 illustrates a logical implementation of the access control to the printer by the mobile

printing device depending on the configuration made by the operator/user.

• FIG. 3 is a flow chart diagram that represents the function of adding sources (numbers) of

data, to access control list that allows the filtering of electronic data to the printer.

• FIG. 4 A illustrates a flow chart presentation of how the mobile printing device relays status or error messages from a printer to a user either by displaying it or sending a status sms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any

appropriately detailed structure.

[0006]Referring to the drawings in more detail, the fig.1 generally designates an embodiment of the combination cellular printing device with a GSM module (1), an SD card (2), a universal serial port (USB) (3), wireless antenna (Bluetooth) (4), processor (5), retractable tray (SIM card holder) ( 6), display (7), input device (8), cellular antenna (9), a power source (10) and memory storage (1 1). The system provides a user interface for configuration of the present system. The user has a choice of creating an (acl)access control list Fig 3. Which would be useful for direct access to printing (200). A cellular signal containing pre-processed print data is received by the cellular device and transmitted through the GSM Module for retrievable storage as pre-processed print data. When a connection is desired, the system will receive a status flag from the carrier via push technology. Alternatively, the user can operate the cellular device in accordance with the interface, for conversion of the pre-processed print data upon the receipt of the alert, processing the received print data which is then retrievably stored within the storage media of the cellular device including any storage media. Upon connection to the configured printer, the processed print data can be transmitted to the printing device. Configuration may be addressed by user of the input and output devices associated with the cellular device. (300) Fig.2 shows the process of determining the access to the printer. (301)The device checks if the users' number is included in the (acl) access control list for direct processing, if not it prompts the user for permission to process print job.

[0007]The GSM module (1) is a standard cellular communications module which may include GSM, EDGE, GPRS or other known cellular protocols, although preferably the present invention would use GSM with a SIM card containing the user identity and contact records. The SIM identifies the cellular device on the network in order to allow the GSM module to communicate with cellular network service providers. The GSM is used for identify the cellular device to the cellular network and for transmission from the cellular device to the printer device and for receipt of cellular traffic to the cellular device including notifications, message and other electronic content including

MMS/SMS messages. In addition, the SIM may be easily removed and replaced if a different cellular network service provider is desired. Optionally, the SIM may also retain cellular carrier network data specific to the cellular network carrier for configuration of the cellular device upon cellular carrier cellular network.

[0008] As illustrated in Fig. 1, an SD card or other storage media can be utilized for the retrievable storage of electronic data in the form of documents which can easily be retrieved from the storage media. Preferably the electronic data would be in the form of printer friendly documents. In addition, the storage media will allow for easy enhancement of the storage capacity of the cellular device, for example, file storage before processing by the processor 5. In an alternative embodiment the storage media may be utilized for retrievable storage of print data for printing by the printing device. In addition, log files may be written to the storage media for the purposes of debugging and analyzing the activities of the device

[0009]In addition Fig.1 illustrates a communication port in the form of a universal serial bus (USB) although other communication ports known in the art could be utilized for electronic communication between the cellular device and the printer device. Alternatively, the cellular device may be able to communicate wirelessly with the printing device using a variety of known wireless communication protocols including but not limited to infrared, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.1 1 or other RF protocols depending on the configured printing device.

[00010] The processor or micro controller will process the computer code for accepting the document data, converting it to a printer ready format and transmit the printer friendly document data to the printer upon selection by the operator (301 ). The processor may include an operating system or other instructional system to allocate the resources of the cellular device and to process the print data into a form usable by the printer, i.e. a printer-friendly format. For example, the processor (5) may control the allocation and usage of the memory and processing time as well as the functional of the device as is understood by those within the relevant art.

[0001 1]A SIM Card holder (6) will be provided for connection between the cellular device and the print device (4), the holder having sufficient physical characteristics to retain a standard dimensioned SIM card in desired ambient conditions. [00012]The cellular device will also include standard input and output devices, such as display screens (7) and keypads(8) for the configuration and interaction with system components and for processing and printing the print data for transmission to the connected printing device. Additionally, a standard cellular antenna (9) will be provided within the cellular device along with standard power sources. The system will generally work either through the carrier's cellular network or via a Wi-Fi connection via the internet.

[00013] In operation the cellular device may receive pre-processed print data from retrievable storage. Once received, the processor can convert the pre-processed print data to a printer-friendly format and store the processed data until the processed data is transmitted to a printer. Upon connection to a printer, the cellular device may transmit the processed data to the printer for rendering the content and printing from the associated printer. Fig 4 shows how the cellular device relays status or error messages (400) from a printer to a user either by displaying it or by sending an (sms) short message service. (401) checks for processed print data status display or sms notification. If the data is unable to be printed, the data may be retained on the cellular device and if the processed print data is able to be printed the cellular device may automatically delete the file or the file may be retained until manually deleted from the cellular device by the user.

[00014]In general, the cellular device will be able to accept documents from incoming cellular calls, however, the operator would be able to configure the system to reject certain numbers, therefore eliminating unnecessary storage or receipt of pre-processed print data.

[00015] The processed print data can be stored on a removable storage medium, which could be transferred for manual printing without the need for direct connection to the cellular device.

[00016] Preferably the processed print data will be printed, upon connection to a printing device in a FIFO (memory management algorithm), although other memory algorithms could be utilized and selected during system configuration.

[00017]In the present embodiment, the printing device may include most standard printing devices including, but not limited to a regular desktop printer, commercial printers, point of sale printers, receipt printers, vending machine printer, a ticket printer, parking meters, among others.

[00018] In an alternative embodiment, the system could be directly connected to the printing device for receipt of pre-processed print data for direct printing, converting almost any printer to a cellular printing device. This embodiment may be particularly useful in a variety of applications including, but not limited to regular desktop printing application, commercial printing applications, point of sale printers, receipt printers, a vending machine printers, a ticket printer, an ATM machine or parking meters. In addition, the device could be integrated with mobile money applications to print a receipt upon the payment or receipt of funds in association with a financial account.

[00019] Preferably the processed file is in printer-friendly format for printing by the associated printing device. Multiple printing devices may be associated with the cellular device and if so, the processor may wait until connection to the selected printing device or the operator may manually chose which printing device for which to process the pre-processed printing data. The memory associated with the device can include volatile and nonvolatile memory so that upon a loss of power, which does happen with cellular devices, the relevant data will be retained in memory.

[00020] The processing of the pre-processed print data may be based upon the instruction and configuration of software or source code or may be based upon the configuration of dedicated hardware or a combination between software, standardized hardware and some specialized hardware. If embodied in hardware, the method of printing may be expressed or implemented as a circuit or state machine that employs any of the or a combination of a number of technologies. The technologies may include, but are not limited to, discreet logic circuits having logic gates for implementing various logic functions upon an application of one or more data signals, application specific integrated circuits having appropriate logic gates, programmable gate arrays, field programmable gate arrays or other components, such technologies being generally well known by those of ordinary skill in the art.

[00021] The block diagram of Fig.1 shows the architecture, functionality and operation of an implementation of the method of mobile printing in association with the present invention. If embodied in software, each block may represent a module, segment or portion of code that comprises program instructions to implement the specified logical function. The program instructions may be embedded in the form of source code that comprises human-readable statements written in a programming language or machine code that comprises numerical instructions recognizable by a suitable execution system such as a processor in a computer system or other system. The machine code may be converted from the source code, etc. If embodied in hardware, each block may represent a circuit or a number of interconnected circuits to implement the specified logical function.

[00022] While the block diagrams may show a specific order of execution, it will be appreciated that two or more steps in the diagrams that are shown executed in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence. The block diagrams are relatively self- explanatory and may be utilized by one of ordinary skill in the art to create software and/or hardware to carry out the various logical functions described and illustrated.

[00023]Where the method of the present invention comprises software or code, it may be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with an instructions execution system such as, for example, a processor in a computer system or other system. In this sense, the method of the present invention may comprise, for example, statements including instructions and declarations that may be fetched from the computer-readable medium and executed by the instruction execution system. In the context of the present invention, a "computer-readable medium" may be any medium that can contain, store or otherwise maintains the method of the present invention for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system.

[00024] It will be appreciated that a variety of other equivalent modifications and substitutions may be made to the method of the present invention according to the concepts covered herein, depending upon the particular implementation, while still falling with the scope of any claims below.

Claims

C L A I M S What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. A mobile printing system for printing a document from received electronic print data, said system comprising: a mobile cellular device in communication with a cellular network; said mobile cellular device in communication with a printer and including a network module and a storage media, said network module identifying said mobile cellular device to the cellular network as an electronic print data storage device for receipt of electronic print data; and said electronic print data being stored on said storage media, wherein said electronic print data is converted to an electronic print document by said mobile cellular device for transmission and printing by said printer.

2. The mobile printing system of claim 1 wherein said mobile cellular device is in direct communication with said printer.

3. The mobile printing system of claim 1 wherein said mobile cellular device is in wireless communication with said printer.

4. The mobile printing system of claim 1 wherein said mobile cellular device further comprises a plurality of SIM card each of which contain cellular data associated with a cellular provider, the mobile cellular device being operable with the plurality of SIM cards.

5. The mobile printing system of claim 1 wherein said mobile cellular device further includes an input device wherein said mobile cellular device converts said mobile print data to said electronic print document upon the receipt of a print request from said input device.

6. The mobile printing system of claim 1 further including a processor for receiving an input from said cellular network and in response to receipt of a signal from a cellular network device which meets the programmed criteria stored within the processor transmitting an alert to the cellular network device.

7. The mobile printing system of claim 1 wherein said mobile cellular device further includes an input device, an output device and an operator interface responsive to said input device and displayed by said output device wherein said mobile cellular device is configured by said input device to store electronic print data from a list of approved cellular network devices.

8. The mobile printing system of claim 7 wherein said operator interface provides a prompt on said output device for accepting electronic print data from a mobile cellular device which does not match the list of approved cellular network devices.

9. The mobile printing system of claim 1 wherein said mobile cellular device further includes an input device, an output device and an operator interface responsive to said input device and displayed by said output device wherein said operator interface includes a user interface access control and system control for configuring the mobile cellular device for receiving electronic print data.

10. The mobile printing system of claim 9 wherein said operator interface is configured using the input device for displaying printer status information associated with the printer on the output device.

1 1. The mobile printing system of claim 9 wherein said mobile cellular device is configured for selectively printing said electronic print document by said printer.

12. The mobile printing system of claim 9 wherein said mobile cellular device is configured for scheduling the printing of said electronic print document by said printer.

The mobile printing system of claim 1 wherein said electronic print data is retrievably stored on the storage media according to a first-in-first-out method.