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US6739771B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Printing system for printing at a user selected location

Assignee: Fujifilm Corp
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Filing: 2002-04-18
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Granted: 2004-05-25
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Expires: 2022-04-18
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Abstract

Abstract A Web server is accessed using a cellular telephone. When desired digital content desired to be printed is found, the user designates a location at which this digital content is to be printed. The digital content is transmitted from the Web server to a printing terminal that has been installed at the designated location, and the printing terminal prints the digital content. The user goes to the designated location and picks up the printout. Even if the user is on the road, therefore, desired digital content that has been stored in the Web server can be printed out and received.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yoshiki Kawaoka

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 10:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/04; H04L67/50; H04L67/52; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim 279 words
A printing system comprising: a Web server storing digital content, a portable electronic device and a printing terminal in communication with one another, wherein said portable electronic device includes: a designating device for designating the number of prints and digital content, which has subject matter desired to be printed, from among the digital content that has been stored in said Web server; an input device for inputting information relating to a receiving location where a printout of the subject matter will be received; and a first transmitting device for transmitting an order-information file including data representing the number of prints and digital-content identification data, which identifies the digital content that has been designated by said designating device, and the information relating to the receiving location input from said input device, directly to said Web server in a form associated with each other; said Web server includes: a retrieval device for retrieving digital content, which has the subject matter desired to be printed, from the digital content that has been stored in said Web server, based upon the identification data transmitted from said first transmitting device of said portable electronic device; and a second transmitting device for transmitting the order-information file and digital content, which has been retrieved by said retrieval device, to said printing terminal placed at a location specified by the information relating to the receiving location transmitted from said first transmitting device of the portable electronic device; and said printing terminal has a printer for printing subject matter represented by digital content that has been transmitted from said second transmitting device of said Web server, the number of prints represented by data of the number of prints.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 279 words
A printing system comprising: a Web server storing digital content, a portable electronic device and a printing terminal in communication with one another, wherein said portable electronic device includes: a designating device for designating the number of prints and digital content, which has subject matter desired to be printed, from among the digital content that has been stored in said Web server; an input device for inputting information relating to a receiving location where a printout of the subject matter will be received; and a first transmitting device for transmitting an order-information file including data representing the number of prints and digital-content identification data, which identifies the digital content that has been designated by said designating device, and the information relating to the receiving location input from said input device, directly to said Web server in a form associated with each other; said Web server includes: a retrieval device for retrieving digital content, which has the subject matter desired to be printed, from the digital content that has been stored in said Web server, based upon the identification data transmitted from said first transmitting device of said portable electronic device; and a second transmitting device for transmitting the order-information file and digital content, which has been retrieved by said retrieval device, to said printing terminal placed at a location specified by the information relating to the receiving location transmitted from said first transmitting device of the portable electronic device; and said printing terminal has a printer for printing subject matter represented by digital content that has been transmitted from said second transmitting device of said Web server, the number of prints represented by data of the number of prints.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 240 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said Web server further includes: a generating device for generating an order ID in response to receipt of the digital-content identification data and information relating to the receiving location transmitted from said first transmitting unit of said portable electronic device; and a third transmitting device for transmitting the order ID, which has been generated by said generating device, to said portable electronic device and said printing terminal; said Web server transmitting digital content, which has been retrieved by said retrieval device, and identification data identifying said portable electronic device, which has been transmitted from said first transmitting device of said portable electronic device, to said printing terminal in a form associated with each other, said printing terminal being placed at a location specified by information relating to the receiving location; said portable electronic device further includes a fourth transmitting device for transmitting the order ID, which has been transmitted from said third transmitting device of said Web server, to said printing terminal; and said printing terminal further includes: a determination device for determining whether the order ID transmitted from said third transmitting device of said Web server and the order ID transmitted from said fourth transmitting device of said portable electronic device match; and a device for controlling said printer so as to execute printing in accordance with a determination by said determination unit to the effect that the order IDs match.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the information relating to receiving location entered from said input device of said portable electronic device indicates a receiving location that is uniquely decided.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 203 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the information relating to receiving location entered from said input device of said portable electronic device indicates a plurality of receiving locations; said Web server further includes: a generating device for generating an order ID in response to receipt of the digital-content identification data and information relating to the receiving location transmitted from said first transmitting device of said portable electronic device; and a fifth transmitting device for transmitting the order ID, which has been generated by said generating device, to said portable electronic device and said printing terminal; said portable electronic device further includes a sixth transmitting device for transmitting the order ID, which has been transmitted from said fifth transmitting device of said Web server, to said printing terminal; said printing terminal further includes a determination device for determining whether the order ID transmitted from said sixth transmitting device of said portable electronic device and the order ID transmitted from said fifth transmitting unit of said Web server match; and said second transmitting device of said Web server transmits the digital content to said printing terminal in accordance with a determination by said determination device to the effect that the order IDs match.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 116 words
A portable electronic device comprising: a designating device for designating the number of prints and digital content, which has subject matter desired to be printed, from among digital content that has been stored in a Web server; an input device for inputting information relating to a receiving location where a printout of the subject matter will be received; and a transmitting device for transmitting an order-information file including data representing the number of prints and digital-content identification data, which identifies the digital content that has been designated by said designating device, and the information relating to the receiving location input from said input device, directly to said Web server in a form associated with each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 116 words
A portable electronic device comprising: a designating device for designating the number of prints and digital content, which has subject matter desired to be printed, from among digital content that has been stored in a Web server; an input device for inputting information relating to a receiving location where a printout of the subject matter will be received; and a transmitting device for transmitting an order-information file including data representing the number of prints and digital-content identification data, which identifies the digital content that has been designated by said designating device, and the information relating to the receiving location input from said input device, directly to said Web server in a form associated with each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 125 words
A Web server comprising: a retrieval device for retrieving digital content, which has subject matter desired to be printed, from digital content that has been stored in the Web server, based upon identification data, which is included an order-information file, identifying the digital content, which has the subject matter desired to be printed, from among digital content that has been stored in the Web server, the identification data being directly transmitted from a portable electronic device; and a transmitting device for transmitting the order-information file and digital content that has been retrieved by said retrieval device to a printing terminal placed at a location specified by information relating to a location for receiving a printout of the subject matter transmitted from said portable electronic device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 125 words
A Web server comprising: a retrieval device for retrieving digital content, which has subject matter desired to be printed, from digital content that has been stored in the Web server, based upon identification data, which is included an order-information file, identifying the digital content, which has the subject matter desired to be printed, from among digital content that has been stored in the Web server, the identification data being directly transmitted from a portable electronic device; and a transmitting device for transmitting the order-information file and digital content that has been retrieved by said retrieval device to a printing terminal placed at a location specified by information relating to a location for receiving a printout of the subject matter transmitted from said portable electronic device.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 106 words
A method of controlling operation of a portable electronic device, comprising the steps of: designating the number of prints and digital content, which has subject matter desired to be printed, from among digital content that has been stored in a Web server; inputting information relating to a receiving location where a printout of the subject matter will be received; and transmitting an order-information file including data representing the number of prints and identification data, which identifies the digital content that has been designated, and information relating to the receiving location that has been input, directly to the Web server in a form associated with each other.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 106 words
A method of controlling operation of a portable electronic device, comprising the steps of: designating the number of prints and digital content, which has subject matter desired to be printed, from among digital content that has been stored in a Web server; inputting information relating to a receiving location where a printout of the subject matter will be received; and transmitting an order-information file including data representing the number of prints and identification data, which identifies the digital content that has been designated, and information relating to the receiving location that has been input, directly to the Web server in a form associated with each other.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 122 words
A method of controlling operation of a Web server, comprising the steps of: retrieving digital content, which has subject matter desired to be printed, from digital content that has been stored in the Web server, based upon identification data, which is included an order-information file, identifying the digital content, which has the subject matter desired to be printed, from among digital content that has been stored in the Web server, the identification data being transmitted from a portable electronic device; and transmitting the order-information file and digital content that has been retrieved to a printing terminal placed at a location specified by information relating to a location for receiving a printout of the subject matter directly transmitted from the portable electronic device.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 122 words
A method of controlling operation of a Web server, comprising the steps of: retrieving digital content, which has subject matter desired to be printed, from digital content that has been stored in the Web server, based upon identification data, which is included an order-information file, identifying the digital content, which has the subject matter desired to be printed, from among digital content that has been stored in the Web server, the identification data being transmitted from a portable electronic device; and transmitting the order-information file and digital content that has been retrieved to a printing terminal placed at a location specified by information relating to a location for receiving a printout of the subject matter directly transmitted from the portable electronic device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 102 words
A remote printing system, comprising a portable electronic device, a web server, and a printing terminal all configured to communicate with each other, wherein: the portable electronic device is configured to transmit an order information file directly to the web server, wherein the order information file includes information regarding data content to be printed and a location information of the printing terminal; the web server is configured to transmit the data content to the printing terminal based on the location information in the order information file; and the printing terminal is configured to print the data content received from the web server.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 102 words
A remote printing system, comprising a portable electronic device, a web server, and a printing terminal all configured to communicate with each other, wherein: the portable electronic device is configured to transmit an order information file directly to the web server, wherein the order information file includes information regarding data content to be printed and a location information of the printing terminal; the web server is configured to transmit the data content to the printing terminal based on the location information in the order information file; and the printing terminal is configured to print the data content received from the web server.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 48 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein: the portable electronic device is configured to download the data content from the web server and transmit the data content to the printing terminal; and the printing terminal is configured to print the data content received from the portable electronic device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 51 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein: the portable electronic device is configured to query the web server for a list of one or more available printing terminals; and the web server is configured to respond to the query by generating the list of the one or more available printing terminals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 42 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein the web server generates the list of the one or more available printing terminals based on at least one of a present position of the portable electronic device and a predetermined registration of a user.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 27 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein the portable electronic device is configured to transmit the present position of the portable electronic device to the web server.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 27 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein the portable electronic device and the printing terminal are configured to communicate with each other using short-distance wireless communication protocols.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 14 , wherein the portable electronic device and the printing terminal need not be in direct line of sight with each other.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system of claim 14 , wherein the portable electronic device is configured to control printing operations of the printing terminal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 61 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein: the portable electronic device is configured to request a print control program from the printing terminal upon determining that the portable electronic device does not currently have the capability to control the printing operations of the printing terminal; and the printing terminal is configured to transmit the print control program upon receiving the request.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 17 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein the printing terminal is configured to verify a user's authorization.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 48 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein: the web server is configured to generate the user's authorization by generating an order ID; the portable electronic device is configured to transmit the order ID to the printing terminal; and the printing terminal is configured to verify the order ID.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 63 words
A portable electronic device for use in remote printing, comprising: a designating device configured to designate data content to be printed; a destination specifying device configured to specify a destination for the data content; and a transmitting device configured to transmit an order information file directly to a web server, wherein the order information file includes the data content designation and the destination.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 63 words
A portable electronic device for use in remote printing, comprising: a designating device configured to designate data content to be printed; a destination specifying device configured to specify a destination for the data content; and a transmitting device configured to transmit an order information file directly to a web server, wherein the order information file includes the data content designation and the destination.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 52 words
The portable electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the transmitting device is a first transmitting device, the portable electronic device further comprising: a download device configured to download the data content from the web server; and a second transmitting device configured to transmit the downloaded data content to a printing terminal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 50 words
The portable electronic device of claim 20 , further comprising a query device configured to query the web server for a list of available one or more printing terminals based on at least one of a present position of the portable electronic device and a predetermined registeration of a user.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 23 words
The portable electronic device of claim 20 , further comprising a printing control device configured to control printing operations of a printing terminal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 25 words
The portable electronic device of claim 23 , wherein the printing control device is configured to download a print control program from the printing terminal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 67 words
A web server for use in remote printing, comprising: an order information receiving device configured to receive an order information directly from a portable electronic device, wherein the order information includes a data content designation and a destination information; a data retrieval device configured to retrieve the data content; and a transmitting device configured to transmit the data content to a location specified in the destination information.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 67 words
A web server for use in remote printing, comprising: an order information receiving device configured to receive an order information directly from a portable electronic device, wherein the order information includes a data content designation and a destination information; a data retrieval device configured to retrieve the data content; and a transmitting device configured to transmit the data content to a location specified in the destination information.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 72 words
The web server of claim 25 , further comprising a location retrieval device configured to retrieve a list of one or more available printing terminals based on at least one of a present position of the portable electronic device and a predetermined registeration of a user upon request from the portable electronic device, and wherein the transmitting device is configured to transmit the list of the one or more available printing terminals.
Claim 35
Independent Claim 51 words
A method for operating a portable electronic device for use in remote printing, comprising: designating data content to be printed; specifying a destination for the data content; and transmitting an order information file directly to a web server, wherein the order information file includes the data content designation and the destination.
Claim 36
Independent Claim 51 words
A method for operating a portable electronic device for use in remote printing, comprising: designating data content to be printed; specifying a destination for the data content; and transmitting an order information file directly to a web server, wherein the order information file includes the data content designation and the destination.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 27 , further comprising: downloading the data content from the web server; and transmitting the downloaded data content to a printing terminal.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method of claim 27 , further comprising querying the web server for a list of available one or more printing terminals based on at least one of a present position of the portable electronic device and a predetermined registeration of a user.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 27 , further comprising controlling printing operations of a printing terminal.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 30 , further comprising downloading a print control program from the printing terminal.
Claim 41
Independent Claim 53 words
A method for operating a web server for use in remote printing, comprising: receiving an order information directly from a portable electronic device, wherein the order information includes a data content designation and a destination information; retrieving the data content; and transmitting the data content to a location specified in the destination information.
Claim 42
Independent Claim 53 words
A method for operating a web server for use in remote printing, comprising: receiving an order information directly from a portable electronic device, wherein the order information includes a data content designation and a destination information; retrieving the data content; and transmitting the data content to a location specified in the destination information.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 65 words
The method of claim 32 , further comprising: retrieving a list of one or more available printing terminals based on at least one of a present position of the portable electronic device and a predetermined registeration of a user upon receiving a request from the portable electronic device; and transmitting the list of the one or more available printing terminals to the portable electronic device.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPH10191453A Cited
US20030088828A1 Cited
JP2002236637A Cited
US20030083996A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2007-05-25 2007-11-24 2008-05-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2011-05-25 2011-11-24 2012-05-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2015-05-25 2015-11-24 2016-05-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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