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US7602522B2 Active / In Force US ⏱️ 0.1 years remaining

Printer driver system for remote printing

Assignee: FUTURELINK CANADA CORP
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Filing: 2006-12-01
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Granted: 2009-10-13
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Expires: 2026-12-01
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Abstract

Abstract A server for connection to a client via a network, the client being operable to transmit user-input to the server over the network and to receive user-output from the server over the network. The server comprises a network interface for connection to the network; and a processor coupled to the interface. The processor is operable to remotely host execution of an application for the client. The application is for receiving the user-input from the client over the network and for generating the user-output for transmission to the client over the network. The server implements a universal printer driver operable to generate a universal printer file from the application based on a request for a file to be printed that is embedded in the user-input. The server is further operable to transmit the universal printer file over the network. The universal printer file has a format amenable to interpretation by a universal print file reader into a printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.

Inventors

  • 👤 Arron Fu
  • 👤 Tamer Ahmed Afify
  • 👤 William Martin Sloan

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 10:54
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/12; G06F3/1201; G06F3/1202; G06F3/1203; G06F3/1206; G06F3/1223; G06F3/1237; G06F3/1244; G06F3/1247; G06F3/1278; G06F3/1285; G06F3/1288

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim 160 words
A server for connection to a client via a network; said client operable to transmit user-input to said server over said network and to receive user-output from said server over said network; said server comprising: a network interface for connection to said network; a processor coupled to said interface; said processor operable to remotely host execution of an application for said client; said application for receiving said user-input from said client over said network and for generating said user-output for transmission to said client over said network; said server implementing a universal printer driver operable to generate a universal printer file from said application based on a request for a file to be printed that is embedded in said user-input; said server further operable to transmit said universal printer file over said network; said universal printer file having a format amenable to interpretation by a universal print file reader into a printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 160 words
A server for connection to a client via a network; said client operable to transmit user-input to said server over said network and to receive user-output from said server over said network; said server comprising: a network interface for connection to said network; a processor coupled to said interface; said processor operable to remotely host execution of an application for said client; said application for receiving said user-input from said client over said network and for generating said user-output for transmission to said client over said network; said server implementing a universal printer driver operable to generate a universal printer file from said application based on a request for a file to be printed that is embedded in said user-input; said server further operable to transmit said universal printer file over said network; said universal printer file having a format amenable to interpretation by a universal print file reader into a printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
The server defined in claim 1 , wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
The server defined in claim 1 , wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than 95% of the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
The server defined in claim 1 , wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than 90% of the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 33 words
The server defined in claim 1 , wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than 75% of the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
The server defined in claim l, wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than 50% of the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
The server defined in claim 1 , wherein said format is in accordance with the Adobe portable document format (“PDF”).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
The server defined in claim 1 , wherein said universal print file reader is Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
The server defined in claim 1 , wherein said printing device is locally connected to the client.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 38 words
The server defined in claim 1 , wherein said server and said client run cooperating versions of Citrix MetaFrame; and wherein said user-input, said user-output and said universal printer file are carried over said network via Citrix MetaFrame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 17 words
The server defined in claim 1 , wherein said application comprises a windowing session for said client.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
The server defined in claim 1 , wherein said network includes at least one of a local area network; a wide area network and the Internet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
The server defined in claim 1 , wherein said universal printer file is carried over said network to said client via email.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 101 words
A method, comprising: receiving a print request at a server from a client remotely connected to the server via a network; processing the print request at the server by corresponding the print request to an application hosted on the server on behalf of the client; using a universal printer driver to create a universal printer file from the application based on the print request; and, sending the universal printer file over the network; wherein the universal printer file has a format amenable to interpretation by a universal print file reader into a printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 101 words
A method, comprising: receiving a print request at a server from a client remotely connected to the server via a network; processing the print request at the server by corresponding the print request to an application hosted on the server on behalf of the client; using a universal printer driver to create a universal printer file from the application based on the print request; and, sending the universal printer file over the network; wherein the universal printer file has a format amenable to interpretation by a universal print file reader into a printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method defined in claim 14 , wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method defined in claim 14 , wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than 95% of the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method defined in claim 14 , wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than 90% of the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method defined in claim 14 , wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than 75% of the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method defined in claim 14 , wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than 50% of the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method defined in claim 14 , wherein said format is in accordance with the Adobe portable document format (“PDF”).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 17 words
The server defined in claim 14 , wherein said universal print file reader is Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 17 words
The server defined in claim 14 , wherein said printing device is locally connected to the client.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method defined in claim 14 , wherein said server and said client run cooperating versions of Citrix MetaFrame; and wherein said user-input, said user-output and said universal printer file are carried over said network via Citrix MetaFrame.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method defined in claim 14 , wherein said application comprises a windowing session for said client.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method defined in claim 14 , wherein said network includes at least one of a local area network; a wide area network and the Internet.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method defined in claim 14 , wherein said universal printer file is carried over said network to said client via email.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 167 words
A client-server computer system, comprising: a server comprising a network interface for connection to a network; a client for connection to said server via the network; said client operable to transmit user-input to said server over said network and to receive user-output from said server over said network; said server comprising a processor coupled to said interface; said processor operable to remotely host execution of an application for said client; said application capable of receiving said user-input from said client over said network and generating said user-output for transmission to said client over said network; said server implementing a universal printer driver operable to generate a universal printer file from said application based on a request for a file to be printed that is embedded in said user-input; said server further operable to transmit said universal printer file over said network; said client implementing a universal print file reader capable of interpreting said universal printer file into a printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 167 words
A client-server computer system, comprising: a server comprising a network interface for connection to a network; a client for connection to said server via the network; said client operable to transmit user-input to said server over said network and to receive user-output from said server over said network; said server comprising a processor coupled to said interface; said processor operable to remotely host execution of an application for said client; said application capable of receiving said user-input from said client over said network and generating said user-output for transmission to said client over said network; said server implementing a universal printer driver operable to generate a universal printer file from said application based on a request for a file to be printed that is embedded in said user-input; said server further operable to transmit said universal printer file over said network; said client implementing a universal print file reader capable of interpreting said universal printer file into a printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 33 words
The client-server computer system defined in claim 27 , wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 35 words
The client-server computer system defined in claim 27 , wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than 95% of the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 35 words
The client-server computer system defined in claim 27 , wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than 90% of the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 35 words
The client-server computer system defined in claim 27 , wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than 75% of the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 35 words
The client-server computer system defined in claim 27 , wherein the size of the universal printer file is less than 50% of the size of the printer file suitable for printing by a printing device.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 22 words
The client-server computer system defined in claim 27 , wherein said format is in accordance with the Adobe portable document format (“PDF”).
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 17 words
The server defined in claim 27 , wherein said universal print file reader is Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 17 words
The server defined in claim 27 , wherein said printing device is locally connected to the client.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 40 words
The client-server computer system defined in claim 27 , wherein said server and said client run cooperating versions of Citrix MetaFrame; and wherein said user-input, said user-output and said universal printer file are carried over said network via Citrix MetaFrame.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 19 words
The client-server computer system defined in claim 27 , wherein said application comprises a windowing session for said client.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 28 words
The client-server computer system defined in claim 27 , wherein said network includes at least one of a local area network; a wide area network and the Internet.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 24 words
The client-server computer system defined in claim 27 , wherein said universal printer file is carried over said network to said client via email.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2012-10-12 2013-04-13 2013-10-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2016-10-12 2017-04-13 2017-10-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2020-10-12 2021-04-13 2021-10-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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