System for retrieving and printing network documents

Abstract

A method for providing print-by-reference functionality includes providing a web page from a printer's embedded web server to a web browser, receiving a URL entered into the provided web page, retrieving a printable document corresponding to the URL, and printing the retrieved document.

1 - 30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . A control method for controlling a printer, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a web page from a printer to a web browser, wherein the web page prompts a user to enter identification information corresponding to a document to be printed;    receiving the identification information entered into the provided web page;    receiving, from an external apparatus, the document to be printed corresponding to the received identification information; and    automatically printing the received document.    
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the web page is in HTML format.  
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the web page is in XML format.  
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the document is in a print-ready format.  
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 31 , further comprising the step of converting the received the document to a print-ready format.  
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the identification information contains e-mail account identification information.  
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein the web page allows entry of the e-mail account identification information.  
   
   
       38 . Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium, the steps to control a printer, the steps comprising: 
 providing a web page from a printer to a web browser, wherein the web page prompts a user to enter identification information corresponding to a document to be printed;    receiving the identification information entered into the provided web page;    receiving, from an external apparatus, the document to be printed corresponding to the received identification information; and    automatically printing the received document.    
   
   
       39 . Computer-executable process steps according to  claim 38 , wherein the identification information contains e-mail account identification information.  
   
   
       40 . Computer-executable process steps according to  claim 39 , wherein the web page allows entry of the e-mail account identification information.  
   
   
       41 . A printer comprising: 
 a server for providing a web page to a web browser, wherein the web page prompts a user to enter identification information corresponding to a document to be printed; and    a receiver for receiving, from an external apparatus, the document to be printed corresponding to the identification information entered into the provided web page,    wherein the printer prints the received document.    
   
   
       42 . A printer according to  claim 41 , wherein the receiver receives the identification information from the web browser.  
   
   
       43 . A printer according to  claim 41 , wherein the server creates the web page, and provides the created web page in response to a request from the web browser.  
   
   
       44 . A printer according to  claim 41 , wherein the web page includes an input area for entering the identification information corresponding to the document to be printed.  
   
   
       45 . A printer according to  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 a sender for sending, to the external apparatus, a request for the document to be printed corresponding to the identification information,    wherein the receiver receives the document which the external apparatus sends in response to the request.    
   
   
       46 . A printer according to  claim 41 , wherein the identification information includes a URL.  
   
   
       47 . A printer according to  claim 41 , wherein the web page is described by HTML or XML.  
   
   
       48 . A printer comprising: 
 a server for providing a web page to a web browser, wherein the web page prompts a user to enter identification information corresponding to a mail server; and    a receiver for receiving, from the mail server corresponding to the identification information entered into the provided web page, a message to be printed, wherein the printer prints the received message.    
   
   
       49 . A printer according to  claim 48 , wherein the web page prompts a user to enter at least one of a user name, a password and a message number to be printed, and the receiver receives the at least one of the user name, the password and the message number to be printed.  
   
   
       50 . A printer according to  claim 48 , wherein the server sends a web page which prompts the user to select at least one of a plurality of message in the mail server, and wherein the printer prints the at least one message selected by the user.  
   
   
       51 . A control method for controlling a printer, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a web page to a web browser, wherein the web page prompts a user to enter identification information corresponding to a document to be printed;    receiving, from an external apparatus, the document to be printed corresponding to the identification information entered into the provided web page; and    printing the received document.    
   
   
       52 . A method according to  claim 51 , further comprising the step of receiving the identification information from the web browser.  
   
   
       53 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the web page includes an input area for entering the identification information corresponding to the document to be printed.  
   
   
       54 . A method according to  claim 51 , further comprising the step of: 
 sending, to the external apparatus, a request for the document to be printed corresponding to the identification information,    wherein the external apparatus sends the document to the printer in response to the request.    
   
   
       55 . A control method for controlling a printer, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a web page to a web browser, wherein the web page prompts a user to enter identification information corresponding to a mail server;    receiving, from the mail server corresponding to the identification information entered into the provided web page, a message to be printed; and    printing the received message.    
   
   
       56 . A method according to  claim 55 , wherein the web page prompts a user to enter at least one of a user name, a password and a message number to be printed, and the method further comprises the step of receiving the at least one of the user name, the password and the message number to be printed.  
   
   
       57 . A printer according to  claim 55 , further comprising the step of: 
 sending a web page which prompts the user to select at least one of a plurality of messages in the mail server, wherein the printer prints the at least one message selected by the user.    
   
   
       58 . Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium, the steps to control a printer, the steps comprising: 
 providing a web page to a web browser wherein the web page prompts a user to enter identification information corresponding to a document to be printed;    receiving from an external apparatus, the document to be printed corresponding to the identification information entered into the provided web page; and    printing the received document.    
   
   
       59 . Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium, the steps to control a printer, the steps comprising: 
 providing a web page to a web browser, wherein the web page prompts a user to enter identification information corresponding to a mail server;    receiving, from the mail server corresponding to the identification information entered into the provided web page, a message to be printed; and    printing the received message.