Method and Apparatus for Controlling an Input or Output Device over the Internet

Abstract

In a network having an initiator, a server, and an input/output (I/O) device remote from the initiator, the initiator transmits to the server a request containing the network location of data to be retrieved from an input device, such as a video camera, fax, or scanner, or output by an output device, such as a printer. Output requests are placed in a queue and scheduled for completion. When an output device is ready, the server retrieves the data from a network storage location different from the queue and transmits the data to the printer or output device for action. When an input device is ready, the server retrieves the data from the input device and transmits it to a network location based on the request. The server can also provide the initiator with status information about the request and the input or output device.

1 . A network printing system comprising: 
 a printing device having access to a network, and effective for receiving print requests over said network;    a client device having access to said network, and effective for submitting a first print request for a print job to said printing device over said network;    wherein said printing device accepts said first print request and stores it in a queue;    wherein said printing device initiates the downloading of said print job for printing and    wherein if said print job is not currently in a printing format supported by said printing device, then said printing device converts said print job into a supported printing format prior to printing.    
   
   
       2 . The network printing system of  claim 1 , wherein said printing device waits until it is ready to execute said first print request before downloading said print job for printing.  
   
   
       3 . The network printing system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said network is the Internet; and    said client device is remote from said printing device.    
   
   
       4 . The network printing system of  claim 1 , wherein said printing device downloads said print job using HTTP communication protocols.  
   
   
       5 . The network printing system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a memory store remote from said client device and said printing device, said memory store being accessible over said network; wherein    said client device stores said print job in said memory store, and includes storage location information of said print job within said first print request; and    said printing device uses said storage location information to download said print job from said memory store over said network.    
   
   
       6 . The network printing system of  claim 1 , wherein if said printing device does not have a conversion capability suitable for converting said print job into said supported printing format, then said printing device locates and downloads over said network the required conversion means for converting said print job into said supported printing format.  
   
   
       7 . The network printing system of  claim 1 , wherein said printing device has direct access to said network.  
   
   
       8 . The network printing system of  claim 1 , wherein said printing device has indirect access to said network through a network-access computing device.  
   
   
       9 . The network printing system of  claim 1 , wherein if said printing device does not have a conversion capability suitable for converting said print job into said supported printing format, then said printing device informs said client device that its submitted print request will not be completed and does not down load said print job.  
   
   
       10 . An internet printing system comprising: 
 a printing device having communication access to the internet, and effective for receiving print requests over the internet;    a first computing device remote from said printing device and having access to the internet, said first computing device being effective for submitting a first print request for a print job to said printing device over the internet;    wherein said printing device accepts said first print request and stores it in a queue;    wherein said printing device uses HTTP communication protocols to initiate the downloading of said print job for printing, and    wherein if said print job is not currently in a printing format supported by said printing device, then said printing device converts said print job into a supported printing format prior to printing.    
   
   
       11 . The internet printing system of  claim 10 , wherein said printing device waits until it is ready to execute said first print request before downloading said print job for printing.  
   
   
       12 . The internet printing system of  claim 10 , wherein said printing device uses an HTTP GET object request to download said print job.  
   
   
       13 . The internet printing system of  claim 10 , wherein first computing device uses an HTTP POST command to submit said print request to said printing device.  
   
   
       14 . The internet printing system of  claim 10 , wherein said printing device downloads said print job from said first computing device.  
   
   
       15 . The internet printing system of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a memory store remote from said first computing device and from said printing device, said memory store being accessible over the internet; wherein    said first computing device stores said print job in said memory store, and includes storage location information of said print job within said first print request; and    said printing device uses said storage location information to locate and download said print job from said memory store over the internet.    
   
   
       16 . The internet printing system of  claim 10 , wherein if said printing device does not have a conversion capability suitable for converting said print job into said supported printing format, then said printing device locates and downloads over the internet the required conversion means for converting said print job into said supported printing format.  
   
   
       17 . The internet printing system of  claim 10 , wherein said printing device has direct access to the internet.  
   
   
       18 . The network printing system of  claim 10 , wherein said printing device has indirect access to the internet through a second computing device.  
   
   
       19 . The network printing system of  claim 10 , wherein if said printing device does not have a conversion capability suitable for converting said print job into said supported printing format, then said printing device informs said first computing device that its submitted print request will not be completed and does not down load said print job.  
   
   
       20 . An internet printing system comprising: 
 a printing device having communication access to the internet;    a network server having communication access to the internet, and effective for receiving print requests over the internet;    a client computing device having communication access to the internet, said first computing device being effective for submitting a first print request for a print job to said network server over the internet;    wherein said network server accepts said first print request and stores it in a queue;    wherein said network server uses HTTP communication protocols to initiate the downloading of said print job for printing and to convey the print job over the internet to said printing device; and    wherein if said print job is not currently in a printing format supported by said printing device, then said network server converts said print job into said a supported printing format prior conveying it to said printing device.    
   
   
       21 . The internet printing system of  claim 19 , wherein said client computing device is remote from said network server and said printing device, and wherein said network server is remote from said printing device.  
   
   
       22 . The internet printing system of  claim 19 , wherein said network server waits until said printing device is ready to execute said first print request before downloading said print job for printing.  
   
   
       23 . The internet printing system of  claim 19 , wherein said networks server uses an HTTP GET object request to download said print job.  
   
   
       24 . The internet printing system of  claim 19 , wherein client computing device uses an HTTP POST command submit said print request to said network server.  
   
   
       25 . The internet printing system of  claim 19 , wherein said network server downloads said print job from said client computing device.  
   
   
       26 . The internet printing system of  claim 19  further comprising: 
 a memory store accessible over the internet and remote from said client computing device, network server, and printing device; wherein    said first computing device stores said print job in said memory store, and includes storage location information of said print job within said first print request; and    said network server uses said storage location information to locate and download said print job from said memory store over the internet.    
   
   
       27 . The internet printing system of  claim 19 , wherein if said network server does not have a conversion capability suitable for converting said print job into said supported printing format, then said network server locates and downloads over the internet the required conversion means for converting said print job into said supported printing format.  
   
   
       28 . A network printing system comprising: 
 a printing device having access to a network, and effective for receiving print requests over said network;    a client device having access to said network, and effective for submitting a first print request for a print job to said printing device over said network;    wherein if said print job is not currently in a printing format supported by said printing device, and if said printing device does not have a conversion capability suitable for converting said print job into said supported printing format, then said printing device does not down load said print job.    
   
   
       29 . The network printing system of  claim 27 , wherein if said printing device does not down load said print job, then said printing device further informs said client device that its submitted print request will not be completed.  
   
   
       30 . The network printing system of  claim 27 , wherein if said print job is not currently in a printing format supported by said printing device and said printing device does have a conversion capability suitable for converting said print job into a supported printing format, then said printing device down loads said print job, converts the downloaded print job into said supported format prior to printing.