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 printer comprising:
 a web server constructed to generate display data for displaying a web page;   a receiving unit constructed to receive, from an external apparatus, a transmission request of a web page for designating a document to be printed by the printer; and   a printing unit constructed to print a document,   wherein the web server generates the display data for displaying the web page, the web page being for allowing a user to designate the document to be printed by the printer and for indicating a list of identification information corresponding to each of a plurality of documents having different formats, and provides the generated display data to the external apparatus in accordance with the transmission request received by the receiving unit, and the printing unit prints a document identified by identification information designated, by the user, from the list of the identification information indicated by the web page displayed on the external apparatus, based on the display data.   
     
     
         32 . The printer according to  claim 31 , further comprising an acquiring unit constructed to acquire, via a network, the document identified by the identification information designated, by the user, from the list of the identification information indicated by the web page displayed on the external apparatus, based on the display data,
 wherein the printing unit prints the document acquired by the acquiring unit.   
     
     
         33 . The printer according to  claim 31 , wherein the display data is formed in an HTML format or in an XML format, and is to be displayed on a web browser of the external apparatus. 
     
     
         34 . The printer according to  claim 31 , wherein the identification information includes a URL. 
     
     
         35 . A network interface apparatus to be mounted on a printer and for connecting the printer to a network, the network interface apparatus comprising:
 a web server constructed to generate display data for displaying a web page;   a receiving unit constructed to receive, from an external apparatus, a transmission request of a web page for designating a document to be printed by the printer; and   an outputting unit constructed to output the document to the printer,   wherein the web server generates display data for displaying the web page, the web page being for allowing a user to designate a document to be printed by the printer and for indicating a list of identification information corresponding to each of a plurality of documents having different formats, and provides the generated display data for the external apparatus in accordance with the transmission request received by the receiving unit, and the output unit outputs the document identified by identification information designated, by the user, from the list of the identification information indicated by a web page displayed on the external apparatus, based on the display data.   
     
     
         36 . A printing method executed by a printer, comprising the steps of:
 generating, by a web server of the printer, display data for displaying a web page;   receiving, from an external apparatus, a transmission request of a web page for designating a document to be printed by the printer; and   printing a document,   wherein the web server generates display data for displaying the web page, the web page being for allowing a user to designate a document to be printed by the printer and for indicating a list of identification information corresponding to each of a plurality of documents having different formats, and provides the generated display data for the external apparatus in accordance with the transmission request received in the receiving step, and the printer prints a document identified by identification information designated, by the user, from the list of the identification information indicated by the web page displayed on the external apparatus, based on the display data.   
     
     
         37 . A computer-readable memory medium having computer-executable process steps stored thereon, wherein said process steps execute a printing method for a printer comprising:
 generating, by a web server of the printer, display data for displaying a web page;   receiving, from an external apparatus, a transmission request of a web page for designating a document to be printed by the printer; and   printing a document,   wherein the web server generates display data for displaying the web page, the web page being for allowing a user to designate a document to be printed by the printer and for indicating a list of identification information corresponding to each of a plurality of documents having different formats, and provides the generated display data for the external apparatus in accordance with the transmission request received in the receiving step, and the printer prints a document identified by identification information designated, by the user, from the list of the identification information indicated by the web page displayed on the external apparatus, based on the display data.