Print Server For A Portable Device

Abstract

Systems and methods for a print server are provided that includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory including instructions causing the processor to receive data from a computing device in a format native to the computing device and process the data received from the computing device into a format native to a printing device connected to the print server. The instructions further cause the system to provide control signals to the print device and provide the data to the print device in the format native to a printer connected to the print server.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A print server comprising:
 a processor;   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including instructions causing the processor to:
 receive data from a computing device in a print format that is native to the computing device; 
 process the data received from the computing device into a format native to a printing device connected to the print server, wherein the data format native to the computing device is different from the format native to a printing device connected to the print server; 
 provide control signals to the print device; and 
 provide the data to the print device in the format native to the print device connected to the print server. 
   
     
     
         2 . The print server recited in  claim 1 , wherein the instructions stored in memory allow the print server to communicate with the computing device, which can be a portable device such as an iPad or iPhone, and wherein the instructions allow for communication with a printer that does not include a mobile electronic device specific print standard interface; and wherein the print server is configured to receive documents to be printed using the mobile electronic device specific print standard over WiFi. 
     
     
         3 . The print server recited in  claim 1 , further comprising instructions causing the processor to:
 discover a printer on a network the print server is connected to, including determining a printer model for the discovered printer;   mapping the printer model to a driver needed; and   downloading the driver based on the mapping from the printer model.   
     
     
         4 . The print server of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the print server to be able to receive a mobile electronic device specific print standard formatted document, format the data for printing using a printer-specific driver, and transmit the data to the printer. 
     
     
         5 . The print server of  claim 1 , wherein the print server is connected to the printer over a WiFi network. 
     
     
         6 . The print server of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the print server to perform (1) device discovery, (2) capture, and (3) translation and wherein discovery is performed using an auto discovery system. 
     
     
         7 . The print server of  claim 1 , wherein the device connects to a printer by sending a document using the PDF format, the Post Script format, or PCL. 
     
     
         8 . The print server of  claim 1 , wherein the print server provides printer driver management. 
     
     
         9 . The print server of  claim 1 , wherein the print server provides a connection between a plurality of devices by using USB, Ethernet, or 802.11 communications, or a combination of these. 
     
     
         10 . The print server of  claim 1 , wherein the print server provides for manually inputting printer information. 
     
     
         11 . The print server of  claim 1 , wherein the print server automatically discovers a printer and automatically downloads a driver for the printer. 
     
     
         12 . A method of printing from a computing device comprising:
 receiving data at a print server from a computing device in a print format that is native to the computing device;   converting the data received from the computing device into a format native to a printing device connected to the print server, the conversion occurring in the print server, wherein the data format native to the computing device is different from the format native to a printing device connected to the print server;   providing control signals from the print server to the print device; and   providing the data to the print device in the format native to the printing device connected to the print server.   
     
     
         13 . The method recited in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 communicating with the computing device;   communicating with a printer that does not include a mobile electronic device specific print native interface; and   configuring the print server to receive document to be printed using the mobile electronic device specific print standard over WiFi.   
     
     
         14 . The method recited in  claim 12 , further comprising downloading a first printer-specific drivers to the print server that provides the data to the print device in the format native to the print device connected to the print server; and downloading a second printer-specific driver from a print driver database stored in a cloud of networked computers as needed when a printer not supported by the first printer-specific driver is connected to the print server the second print-specific driver supporting the printer that is not supported by the first printer-specific driver. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving a mobile electronic device specific print standard formatted document;   formatting the data for printing using a printer-specific driver, and   transmitting the data to the printer.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising connecting to the printer over a WiFi network. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising performing (1) device discovery, (2) capture, and (3) translation and wherein discovery is performed using an auto discovery system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising sending a document using the PDF format, the Post Script format, or PCL. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprises providing printer driver management. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising providing a connection between a plurality of devices by using USB, Ethernet, or 802.11 communications, or a combination of these. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 discovering a printing device;   capturing data from the printing device; and   translating the data from the printing device.