Printer with internal document data construction

Abstract

A document printer is provided comprising a printer housing, a user interface and an internal printer controller positioned within the printer housing. The internal printer controller is programmed to designate a document format according to a format command entered at the user interface. A data stream input port is in communication with the internal printer controller and is operative to receive a data stream. A document construction module is in communication with the internal printer controller. The document construction module enables the internal printer controller to (i) extract predetermined data fields from the data stream according to the designated document format and (ii) convert the extracted data fields to document data. A document data printing mechanism is responsive to the internal printer controller and is operative to print the document data in the designated document format. The format command may comprise a specification of a format identity or a specification of an automatic document format selection mode.

We claim:  
     
       1. A document printing system for generating a printed document in a predetermined document format, wherein said document printing system comprises: 
       an external data stream input port for receiving an external data stream comprised of a plurality of data fields defining data to be printed in conjunction with said printed document;  
       a host computer programmed to generate said plurality of data fields within said external data stream, wherein said external data stream is coupled to said host computer such that content of said external data stream is defined by said plurality of data fields; and  
       a document printer including said external data stream input port such that said content of said external data stream is received at said external data stream input port, wherein said document printer further comprises  
       (i) a printer housing,  
       (ii) a user interface operative to initiate transmission of a format command along a first data path, wherein said format command represents a predetermined selection of data fields in said external data stream and a predetermined printed document format,  
       (iii) an internal printer controller positioned within said printer housing, wherein  
       said internal printer controller is arranged to be in communication with said user interface along said first data path,  
       said external data stream input port is arranged to be in communication with said internal printer controller along a second data path,  
       said second data path is arranged to be distinct from said first data path, and  
       said external data stream input port is arranged to be distinct from said user interface,  
       (iv) a document construction module in communication with said internal printer controller, wherein said document construction module includes a plurality of document formats stored therein in the form of respective stored document format files, and wherein said internal printer controller is programmed to  
       designate one of said document formats stored in said document construction module according to said format command entered at said user interface and transmitted along said first data path,  
       search for predetermined ones of said plurality of data fields within said external data stream,  
       extract said predetermined ones of said plurality of data fields from said external data stream to yield an extracted set of data fields, wherein said predetermined data fields are extracted according to said document format designated by said internal printer controller in response to said format command entered at said user interface and transmitted along said first data path, and  
       convert said extracted set of data fields to document data, and  
       (vi) a document data printing mechanism responsive to said internal printer controller and operative to print said document data converted from said extracted set of data fields in said designated document format.  
     
     
       2. A document printing system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said format command comprises a format identity and wherein said internal printer controller is programmed to designate one of said document formats according to said format identity. 
     
     
       3. A document printing system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said format command comprises an automatic document format selection command and wherein said internal printer controller is programmed to automatically designate one of said document formats in response to said automatic document format selection command. 
     
     
       4. A document printing system as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said internal printer controller is programmed to automatically designate said document format by identifying automatic document selection data within said external data stream. 
     
     
       5. A document printing system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said document construction module further includes a set of automatic document selection data stored therein and wherein said internal printer controller is programmed to identify said automatic document selection data within said external data stream by comparing said set of stored automatic document selection data with data within said external data stream. 
     
     
       6. A document printing system as claimed in  claim 5  wherein each unit of said set of said stored automatic document selection data comprises a unique string identifier and a positional marker corresponding to the location of the unique string identifier within said external data stream. 
     
     
       7. A document printing system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of document formats are stored in respective document format files in said document construction module and wherein one of said plurality of document formats comprises said designated document format. 
     
     
       8. A document printing system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said internal printer controller is further programmed to convert said extracted data fields to said document data by merging said extracted data fields into a document format file. 
     
     
       9. A document printing system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said document construction module is positioned within said printer housing. 
     
     
       10. A document printing system for generating a printed document in a predetermined document format, wherein said document printing system comprises: 
       an external data stream input port for receiving an external data stream comprised of a plurality of data fields defining data to be printed in conjunction with said printed document;  
       a host computer programmed to generate said plurality of data fields within said external data stream, wherein said external data stream is coupled to said host computer such that content of said external data stream is defined by said plurality of data fields;  
       a document printer including said external data stream input port such that said content of said external data stream is received at said external data stream input port, wherein said document printer further comprises  
       (i) a printer housing,  
       (ii) a user interface operative to initiate transmission of a format command along a first data path, wherein said format command represents a predetermined selection of data fields in said external data stream and a predetermined printed document format,  
       (iii) an internal printer controller positioned within said printer housing, wherein  
       said internal printer controller is arranged to be in communication with said user interface along said first data path,  
       said external data stream input port is arranged to be in communication with said internal printer controller along a second data path,  
       said second data path is arranged to be distinct from said first data path, and  
       said external data stream input port is arranged to be distinct from said user interface,  
       (iv) a document construction module in communication with said internal printer controller, wherein said document construction module includes a plurality of document formats stored therein in the form of respective stored document format files, and wherein said internal printer controller is programmed to  
       designate one of said document formats stored in said document construction module according to said format command entered at said user interface and transmitted along said first data path,  
       search for predetermined ones of said plurality of data fields within said external data stream,  
       extract said predetermined ones of said plurality of data fields from said external data stream to yield an extracted set of data fields, wherein said predetermined data fields are extracted according to said document format designated by said internal printer controller in response to said format command entered at said user interface and transmitted along said first data path, and  
       convert said extracted set of data fields to document data,  
       (vi) a peripheral communications port distinct from said external data stream input port, and  
       (vii) a document data printing mechanism responsive to said internal printer controller and operative to print said document data converted from said extracted set of data fields in said designated document format; and  
       a file transfer device coupled to said peripheral communications port and operative to download files from said file transfer device to said document construction module.  
     
     
       11. A document printing system as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said file transfer device is further operative to compress said downloaded files. 
     
     
       12. A document printing system as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said file transfer device is further operative to upload files from said document construction module to said file transfer device. 
     
     
       13. A document printing system as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said file transfer device is further operative to convert said downloaded files to a language recognized by said document construction module. 
     
     
       14. A document printing system as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said file transfer device is further operative to convert said uploaded files to a language recognized by said document construction module. 
     
     
       15. A document printing system as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said transferred files comprise document format files. 
     
     
       16. A document printing system as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said transferred files comprise automatic document selection data files. 
     
     
       17. A document printer comprising: 
       
         a printer housing;  
       
       
         a user interface coupled to a first data path;  
       
       
         an internal printer controller positioned within said printer housing, wherein said internal printer controller is in communication with said user interface along said first data path;  
       
       
         an external data stream input port operative to receive an external data stream including automatic document selection data, wherein said external data stream input port is in communication with said internal printer controller along a second data path;  
       
       
         a document construction module in communication with said internal printer controller, wherein said internal printer controller is programmed to  
       
       
         identify automatic document selection data stored in said document construction module corresponding to said automatic document selection data within said external data stream received at said external data stream input port,  
       
       
         designate a document format according to said identified automatic document selection data,  
       
       
         search for appropriate data fields within said external data stream,  
       
       
         extract said appropriate data fields from said external data stream according to the identity of said designated document format, and  
       
       
         convert said extracted data fields to document data by integrating or merging the extracted data fields with a designated document format file; and  
       
       
         a document data printing mechanism responsive to said internal printer controller and operative to print said document data in said designated document format. 
       
     
     
       18. A document printer as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said controller is programmed to identify automatic document selection data including a string identifier. 
     
     
       19. A document printer as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said controller is programmed to identify automatic document selection data including a string identifier and a positional marker. 
     
     
       20. A document printer as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said string identifier and said positional marker match specific characters in said external data stream. 
     
     
       21. A document printing system for generating a printed document in a predetermined document format, wherein said document printing system comprises: 
       
         an external data stream input port for receiving an external data stream comprised of a plurality of data fields defining data to be printed in conjunction with said printed document;  
       
       
         a peripheral device programmed to generate said plurality of data fields within said external data stream, wherein said external data stream is coupled to said peripheral device such that content of said external data stream is defined by said plurality of data fields; and  
       
       
         a document printer including said external data stream input port such that said content of said external data stream is received at said external data stream input port, wherein said document printer further comprises  
       
       ( i )  a printer housing,    
       ( ii )  a user interface operative to initiate transmission of a format command along a first data path, wherein said format command represents a predetermined selection of data fields in said external data stream and a predetermined printed document format,    
       ( iii )  an internal printer controller positioned within said printer housing, wherein    
       
         said internal printer controller is arranged to be in communication with said user interface along said first data path,  
       
       
         said external data stream input port is arranged to be in communication with said internal printer controller along a second data path,  
       
       
         said second data path is arranged to be distinct from said first data path, and  
       
       
         said external data stream input port is arranged to be distinct from said user interface,  
       
       ( iv )  a document construction module in communication with said internal printer controller, wherein said document construction module includes a plurality of document formats stored therein in the form of respective stored document format files, and wherein said internal printer controller is programmed to    
       
         designate one of said document formats stored in said document construction module according to said format command entered at said user interface and transmitted along said first data path,  
       
       
         search for predetermined ones of said plurality of data fields within said external data stream,  
       
       
         extract said predetermined ones of said plurality of data fields from said external data stream to yield an extracted set of data fields, wherein said predetermined data fields are extracted according to said document format designated by said internal printer controller in response to said format command entered at said user interface and transmitted along said first data path, and  
       
       
         convert said extracted set of data fields to document data, and  
       
       ( vi )  a document data printing mechanism responsive to said internal printer controller and operative to print said document data converted from said extracted set of data fields in said designated document format.   
     
     
       22. A document printing system for generating a printed document in a predetermined document format, wherein said document printing system comprises: 
       
         an external data stream input port for receiving an external data stream comprised of a plurality of data fields defining data to be printed in conjunction with said printed document;  
       
       
         a peripheral device programmed to generate said plurality of data fields within said external data stream, wherein said external data stream is coupled to said peripheral device such that content of said external data stream is defined by said plurality of data fields;  
       
       
         a document printer including said external data stream input port such that said content of said external data stream is received at said external data stream input port, wherein said document printer further comprises  
       
       ( i )  a printer housing,    
       ( ii )  a user interface operative to initiate transmission of a format command along a first data path, wherein said format command represents a predetermined selection of data fields in said external data stream and a predetermined printed document format,    
       ( iii )  an internal printer controller positioned within said printer housing, wherein    
       
         said internal printer controller is arranged to be in communication with said user interface along said first data path,  
       
       
         said external data stream input port is arranged to be in communication with said internal printer controller along a second data path,  
       
       
         said second data path is arranged to be distinct from said first data path, and  
       
       
         said external data stream input port is arranged to be distinct from said user interface,  
       
       ( iv )  a document construction module in communication with said internal printer controller, wherein said document construction module includes a plurality of document formats stored therein in the form of respective stored document format files, and wherein said internal printer controller is programmed to    
       
         designate one of said document formats stored in said document construction module according to said format command entered at said user interface and transmitted along said first data path,  
       
       
         search for predetermined ones of said plurality of data fields within said external data stream,  
       
       
         extract said predetermined ones of said plurality of data fields from said external data stream to yield an extracted set of data fields, wherein said predetermined data fields are extracted according to said document format designated by said internal printer controller in response to said format command entered at said user interface and transmitted along said first data path, and  
       
       
         convert said extracted set of data fields to document data,  
       
       ( vi )  a peripheral communications port distinct from said external data stream input port, and    
       ( vii )  a document data printing mechanism responsive to said internal printer controller and operative to print said document data converted from said extracted set of data fields in said designated document format; and    
       
         a file transfer device coupled to said peripheral communications port and operative to download files from said file transfer device to said document construction module.