Method and apparatus for printing accessed data over a network using a virtual machine applet

Abstract

A method and apparatus for printing accessed data over a network using a virtual machine applet accessed by a printer. To-be-printed data accessed through a network or setup command data for setting up a printer environment received from a user is transformed into to-be-printed extensible markup language (XML) data or setup command XML data, respectively. The to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data is transmitted to the printer. The to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data is interpreted via the virtual machine applet to execute printing or to set up the printer. Accordingly, data written in various kinds of languages on the Internet can be transmitted to and printed by a printer without installing a printer driver in a computer or a mobile communication apparatus like a PDA. Also, a desired printer setup by a user can be achieved without a printer driver.

1. A method of printing accessed data over a network using a virtual machine applet in a printer connected to a computer, the method comprising:
 transforming to-be-printed data accessed through the network or setup command data for setting up a printer environment received from a user into to-be-printed extension extensible mark-up language (XML) data or setup command XML data, respectively, and transmitting the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data to the printer; and 
 interpreting the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data via a virtual machine applet to execute printing or to set up the printer, respectively, 
 wherein the interpreting of the XML data comprises:
 determining whether received data is XML data; 
 determining whether the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data exists, if determined that the received data is the XML data; 
 producing to-be-printed printer data or setup command printer data from the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data, respectively, using as the virtual machine applet an XML virtual machine applet interpreting XML data, if determined that the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data exists; 
 distinguishing the produced to-be-printed printer data from the produced setup command printer data; and 
 executing printing or setting up the printer with the printer data. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the XML virtual machine applet stores a template of the to-be-printed printer data as data, and the producing of the to-be-printed printer data further comprises locating the to-be-printed XML data in the template of the to-be-printed printer data. 
     
     
       3. A method of printing accessed data over a network using a virtual machine applet in a printer connected to a computer, the method comprising:
 transforming to-be-printed data accessed through the network or setup command data for setting up a printer environment received from a user into to-be-printed extension mark-up language (XML) data or setup command XML data, respectively, and transmitting the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data to the printer; 
 interpreting the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data via a virtual machine applet to execute printing or to set up the printer, respectively; and 
 transforming a virtual machine applet accessed over a network into an XML virtual machine applet and allowing access to the XML virtual machine applet by the printer, wherein the accessed XML virtual machine applet interprets the transmitted XML data, 
 wherein the interpreting of the XML data comprises:
 determining whether received data is XML data; 
 determining whether the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data exists, if determined that the received data is the XML data; 
 producing to-be-printed printer data or setup command printer data from the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data, respectively, using as the virtual machine applet an XML virtual machine applet interpreting XML data, if determined that the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data exists; 
 distinguishing the produced to-be-printed printer data from the produced setup command printer data; and 
 executing printing or setting up the printer with the printer data. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transforming the virtual machine applet accessed through a network into an XML virtual machine applet; 
 transmitting the XML virtual machine applet to the printer; and 
 storing the XML virtual machine applet in the printer. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the storing of the XML virtual machine applet comprises:
 determining whether the received data is XML data; 
 determining whether received XML data is the XML virtual machine applet, if determined that the received data is the XML data; and 
 storing the XML virtual machine applet, if determined that the received data is the XML virtual machine applet. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein receipt of the printer data comprises:
 determining whether the setup command printer data exists; 
 setting up the printer if determined that the setup command printer data exists; 
 determining whether the to-be-printed printer data exists; and 
 executing printing if determined that the to-be-printed printer data exists. 
 
     
     
       7. An apparatus printing accessed data over a network using a virtual machine applet in a printer connected to a computer, the apparatus comprising:
 a printer setup interface receiving a setup command for setting up a printer environment from a user and outputting setup command data; 
 an XML data transformation/transmission unit transforming to-be-printed data accessed through the network or the setup command data received from the user into to-be-printed XML data or setup command XML data, respectively, and transmitting the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data to the printer; and 
 an XML data processor interpreting the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data via a virtual machine applet to execute printing or to set up the printer, 
 wherein the XML data processor comprises:
 an input data analyzer determining whether received data is XML data, the to-be-printed printer data or the setup command printer data and outputting a first signal result; 
 an XML data analyzer determining whether the XML data is the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data in response to the first signal result and outputting a second signal result; 
 a virtual machine applet storage unit storing as the virtual machine applet an XML virtual machine applet interpreting XML data; 
 a virtual machine applet operator storing or fetching the XML virtual machine applet in response to the second signal result; 
 an execution data producer receiving the XML virtual machine applet from the virtual machine applet operator, producing to-be-printed printer data or setup command printer data from the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data, respectively, using the received XML virtual machine applet, and outputting the to-be-printed printer data or the setup command printer data to the input data analyzer; and 
 
 a printer operation executing unit executing printing or setting up the printer using the produced to-be-printed printer data or the produced setup command printer data. 
 
     
     
       8. An apparatus printing accessed data over a network using a virtual machine applet in a printer connected to a computer, the apparatus comprising:
 a printer setup interface receiving a setup command for setting up a printer environment from a user and outputting setup command data; 
 an XML data transformation/transmission unit transforming to-be-printed data accessed through the network or the setup command data received from the user into to-be-printed XML data or setup command XML data, respectively, and transmitting the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data to the printer; and 
 an XML data processor interpreting the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data via a virtual machine applet to execute printing or to set up the printer, 
 wherein the XML data processor comprises:
 an input data analyzer determining whether received data is XML data, the to-be-printed printer data or the setup command printer data and outputting a first signal result; 
 an XML data analyzer determining whether the XML data is the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data in response to the first signal result and outputting a second signal result; 
 a virtual machine applet storage unit storing as the virtual machine applet an XML virtual machine applet interpreting XML data; 
 a virtual machine applet operator storing or fetching the XML virtual machine applet in response to the second signal result; 
 an execution data producer receiving the XML virtual machine applet from the virtual machine applet operator, producing to-be-printed printer data or setup command printer data from the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data, respectively, using the received XML virtual machine applet, and outputting the to-be-printed printer data or the setup command printer data to the input data analyzer; and 
 a printer operation executing unit executing printing or setting up the printer using the produced to-be-printed printer data or the produced setup command printer data, 
 
 wherein the XML data transformation/transmission unit transforms a virtual machine applet accessed through a network into an XML virtual machine applet and transmits the XML virtual machine applet to the virtual machine applet storage unit, and wherein the XML data processor interprets the transmitted XML data using the XML virtual machine applet. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the input data analyzer determines whether the received data is XML data and outputs a third signal result; the XML data analyzer determines whether the received data is the XML virtual machine applet in response to the third signal result and outputs a fourth signal result; and the virtual machine applet operator stores the XML virtual machine applet in the virtual machine applet storage unit in response to the fourth signal result. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the XML virtual machine applet comprises a template of the to-be-printed printer data, and the execution data producer produces the to-be-printed printer data by locating the received to-be-printed XML data in the template of the to-be-printed printer data. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the printer operation executing unit comprises:
 a printer data detecting unit detecting whether data received from the input data analyzer is the to-be-printed printer data or the setup command printer data and outputting a detection result; 
 a printer setting unit setting up the printer according to the setup command printer data in response to the detection result; and 
 a printing executing unit printing the to-be-printed printer data in response to the detection result. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of printing accessed data over a network using an applet in a printer, the method comprising:
 transforming to-be-printed data accessed through the network or setup command data for setting up a printer environment received from a user into to-be-printed extensible mark-up language (XML) data or setup command XML data, respectively, and transmitting the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data to the printer;   accessing data over the network using the applet in the printer;   determining if the accessed data includes to-be-printed XML data or setup command XML data;   interpreting the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data to execute printing or to set up the printer, respectively,   wherein the interpreting of the XML data comprises:
 determining whether accessed data is XML data; 
 determining whether the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data exists, if it is determined that the accessed data is the XML data; 
 producing to-be-printed printer data or setup command printer data from the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data, respectively, by interpreting XML data, if it is determined that the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data exists; and 
 executing printing or setting up the printer with the printer data. 
   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
 determining if the accessed data includes an applet; and   storing the applet in a storage unit if the accessed data includes an applet.   
     
     
       14. A printing apparatus to print data accessed over a network using an applet, the printing apparatus comprising:
 a printer interface to access to-be-printed XML data or setup command XML data over the network using the applet; and   an XML data processor to interpret the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data accessed over the network using the applet, wherein the XML data processor comprises:
 an input data analyzer to determine whether accessed data is XML data; 
 an XML data analyzer to determine whether the XML data is the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data, if it is determined that the accessed data is the XML data; 
 an execution data producer to produce to-be-printed printer data or setup command printer data from the to-be-printed XML data or the setup command XML data, respectively, by interpreting the XML data, and outputting the to-be-printed printer data or the setup command printer data; and 
 a printer operation executing unit to execute printing or setting up the printing apparatus using the produced to-be-printed printer data or the produced setup command printer data.