Method for obtaining location data

A method for determining a location for a peripheral device comprising the steps of:

• detecting a trigger event of either an internal or an external type, communicating with a second device via a wireless protocol after detection of said external type trigger event, searching for a second device via at least one wireless protocol after detection of said internal type trigger event;
• querying said second device via said wireless protocol for second device location data;
• obtaining said second device location data via said wireless protocol from said second device;
• assigning a distance factor value to said second device location data, said distance factor value corresponding to the distance between said second device and the peripheral, said distance factor value trending higher as said distance trends smaller;
• and,
• comparing said second device location data distance factor value to a distance factor value corresponding to current location data and replacing said current location data with said new location data if said second device location data has a higher distance factor value than said current location data.

A method for determining a location for a document production apparatus connected to a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting the occurrence of either an external trigger event or an internal trigger event;
• communicating with a second device after detection of said external trigger event;
• initiating a search for said second device after the detection of said internal trigger event, said search comprising a sequence of first searching for a second device with a first wireless protocol having a first operable range and subsequently searching for a second device with a second wireless protocol having an operable range greater than said first operable range;
• querying said second device via a wireless protocol to determine if said second device has reportable location data, obtaining said second device location data if said device has reportable location data;
• determining a distance factor value for said second device location data by:
• assigning a relatively high distance factor value if said second device is transmitting data comprising a job for execution to the document production apparatus;
• assigning a relatively high distance factor value if said second device is communicating with the document production apparatus via wireless protocol having an operable range of not more than about 3 meters;
• assigning a relatively medium distance factor value if said second device is communicating with the document production apparatus via a wireless protocol having an operable range of not more than about 10 meters;
• comparing said second device location data distance factor value to a distance factor value corresponding to current location data;
• replacing said stored current location data with said second device location data if said second device location data has a higher distance factor value than said current location data;
• and,
• transmitting said current location data over the communications network.

A computer program product for use by a peripheral device to obtain location data for the peripheral, the computer program product comprising computer executable instructions recorded in a computer readable medium, the instructions when executed causing the peripheral to:

• communicate via a wireless protocol with a second device;
• query said second device via said wireless protocol for location data;
• obtain said location data via said wireless protocol from said second device;
• compare said second device location data to current location data;
• and,
• replace said current location data with said second device location data if said second device location data is more reliable than said current location data.

A computer program product for use with a document production peripheral for obtaining location data for the document production peripheral, the computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embedded in a computer readable medium, the instructions when executed causing the document production peripheral to:

• detect a trigger event of either an internal or an external type;
• query a second device transmitting data to the document production peripheral via a wireless protocol for location data after detection of said external type trigger event;
• search for a second device via at least one wireless protocol after detection of said internal type trigger event, and to query said second device via said at least one wireless protocol for second device location data;
• obtain said second device location data via said wireless protocol from said second device;
• assign a distance factor value to said second device location data, said distance factor value corresponding to the distance between said second device and the peripheral, with said distance factor value trending higher as said distance trends smaller;
• and,
• compare said second device location data distance factor value to a distance factor value corresponding to current location data, and to replace said current location data with said second device location data if said second device location data has a higher distance factor value than said current location data.